Welcome   

We are happy to announce that the annual USGEB meeting in 2009 will be held at the Casino Kursaal in Interlaken, Switzerland, from January 29 to 30. The meeting is entitled "Membranes in Motion" and the overall focus will be on membrane biology and related topics. All USGEB member societies will be organizing dedicated Symposia, in which the latest scientific advances in their respective fields will be presented. In recent years, a major breakthrough has been achieved in science by unveiling the three-dimensional structure of membrane proteins. In addition, spectacular new insights into the cell biology and biophysics of membrane proteins, as well as the biochemistry and dynamics of the surrounding membrane lipids have been obtained. The recent evolution in membrane biology also presents a great opportunity for the development of new industrial applications. USGEB 2009 is organized by a committee from the University of Bern. The following scientific topics will be covered:

  • Structure of membrane proteins
  • Biology of ion channels and transporters
  • Cell-cell interactions
  • Membrane receptors
  • Membrane trafficking and membrane dynamics

Topics not directly related to membrane biology will of course also be discussed. USGEB 2009 will be the ideal platform to review the recent progress in membrane biology and to discuss and develop innovative biomedical, pharmaceutical and environmental applications. Let's "set in Motion" all "Membranes" and "Membrane Proteins" through stimulating interactions and discussions among young scientists, world-renowned leaders in the membrane biology field, and the delegates from industry. The meeting should benefit scientists from both academia and industry in Switzerland, as well as from surrounding countries. USGEB 2009 will feature 6 plenary lectures. We have selected a diverse group of speakers - all prominent scientists and leaders in the field of membrane biology. This diversity will serve to enhance networking between scientists from different disciplines. We expect about 700 - 1'000 scientists to attend the meeting.

Note: SGV will organize a special symposium on biosafety, whose attendance will qualify for half a day of continued education in animal experimentation.

                
Contact: USGEB 2009 Secretary