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 HEREdeadline 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

Francesco Angelucci

University of L’Aquila

Alessandra Astegno

University of Verona

Terese M. Bergfors

Uppsala University

Martin Caffrey

Trinity College Dublin

Massimo Degano

IRCSS San Raffaele Milan

Cécile Exertier

CNR-IBPM Rome

Stefano Gianni

Sapienza University of Rome

Giorgio Giardina

Sapienza University of Rome

Louise Gourlay

State University of Milan

Andrea Ilari

CNR-IBPM Rome

Sonia Longhi

CNRS-AFMB Marseille

Marco Mazzorana

Diamond Light Source

Bertrand Reynal

Institut Pasteur Paris

Giuliano Sciara

CNRS-BIP Marseille

Francesca Troilo

CNR-IBPM Rome

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

Adele Di Matteo

CNR-IBPM Rome

Cécile Exertier

CNR-IBPM Rome

Andrea Ilari

CNR-IBPM Rome

Carmelinda Savino

CNR-IBPM Rome

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Francesca Troilo

CNR-IBPM Rome

Questions? Contact us