Organelle dynamics in health and disease: an EMBO Workshop at the forefront of contemporary cell biology

Organelles are no longer viewed as mere functional compartments. Their dynamic organization, their interactions with the cytoskeleton and molecular motors, and the contact sites they establish with one another now represent a rapidly expanding field of research.

The workshop will bring together leading international experts to address these questions across multiple scales, from the molecular mechanisms of intracellular trafficking to their functional consequences in tissues and whole organisms.

Recent advances in high-resolution imaging, molecular biology and biophysical approaches now make it possible to track organelles in real time and to analyse their interactions with unprecedented precision. At the same time, disruptions in organelle dynamics are increasingly linked to major pathologies such as neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. The challenge is therefore twofold: to deepen our understanding of fundamental mechanisms and to identify new therapeutic strategies.

By fostering dialogue between fundamental cell biology, neuroscience, immunology and systems physiology, the workshop aims to build interdisciplinary bridges and stimulate new collaborations.

The workshop is organised by Chiara Scaramuzzino, Marta Prieto Garcia, Anthony Proces (Grenoble Institute of Neurosciences), together with Marie Pronot (University of Edinburgh). 
The opening lecture will be delivered by Jennifer Lippincott-Schwartz, a leading figure in modern cell biology and a pioneer in membrane dynamics research, while the closing lecture will be given by Pietro De Camilli, whose work has profoundly shaped our understanding of membrane trafficking and cellular signalling.

Registration is open until 15 July 2026.
 

Workshop website