May 2026 - BBClist - maillist.psb.ugent.be

Call is open: Fontana Seed Fund Collaboration Challenge
by BeNeLux bioinformaticians forum 26 May '26

26 May '26

If this newsletter is not displayed correctly, please click here. <https://t70da41a7.emailsys1a.net/mailing/284/9199551/2396595/8/37bb333db4/i…> PLEASE FORWARD WITHIN YOUR NETWORKS ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Dear Early-Career Researchers, The Fontana Seed Fund Collaboration Challenge 2026 <https://t70da41a7.emailsys1a.net/c/284/9199551/1732/0/2396595/8/55980/7fdab…> is currently open for applications! This is a new international initiative by the DKFZ Cancer Research Academy, in cooperation with the Netherlands Cancer Institute, the Institute of Cancer Research London, the Cancer Research Karolinska Institutet and the Weizmann Institute. It is open to everyone, independent of institutional affiliation, and designed to foster interdisciplinary collaborations among early-career researchers. The program brings together PhD researchers, postdoctoral researchers, and clinician scientists from international institutions to develop innovative collaborative research ideas and translate them into competitive seed grant proposals. Selected teams will have the opportunity to secure funding of up to EUR 20,000 (one-year seed grant) to bring their collaborative projects to life. What to expect: The application process begins with the submission of an individual profile, enabling participants to connect and form teams of two to three researchers across institutions. Selected teams will then be invited to a three-day on-site bootcamp at DKFZ in Heidelberg (October 14-16, 2026), featuring networking, team-building, grant-writing workshops, and pitch training. Following the bootcamp, teams will compete for seed funding to further develop their projects. Several grants of up to EUR 20,000 per team will be awarded. Who can apply? The call is aimed at early-career researchers who have not yet achieved significant scientific independence, including: PhD researchers (from the 2nd year onwards) Postdoctoral researchers (up to 6 years after PhD) Clinician scientists The deadline for the first application step (to prepare your individual profile) is June 7, 2026. For further information and to apply, please visit our application portal <https://t70da41a7.emailsys1a.net/c/284/9199551/1732/0/2396595/8/55980/7fdab…>. We’re looking forward to many exciting new collaborations! Best regards, The Organizing Team at the DKFZ Cancer Research Academy ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ https://t70da41a7.emailsys1a.net/c/284/9199551/1732/0/2396595/8/55994/6d81a…> https://t70da41a7.emailsys1a.net/c/284/9199551/1732/0/2396595/8/55995/551e4…> https://t70da41a7.emailsys1a.net/c/284/9199551/1732/0/2396595/8/55996/eec83…> https://t70da41a7.emailsys1a.net/c/284/9199551/1732/0/2396595/8/55997/7779a…> ------------------------------------------------------------------------ DKFZ Cancer Research Academy German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) Foundation under Public Law Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany Management Board: Prof. Dr. med. Dr. h.c. Michael Baumann, Ursula Weyrich USt-ID: DE143293537 https://t70da41a7.emailsys1a.net/c/284/9199551/1732/0/2396595/8/55992/a5ae3…> cra(a)dkfz.de> Want to change how you receive emails from us? Click here to update your recipient profile <https://t70da41a7.emailsys1a.net/p/70da41a7/k3t3zeqzSpQNIWtaB2V0CWXb1zxyEm3…> or unsubscribe <https://t70da41a7.emailsys1a.net/284/9199551/1732/2396595/8/4737ba6b38/unsu…>

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Train-the-trainer session end of September 2026
by BeNeLux bioinformaticians forum 21 May '26

21 May '26

Dear all, I'd like to announce in the forum that we are organising another train-the-trainer session at the end of September 2025. What will you achieve as learning outcomes at the end of the 2-day course? - List and describe key features of learning principles - Discuss the impact of learning about learning principles as a trainer - Define and write learning outcomes for a training session - Draft a training syllabus and lesson plan - Describe at least three training techniques drawing on learning principles - List, based on the training syllabus and lesson plan, what types of material are needed for each part of a training session - Develop assessment questionnaires Register for the free course at https://training.vib.be/all-trainings/train-trainer-1 . Feel free to spread the announcement further in your network. Bruna and I are looking forward to welcoming you to our session. Best regards, Bruna and Alex Disclaimer: This message and any attachments are intended solely for the named recipient(s) and may contain confidential, privileged, or protected information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure, or distribution is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please delete it and notify the sender immediately.

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ELXIR Spatial Omics data Analysis Course (Uppsala)
by BeNeLux bioinformaticians forum 19 May '26

19 May '26

ELIXIR Single-Cell Omics community course on Spatial Omics Data Analysis <https://tess.elixir-europe.org/events/spatial-omics-data-analysis-5c751c88-…>, which will be in person in Uppsala (Sweden) on 6-9 October 2026. This course delves into the cutting-edge field of Spatial Omics, focusing on Spatially-Resolved Transcriptomics (SRT) technology which provides unprecedented insights into the spatial organization of gene expression within tissues. The rapid and recent advances in SRT technology are transforming our understanding of biological systems, and this course is designed to equip researchers with the tools to harness the power of SRT, adding significant value to biological knowledge and opening new avenues for scientific discovery. In this 3.5-day course with lectures and practical sessions, participants will explore both imaging-based and sequencing-based SRT technologies, learning to navigate the entire workflow of SRT data analysis. Further information, prerequisites and application form are available on the course website <https://elixir-europe-training.github.io/ELIXIR-SCO-spatial-omics-2026/>. Should you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact edu.spatial(a)nbis.se. Cheers, *Ahmed Mahfouz, PhD | Associate Professor, Department of Human Genetics* Leiden University Medical Center | Dept. of Human Genetics | P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden | Postal zone S4-P Room R-04-022 | Phone +31 71 52 69513 https://www.mahfouzlab.org/

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Two-day course Bioinformatics for epigenomics (Utrecht)
by BeNeLux bioinformaticians forum 19 May '26

19 May '26

Dear all, We are pleased to announce a two-day Bioinformatics for epigenomics course, Wednesday September 30 & Thursday October 1, 2026, in Utrecht. The goal is to understand both the experimental context and the computational steps required to move from raw data to biological interpretation. For more information, please visit https://kcbbe.github.io/course_overview/Bioinformatics%20for%20Epigenomics.… On behalf of Wynand Alkema, Lector Data Science for Life Science & Health (Hanze University of Applied Science), Michiel Noback Met vriendelijke groeten / kind regards, Michiel Dr. M.A. Noback | Bioinformatics Senior Researcher & Lecturer Knowledge Center Biobased Economy Cluster Engineering, Life Sciences & ICT | Hanze University of Applied Sciences Zernikeplein 11, 9747 AS Groningen Office: Van Doorenveste (ZP11) room D1.12 *:+31-50-595 4691<mailto:+31-50-595%204691> | *: m.a.noback(a)pl.hanze.nl<mailto:m.a.noback@pl.hanze.nl> Absent on Friday and Wednesday afternoon

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BioSB Summer School on Advanced Machine Learning and AI for Life Sciences 23-28 August 2026, Lunteren, the Netherlands - applications open (deadline 28 May 2026)
by BeNeLux bioinformaticians forum 18 May '26

18 May '26

Dear all, We're pleased to invite you to the BioSB Summer School on Advanced Machine Learning and AI for Life Sciences taking place from 23-28 August 2026 in the beautiful forests surrounding Lunteren, the Netherlands. The summer school is organized by The Netherlands Bioinformatics and Systems Biology (BioSB) research school. The school aims to immerse PhD students, academic researchers, and industry participants in the most recent advances in machine learning and AI for the life sciences, equipping you with both the conceptual understanding and practical skills to apply these methods in your own research. Accommodation and meals are included, allowing you to focus entirely on learning, networking, and collaboration. Upcoming selection procedure deadline: 28 May 2026 (spots are limited) Submit your motivation and find registration details and fees here: https://www.dtls.nl/courses/biosb-summer-school-on-advanced-machine-learnin…. Expert faculty will lead sessions focusing on the following topics: * Representation of biological entities * Explainable AI * Generative models in biology * Geometric deep learning and graph neural networks * Foundation models * Multi-modal data integration * Scientific machine learning Confirmed expert trainers: * Prof. dr. Sanne Abeln (Utrecht University) * Dr. Shauna O'Donovan (Eindhoven University of Technology) * Dr. Stavros Makrodimitris (University of Amsterdam) * Dr. Wilson dos Santos Silva (Utrecht University) * Dr. Pavel Sinitcyn (Utrecht University) We look forward to welcoming you to Lunteren this August! Best regards, Perry Moerland on behalf of the organizing committee: * Dr. Perry Moerland (Amsterdam UMC; summer school coordinator) * Prof. dr. Aalt-Jan van Dijk (University of Amsterdam) * Dr. Federica Eduati (Eindhoven University of Technology) * Yiting Shen (Amsterdam UMC) --- Dr. ir. P.D. Moerland Bioinformatics Laboratory | Epidemiology and Data Science (EDS) Amsterdam UMC | Location AMC | J1B-225 | Meibergdreef 9 | 1105 AZ AMSTERDAM E: p.d.moerland(a)amsterdamumc.nl W: https://bioinformaticslaboratory.eu/ ______________________________________________________ AmsterdamUMC disclaimer : www.amsterdamumc.org/nl/disclaimers.htm

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PhD project : genetics of athletic performance
by BeNeLux bioinformaticians forum 04 May '26

04 May '26

Please find attached and below a PhD project open to the PhD fellowship 2026 competition in Strasbourg PhD project on Genetic determinants of outstanding athletic performance at IGBMC - Strasbourg - France Research topic: World-class athletes display extraordinary physiological adaptations allowing them to perform at the limits of human endurance. These capabilities are driven not only by training and environment but also by genetic factors influencing muscle metabolism, oxygen utilization, and hypoxia tolerance. The 'Athlome' project aims to identify and characterize genetic variants associated with enhanced skeletal muscle performance under hypoxic conditions by analyzing the genomes of elite freedivers and ski mountaineers located at the extreme of the physiological performance distribution. The PhD candidate will manage the ATHLOME project using advanced genomic and bioinformatic approaches. Whole-genome sequences from 44 elite athletes have already been generated, and the cohort will be expanded to approximately 80 world-class athletes, including international champions and record holders. Given the moderate cohort size, the project is specifically powered to detect rare variants with large functional effect, enriched in extreme performers compared to ancestry-matched reference populations (gnomAD and internal datasets). Extreme phenotype sampling substantially increases the probability of detecting rare variants of strong functional impact, conceptually analogous to monogenic disease genetics, compared to conventional population-based GWAS designs. In parallel, targeted gene-burden analyses will be conducted in genes and pathways previously implicated in oxygen transport, hypoxia signaling, and muscle performance, enabling detection of modest cumulative effects even within limited sample sizes. Genotype-phenotype correlations will integrate detailed physiological parameters, including athletic and physiological performances and biochemical data. Functional validation of prioritized variants will be performed in vitro (splicing assays, protein stability analysis, enzymatic activity testing), providing mechanistic confirmation. Understanding the genetic determinants of outstanding athletic performance in these unique extreme cohorts offers a natural human model of enhanced muscle and respiratory function. By focusing on rare, high-impact genetic determinants, ATHLOME aims to uncover protective molecular mechanisms potentially translatable to severe diseases characterized by muscle weakness and respiratory insufficiency, which are also actively investigated within our laboratory. Candidate profile: you are a highly motivated and talented student with expertise in Bioinformatics or Informatics and a strong interest in sports science. English is the communication language in the team. Location: The IGBMC institute is a main European center in Biomedical research equipped with 14 cutting-edge core facilities, and is a highly dynamic and international place hosting over 45 independent research groups working on diverse topics. Strasbourg is a cosmopolitan city in a beautiful countryside, close to Germany and Switzerland and less than 2 hours from the center of Paris by train. Application: send a pdf file with your CV and contact details for at least two referees to Jocelyn Laporte (jocelyn(a)igbmc.fr) www.igbmc.fr/laporte<http://www.igbmc.fr/laporte> """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Check our latest publications: . Mutations that harm alone heal together: Combining dynamin 2 myopathy and neuropathy mutations rescues both phenotypes. Nat Commun. 2025. doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-59925-6 . Opposite therapies for two diseases linked to the same gene: BIN1 reduction ameliorates DNM2-related Charcot-Marie-Tooth neuropathy. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2025 doi: 10.1073/pnas.2419244122 . Gene therapy for a congenital myopathy: BIN1 gene replacement reverses BIN1-related centronuclear myopathy. Mol Ther. doi: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2025.04.036 . A vitamin-supplementation for cancer and myotubular myopathy: Dietary pro-oxidant therapy by a vitamin K precursor targets PI 3-kinase VPS34 function. Science. 2024 doi: 10.1126/science.adk9167 . Identification of 14 myopathy genes: Exome sequencing in undiagnosed congenital myopathy reveals new genes and refines genes-phenotypes correlations. Genome Med. 2024 doi: 10.1186/s13073-024-01353-0 """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Jocelyn Franck LAPORTE Team <Muscle And Diseases> Dpt of Translational Medicine I.G.B.M.C. 1, rue Laurent Fries B.P. 10142 67404 ILLKIRCH France +33 388653412 www.igbmc.fr/laporte<http://www.igbmc.fr/laporte>

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