The largest congress of molecular life sciences for the first time in Krakow

After Berlin, Jerusalem and Prague, the time has come for Krakow.

The world's leading representatives of life sciences in Krakow-1800 scientists from dozens of countries – met in Krakow.

The 44. edition of FEBS Congress - The 44th Congress of the Federation of the European Biochemical Societies (the FEBS Congress 2019n) - this important event aimed at creating an international forum for the exchange of knowledge and ideas in the molecular natural sciences takes place every year in a different European city. The past edition took place in Krakow on 6-11 July 2019 in the ICE Congress Center. The world's leading scientists,  1,800 in total from all over the world participated in the Congress. 11 plenary lectures were delivered by eminent scientists, among them Nobel laureate, Venkatraman Ramakrishnan.

The FEBS is one of the most significant European organizations in the field of life sciences, bringing together more than 36,000 members associated in 35 national societies. The FEBS Congress took place in Poland only for the third time (in 1966 and 2004 in Warsaw) and was an event of exceptional scientific rank. Representatives of all contemporary fields of biology and biomedicine as well as related application trends participated in Congresses organized by the FEBS. The congresses are an excellent opportunity for all scientists and representatives of local communities to disseminate science and exchange experiences through personal meetings with world-class scholars. The three-day Young Scientists' Forum (YSF) was traditionally held just before the FEBS Congress.

From molecules to living systems

This year's "From molecules to living systems" Congress covered problems in the field of broadly understood biochemistry, molecular biology, plant biology and biochemistry, environmental sciences as well as biotechnology and bioinformatics. Issues related to medicine, pharmacy, medical biotechnology, plant biotechnology and industry biotechnology, as well as life sciences using a molecular approach were also discussed.

Interdisciplinary nature of the event

The aim of the Congress was to create a platform for an interdisciplinary exchange of scientific achievements in the field of life sciences, and thus the dissemination and popularization of research results in the country and abroad. The Congress was a place of information exchange and establishing contacts between Polish and foreign scientists.

The agenda of the event included inspiring plenary lectures conducted by eminent scientists and a number of symposia. The wide thematic scope of the Congress and its scale provided excellent conditions for participants to gain insight into progress in research areas beyond their own. What is more, a series of special sessions aimed at involving participants in broader issues, such as teaching in molecular natural sciences and questions about science and society.

Connections of the human proteome and personalized medicine and the search for new drugs, the role of hydrogen sulfide in the aspect of the development and pharmacology of circulatory diseases and cancers, as well as the results of research on human stem cell models and their use in the study of cardiovascular and cardiovascular diseases - these are just some of the fascinating topics that were presented as part of the plenary lecture. The lectures prove how research in the field of basic science, including biochemistry, is an important application potential, mainly in fields related to medicine and pharmacology.

The agenda of the 44. Congress approved by the FEBS authorities included more than 65 scientific sessions on the current cognitive currents in the field of biochemistry and related sciences. The chairmen of the session are the most outstanding Polish representatives of life sciences who invited scientists from abroad to cooperate.

In conclusion, the FEBS Congress is opening the space for the presentation of research, discussion, learning and seeking inspiration within molecular natural sciences. Participants of the event leave it with fresh knowledge and new research ideas. It was certainly one of the most important scientific events in Poland in 2019, as well as a great opportunity to present our native achievements in all areas of dynamically developing life sciences, the level of which is often matched with global achievements.

More information on the FEBS 2019 Congress can be found at: 2019.febscongress.org.

The event was organized by the Polish Biochemical Society, the Federation of European Biochemical Societies and Targi w Krakowie Sp. z o. o.

A commemorative tree planting with the participation of representatives of the FEBS and the Polish Biochemical Society was held on Monday, July 8, at Aleja Kongresowa, Monte Cassino.