Smart Condensates and Droplets Symposium 2024

The event is co-sponsored by the Cambridge Centre for Physical Biology (CPB) and the Engineering Biology Interdisciplinary Research Centre, and supported by the BBSRC

Membrane-less compartmentalisation, sustained by biomolecular condensates, is recognised as a ubiquitous mechanism through which cells achieve spatio-temporal control over biochemical processes, and its dysregulation has been linked to disease states. Inspired by biology, designer condensates, are finding application as functional scaffolds for synthetic cells and organelles, and as testbeds for drug discovery. Understanding the mechanisms underpinning liquid-liquid phase separation under complex and nonequilibrium conditions, and learning how to program it both within and outside cells, is a crucial next step towards developing novel therapies and tools for synthetic biology.

This symposium will delve into the latest research efforts towards characterising, modelling and ultimately programming biomolecular condensation in biological and synthetic systems, identify key open questions, and foster collaboration across this interdisciplinary community. Talks will be given by leading experts in their field, and contributed talks and poster presentations will integral to the programme.

Themes of interest include (but are not limited to):

• Theoretical and numerical modelling of biomolecular condensation
• In-vitro and in-vivo engineering of synthetic condensates
• Membrane-less compartmentalisation in synthetic cells
• Controlling biomolecular condensation as a means of treating disease