ITACA.SB Workshop
11 - 13 February 2026 | Rome, Italy
Crystallographic Quality and Beyond: Structural Biology at the Core of Rational Drug Design
Recent advances in structural biology have transformed our understanding of biomolecular mechanisms, providing a robust foundation for rational drug discovery and design. Despite these breakthroughs, the field continues to face significant challenges in sample preparation, crystallization, and the interpretation of complex structural data.
The workshop will bring together researchers working at the interface of structural biology, biophysics, and medicinal chemistry to discuss current trends and technological innovations. Applicants will have the opportunity to engage with leading scientists and deepen their expertise in structure-based drug design. Selected student talks will also be featured.
Event free of charge, however the registration is mandatory.
➡️➡️➡️ REGISTER HERE – deadline 31 December 2025 (23:59 CET)
Venue:
Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche
Piazzale Aldo Moro, 7
00185 Rome, Italy
MARCONI ROOM (1st floor) <<<<
💰💰💰Travel grants are available for early career participants (PhDs, PostDocs). Applicants should indicate on the registration form if they wish to be considered. ITACA.SB travel grants are allocated on the basis of the quality of the submitted abstract. Selection of awardees is handled directly by the organizers.
Speakers
University of Verona

Uppsala University
Trinity College Dublin
IRCSS San Raffaele Milan

CNR-IBPM Rome
Sapienza University of Rome

Sapienza University of Rome
State University of Milan
CNR-IBPM Rome

CNRS-AFMB Marseille

Diamond Light Source
Institut Pasteur Paris

CNRS-BIP Marseille
Programme
11:00 – 13:00 – Arrivals
13:00 – 14:00 – Lunch
14:00 – 14:15 – Welcome and Opening Remarks – Giancarlo Tria, Research Infrastructure Manager of ITACA.SB
Session 1: from crystals to protein structure and function – chair Andrea Ilari
14:15 – 15:00 – (Keynote) TBC – Terese M. Bergfors
15:00 – 15:30 – TBC – Giorgio Giardina
15:30 – 16:00 – TBC – Giuliano Sciara
16:00 – 16:20 – TBC – Selected student talk 1
16:20 – 16:40 – TBC – Selected student talk 2
16:40 – 17:00 – Coffee break
Session 2: from crystals to protein structure II – chair Francesca Troilo
17:00 – 17:30 – TBC – Cécile Exertier
17:30 – 17:50 – TBC – Selected student talk 3
17:50 – 18:10 – TBC – Selected student talk 4
20:00 – SOCIAL DINNER
Session 3: Structural Biology in Disease I – chair Adele Di Matteo
09:30 – 10:15 – (Keynote) TBC – Marco Mazzorana
10:15 – 10:45 – TBC – Francesco Angelucci
10:45 – 11:05 – TBC – Selected student talk 5
11:05 – 11:30 – Coffee break
11:30 – 12:00 – TBC – Massimo Degano
12:00 – 12:30 – TBC – Louise Gourlay
12:30 – 12:50 – TBC – Selected student talk 6
12:50 – 13:10 – TBC – Selected student talk 7
13:10 – 14:30 – Lunch
Session 4: Challenges and Advances in Membrane Protein Biology – chair Carmelinda Savino
14:30 – 15:00 – (Keynote) TBC – Martin Caffrey
15:00 – 15:30 – TBC – Andrea Ilari
15:30 – 15:50 – TBC – Selected student talk 8
15:50 – 16:10 – TBC – Selected student talk 9
16:10 – 16:30 – Coffee break
16:30 – 18:00 – POSTER SESSION
Session 5: Unraveling Protein Interactions – chair Cécile Exertier
09:00 – 09:45 – (Keynote) TBC – Bertrand Raynal
09:45 – 10:15 – TBC – Alessandra Astegno
10:15 – 10:45 – TBC – Stefano Gianni
10:45 – 11:05 – TBC – Selected student talk 10
11:05 – 11:30 – Coffee break
Session 6: Protein Aggregation and Functional Consequences – chair Giancarlo Tria
11:30 – 12:00 – (Keynote) TBC – Sonia Longhi
12:00 – 12:30 – TBC – Francesca Troilo
12:30 – 12:50 – TBC – Selected student talk 11
12:50 – 13:10 – TBC – Selected student talk 12
13:10 – 13:20 – Closing Remarks – Giancarlo Tria, Research Infrastructure Manager of ITACA.SB
13:20 – 14:30 – Lunch
14:30 – Departures
Organizers

CNR-IBPM Rome

CNR-IBPM Rome

CNR-IBPM Rome

CNR-IBPM Rome

Francesca Troilo
CNR-IBPM Rome
Questions? Contact us