Proteins are the functional macromolecules in cells, they are the main drug targets and also used as pharmaceuticals and in biotechnology. Notably, nearly 30% of proteins in eukaryotic cells are known to be membrane proteins.

Although most commercial drugs result from conventional discovery methods, it is the structural information provided by three-dimensional protein structures that unveils the crucial structural arrangement and atomic interactions in drug-protein complexes. This information is critical in the rational design of new drugs with improved selectivity and pharmaceutical properties.

The Workshop will cover advanced methods for the characterization of membrane proteins with a specific focus on drug targets and rational drug design and new structures of membrane proteins.

The main topics will be:
Latest developments in Methods & Facilities
Membrane Proteins functional studies
Structures of membrane proteins relevant for understanding pathologies and drugs design.

Speakers are leading experts in the field from several Academic Institutions (New York Structural Biology Center, Columbia University, Imperial College, IME-Fraunhofer, ITQB-Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Basel Biozentrum, Naples Tigem, Milan University, Pavia University, Calabria University and SME Calixar In France). The Workshop is organized in the context of the the Prometeus MSCA-RISE Project.