Dear all, This is the final call for the International Symposium on Diffraction Structural Biology 2013.
The deadline for abstract submission is March 15. ---- Dear Colleagues, We are pleased to announce the Scientific Programme for the 4th International Symposium on Diffraction Structural Biology (ISDSB2013) to be held May 26th to 29th 2013 at NAGOYA TRADE & INDUSTRY CENTER in Nagoya, Japan. This conference is the Fourth in the series of ISDSBs initiated in 2003 by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS). The University-Industry Cooperative Research Committee (#169) of JSPS, is Chaired by Professor Noriyoshi Sakabe. See:- http://www.sbsp.jp/ISDSB2013/homepage/index.html The scientific topics covered in ISDSB2013 will include the following sessions:- S1. Synchrotron and Free Electron Lasers S2. New Methodology and instrumentation S3. Drug design S4. Tomography and imaging S5. Membrane Proteins S6. Neutron diffraction and hydration structure S7. Membrane proteins and macromolecular complexes S8. Protein structure and dynamics We have confirmed speakers as advertised at the website above including two Nobelists Lectures by Professor Thomas Steitz and Professor Brian Kobilka, 3 Plenary Lecturers and 32 Session Lecturers. There will be Poster sessions and also a Commercial and Industrial Companies Exhibition as well as a visit to the NUSR：Nagoya University Synchrotron Radiation Research Center. In co-operation with the Journal of Synchrotron Radiation, we plan on publishing the manuscripts presented in a special issue of JSR. Both invited and contributed manuscripts will be subjected to the usual refereeing process of JSR. The concept of this Series of Symposia is to "bring structural biologists using diffraction and the scientists using a wide range of other advanced technologies closer together as well as interlace where possible basic research with industrial applications". The 169th Committee was the first to propound the concept of the need for a Symposium on Diffraction Structural Biology and thus led the way by convening the first International Symposium on Diffraction Structural Biology held in 2003. This, the detailed planning of the fourth in the Series, again confirms its worth and value to this extensive, global, research community. The immediately previous 3rd International Symposium on Diffraction Structural Biology (ISDSB2010) was the first to be convened outside Japan and took place in Paris and was successful in number and range of countries and scientific fields represented. It again showed that the continuing organization of these Symposia aims to present the state-of-the-art frontiers of diffraction structural biology and its cognate fields especially the microscopies and imaging. Structural Biology has again progressed rapidly after ISDSB2010 and is making clear the reaction mechanisms of molecular machineries which preside within life processes. In terms of technologies and experimental techniques an equally vital set of developments is underway. Of particular note are the arrival of the 'ultimate storage ring' synchrotron radiation sources, the results from the first X-ray Free Electron Lasers and the newer, more intense, spallation neutron sources. We are again planning to discuss the integration of all kinds of structure determination methods so as to understand more systematically the biological function of macromolecules, and which are closely related to medical care or drug discoveries. We will also intensively discuss a broad range of the latest discoveries in the understanding of life processes at all length scales, from molecular to cellular. These results and developments will firmly, wherever possible, be with respect to the potential and/or actual applications to industrial uses. These discoveries are based on the structures determined by X-rays, electrons and neutrons as the core probes of matter, and by the other novel techniques encouraging the broad development of structural biology. Given the intense excitement in this field there is a very fruitful potential to invite internationally eminent authorities. This upcoming Symposium will again be identified as supplying the interface between academic and industrial researchers, and also the interface between diffraction technologies and the other active fields to discuss the research breakthroughs. We look forward to seeing you in Nagoya at ISDSB2013! Yours sincerely, Takashi Yamane, Chairperson of ISDSB2013 Noriyoshi Sakabe, Chairperson of #169 committee of JSPS Local Organizing Committee of ISDSB2013
