PHASAGE

PhasAGE – Excellence Hub on Phase Transitions in Aging and Age-Related Disorders

Training SCHOOL 4

Protein aggregation, intrinsic disorder and phase separation in the era of machine learning

17-21 APRIL 2023

 

DESCRIPTION

After three successful editions, the PhasAGE consortium is pleased to announce the fourth Training School on “Protein aggregation, intrinsic disorder and phase separation in the era of machine learning”. The event is co-organized by the H2020-funded Twinning project PhasAGE (GA 952334), the H2020-funded MSCA project IDPfun (GA 778247) and the COST Action “Non-globular proteins in the era of machine learning – ML4NGP” (CA21160) and will take place at the PhasAGE coordinating institution, in Porto (Portugal).

The PhasAGE Training School will be organized back-to-back with the first ML4NGP Training School with shared theoretical lectures.

PhasAGE Training School

Dates: 17-21 April 2023

(5-day course)

 

Target: For members of the PhasAGE consortium and external participants with a strong focus on computational and experimental methodologies to study protein aggregation.

 

Overview: Participants will receive multidisciplinary training on computational and experimental tools to acquire comprehensive knowledge of integrative methodologies for studying intrinsically disordered proteins and protein aggregation in cell biology and disease. The program integrate practical sessions with lectures by leading experts in the field from within and beyond the organizing consortiums.

Dates: 19-21 April 2023

(3-day course)

 

Target: Exclusive for members of the COST Action CA21160 “Non-globular proteins in the era of machine learning – ML4NGP” and selected participants from the IDPfun consortium.

 

Overview: The main goal of this course is to provide participants with an overview of recent advances in computational resources and hands-on training with resources and tools for studying protein aggregation and phase separation. Participants will reflect on how recent advances in protein structure prediction tools are paving the way for a more comprehensive understanding of protein function.

The scientific program includes open shared lectures as well as parallel practical sessions. Participants from both courses will benefit from a social event and course dinner.

The program also includes career development talks on open science, research integrity, and alternative career paths in scientific research to help early-stage researchers maximize their professional potential.

Keywords

protein structure, protein aggregation, disordered proteins, repeated proteins, protein interactions, protein function, biological processes, machine learning, bioinformatics

PRACTICAL SESSIONS - INFORMATION

PhasAGE Practical sessions
Participants will learn basic and applied protein aggregation concepts and explore computational and experimental methods to study these processes. Trainees will work in groups and receive hands-on training in protein aggregation concepts and methodologies using disease-causing proteins as models.

TARGET AUDIENCE AND REQUIREMENTS

Both courses are intended for MSc and PhD students and young researchers who are interested in learning how to better predict and correlate protein structure and function. Participants must be able to navigate online biological resources but are not expected to have computational or programming skills. Prior knowledge and basic training in Biochemistry, Biology, Bioengineering or related sciences are recommended. 

Both courses are limited to a reduced number of attendees to maximize active learning. Participants will be selected based on a short motivation statement and will receive a certificate of attendance at the end of the course

Important: All participants should bring their own laptop.

PRELIMINARY PROGRAM

17 April 2023

PhasAGE Training School

14:00-14:30

Registration

14:30-14:45

Opening Session

14:45-15:45

Multiscale analysis of neurodegenerative diseases using advanced biophysical approaches
Annalisa Pastore

15:45-17:30

Managing Conflicts and Time in Research: Why Ethics&Integrity and Career Development Matter
Susana Magalhães and Paula Perez 

17:30
Warm-Up event

18 April 2023

PhasAGE Training School

09:00-10:15

 

Experimental analysis of protein aggregation and phase separation
Caterina Alfano

10:15-10:30

Coffee Break

10:30-11:30

Computational tools to predict protein aggregation and phase separation – the impact of new AI-based protein structure predictions
Salvador Ventura

11:30-12:30

Prometheus Panta: the new gold-standard technique to deeply characterize your proteins
Vincenzo Pisapia

12:30-14:00

Lunch

14:00-16:00

PhasAGE Practical Session

16:00-16:30

Coffee Break

16:30-18:30

PhasAGE Practical Session  

19 April 2023

PhasAGE Training School | ML4NGP Training School

09:00-10:00

AI revolution and protein structure models
Pedro Beltrão

10:00-11:15

PhasAGE Practical Session | ML4NGP Practical Session

11:15-11:30

Coffee Break

11:30-12:45

PhasAGE Practical Session | ML4NGP Practical Session

12:45-14:00

Lunch

14:00-15:30

Mathematical models and data analysis
Pedro Martins

15:30-16:00

Modulators of Ataxin-3 protein aggregation
Sandra Ribeiro

16:00-16:15

Coffee Break

16:15-17:15

Jumping from biophysics research to industry
Peter Tompa

18:30-22:00

Social event and Dinner

20 April 2023

PhasAGE Training School | ML4NGP Training School

10:00-11:00

The structure-toxicity relationship of protein aggregates
Fabrizio Chiti 

11:00-11:15

Coffee Break

11:15-12:15

Conformational ensembles of IDPs: implications for function and drug development
Peter Tompa

12:15-13:00

iPLUS: on the function of a non-coding sequence as an asset for biopharmaceutics
Alexandra Moreira

13:00-14:30

Lunch

14:30-16:00

PhasAGE practical session | ML4NGP Practical Session

16:00-16:15

Coffee Break

16:15-17:45

 

PhasAGE practical session | ML4NGP Practical Session

21 April 2023

PhasAGE Training School | ML4NGP Training School

09:30-10:30

NMR as a tool to study disordered proteins at atomic resolution
Lukáš Žídek

10:30-10:45

Coffee Break

10:45-11:45

CAID 2: lessons from the second critical assessment of protein intrinsic
disorder prediction
Silvio Tosatto

12:00-13:00

Disordered interactions and phase separations of α-synuclein
Alfonso de Simone

13:00-14:30

Lunch

14:30-16:00

Closing session

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Participants will acquire the following skills:
– Knowledge of structural modelling tools to predict protein folding and misfolding
– Knowledge of the biophysical mechanism of protein aggregation and phase separation
– Knowledge of bioinformatics tools to predict protein structure based on sequence
– Knowledge of predictions of protein liquid-liquid phase separation and protein aggregation

CONFIRMED INSTRUCTORS

Prof. Sandra Macedo Ribeiro (IBMC/i3S, University of Porto, Portugal)
Dr. Pedro Martins (IBMC/i3S, University of Porto, Portugal
Prof. Alexandra Moreira (IBMC/i3S, University of Porto, Portugal)
Dr. Rita Vilaça (IBMC/i3S, University of Porto, Portugal) 

Dr. Zsuzsa Sárkány (IBMC/i3S, University of Porto, Portugal) 

Dr. Frederico Silva (i3S, University of Porto, Portugal) 

Prof. Peter Tompa (VIB-VUB, Belgium)
Prof. Salvador Ventura (Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain)
MSc. Carlos Pintado-Grima (Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain)
Prof. Silvio Tosatto (University of Padova, Italy)
Dr. Alexander Monzon (University of Padova, Italy)
Prof. Annalisa Pastore (European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, France)
Dr. Pedro Beltrão (ETH Zurich, Switzerland)
Dr. Alfonso de Simone (University of Naples Federico II, Italy)
Dr. Caterina Alfano (Ri.MED Foundation, Italy)

Prof. Lukáš Žídek (CEITEC – Central European Institute of Technology, Czech Republic)

Dr. Fabrizio Chiti (Università degli Studi di Firenze, Italy)

Dr. Vincenzo Pisapia (Nanotemper Technologies, Germany)

REGISTRATION

PhasAGE Training School (5-day course)

Registration fee includes coffee breaks, lunches, course materials and access to the social event and course dinner on 19 April.

 

Registration fees for the PhasAGE Training School (5-day course)

5-DAY COURSE REGISTRATION TYPE REGISTRATION FEE PAYMENT DEADLINE
REGULAR

REGISTRATION

(UNTIL 24 FEBRUARY)

PhasAGE i3S

PhasAGE consortium

External

Industry

65€

120€

170€

220€

3 MARCH 2023
LATE

REGISTRATION

(UNTIL 9 MARCH)

PhasAGE i3S

PhasAGE consortium

External

Industry

90€

145€

245€

345€

17 MARCH 2023
A short motivation statement (max. 500 characters) will be requested in the pre-registration form.
 
Applications will be evaluated by a scientific panel and selected participants will be notified on: 
– Regular registrations: 27 February
– Late registrations: 13 March
 

Please note that your pre-registration does not confirm that you have been selected for the course. Payment will be requested only after confirmation of acceptance. Details for payment will be sent in the confirmation registration e-mail.

 

If you need any assistance please contact events@i3s.up.pt.

ML4NGP Training School (3-day course)

More information here.  

ORGANIZING COMMITTEE

Rita Vilaça (IBMC/i3S, University of Porto, Portugal)
Mónica Marques (IBMC/i3S, University of Porto, Portugal)
Sandra Ribeiro (IBMC/i3S, University of Porto, Portugal)
Alexander Monzon (University of Padova, Italy)
Silvio Tosatto (University of Padova, Italy)

CO-ORGANIZING CONSORTIA

SPONSORS

Bioportugal_logo_HQ

PhasAGE is a Twinning project fully committed to gender balance by developing and supporting a diverse and inclusive community.