A lively network
A smiling crew of first-rate scientists in the picture above, taken few days ago during the last annual retreat, is a good representation of the NCCR TransCure network and its lively spirit. In November 2018, TransCure embarked on the third and last funding phase, which thanks to the continuing support from the Swiss National Science Foundation, will last until October 2022.
The 9th annual retreat, which took place on May 23-24, 2019, has, as in the past, been an intense time of scientific exchange and social interactions. The retreat facilitates progress with the TransCure projects, which often results in excellent publications (take a look at the featured papers on TRPM4 inhibitors and on the human 4F2hc-LAT2 complex structure). The retreat also fosters dialogue among the three disciplines of the so-called “TransCure Trias”, namely Physiology, Chemistry and Structural Biology. For those readers interested in knowing more about the latter, the lead article of this issue by Henning Stahlberg (TransCure PI from the University of Basel) reveals exciting details of of cryo-electron microscopy. In contrast to this detail, in the “How it works” column the focus is broad: Martin Lochner (TransCure PI) explains fluorescence emission, a principle behind many experiments across all disciplines.
Besides the retreat, another central event of this year is the 11th Biomedical Transporters Conference that takes will take place in Lucerne from 4th to 8th August 2019 (see Events). This international congress, co-organised by the NCCR TransCure, attracts experts in membrane transporters from all over the world. Registration is still open (poster submission by July 1st)!
All these events would be not possible without the fellows: with their variegate expertise in the different disciplines, they contribute to the scientific excellence of the NCCR and they greatly profit from the interdisciplinary activities of the network. Learn more about them and their projects in the dedicated section of the newsletter! You can also read the article and watch the video about Serafina Calarco (TransCure PhD student) whose artistic talent brought her to San Francisco for a Swissnex internship on science communication. Moreover, the fellows recently launched an Instagram account: follow us (nccr.tc)! And once you are surfing in the internet, do not miss the video on the TransCure outreach activity with highly talented kids.
The NCCR TransCure directorate wishes all readers a pleasant and sunny summer season!
Hugues Abriel and Jean-Louis Reymond,
NCCR TransCure directorate
