Event History

The Biological Surfaces and Interfaces series of meetings have a distinguished history of uniting researchers from diverse disciplines (physics, chemistry, biology, engineering, clinical disciplines) studying interfaces between biological systems and artificial materials, and within biological systems (such as cell membranes and their model, cell-extracellular matrix and cell-cell contacts, etc).
Since 2003, it served as the forum for the European and international interdisciplinary researchers in the field to exchange their ideas and mentor generations of young scientists.

Current Event

2025

The FEBS 2025 Biological surfaces and interfaces Advanced Lecture Course: Biointerfaces at lipids, proteins and polymers.
will take place 8–13 June 2025 in Girona, Spain.


The 2025 meeting will focus on a new aspect of research into biointerfaces: the understanding of the complex interactions at the biointerfaces at the molecular level, by introducing cutting-edge techniques such as machine learning, big data approach such as hyperspectral microscopy, friction force microscopy, CRISPR-based genetic engineering tools, small-angle X-ray scattering, neutron reflectometry. The course will provide insights in dynamic processes at the interface between lipids, proteins (including enzymes and peptides) and bio- and nanomaterials, also shedding light on how specific electrolytes modulate the interactions among them. Additionally, the design of interfaces which provide dynamic and controlled spatio-temporal stimuli, as well as the drug design, by controlling the behaviour of protein–drug, lipid–drug, or also protein/enzyme–nanoparticle interfaces, will be presented. The workshop aims at understanding a multidisciplinary area – biological interfaces – from a more biophysical point of view, which is a unique perspective.

Abstract deadlines

For oral and poster presentation: 28 February 2025.
Late abstract deadline for posters only: 31 March 2025.

The event website is under development by the organizers.

Organizers: Andrea Salis (University of Cagliari, Italy) and Kaori Sugihara (University of Tokyo, Japan)

Past Events

2022

The FEBS 2022 Biological Surfaces and Interfaces: Forces at Biological Interfaces
Delphine Gourdon (Glasgow, UK), chair. Chris Lorenz (King's Kollege London, UK), co-chair.
Kaori Sugihara (University of Tokyo, Japan) & Andrea Salis (University of Cagliari, Italy), vice-chairs.


Some remarks:

In a move that is absolutely unprecedented in the 17-year history of these meetings, and contrary to their spirit and history, the organizers were not advertising the meeting or sharing information about the meeting organization with the rest of the scientific community, including those of us who helped with the initial stages of the organization.

The application portal opened in March 2022, after the initial deadlines for the YTF fellowships and general attendance have already passed. After some back-and-forth with FEBS put additional pressure on the organizers, some advertisements appeared and the application deadlines were extended several times, offering the wider scientific community a chance to apply for the YTF fellowships and conference attendance, without, however, communicating the extensions to the rest of us.
After the completion of the meeting, I have been unable to find information about this meeting on the FEBS web server or on the websites of the organizers to include here.


2019

2019 FEBS Advanced Lecture Course Biological Surfaces and Interfaces: the Mechanistic View
Marta Bally (Umeå University, Sweden), Ilya Reviakine (UWashington, Seattle, USA), chairs.
Delphine Gourdon (Ottawa, Canada) and Chris Lorenz (King's Kollege London, UK), vice-chairs.
Conference Program (pdf).
Photos from the 2019 conference.


2017

FEBS Biological Surfaces and Interfaces Workshop on Interface Dynamics
Manuel Salmerón-Sánchez (University of Glasgow, UK), Ilya Reviakine (UWashington, Seattle, USA), chairs.
Marta Bally (Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden), vice-chair.
Conference Program (pdf).
Photos from the 2017 conference.


2013

FEBS Biological Surfaces and Interfaces Workshop
Chair: Ralf Richter (CIC biomaGUNE, Spain). Co-chair: Catherine Picart (Grenoble, France).
Eva-Kathrin Sinner (BOKU Vienna, Austria), Katharina Maniura, (EMPA, Switzerland), vice-chairs.


2011

ESF-EMBO Biological Surfaces and Interfaces Symposium
Fredrik Höök (Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden) and Janos Vörös (ETH Zürich, CH), chairs.
Ralf Richter (CIC biomaGUNE, Spain) and Eva Sinner (BOKU Vienna, Austria), co-chairs.
Program pdf.


2009

ESF-EMBO Biological Surfaces and Interfaces Symposium
Julie Gold (Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden) and Joachim Spatz (Stuttgart, Germany), chairs.
Fredrik Höök (Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden) and Janos Vörös (ETH Zürich, CH), co-chairs.
Program pdf.


2007

ESF-EMBO Biological Surfaces and Interfaces Symposium
Marcus Textor (ETH-Zurich, Switzerland) and Giovanni Marletta (Università di Catania, Italy), chairs.
Julie Gold (Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden) and Joachim Spatz (Stuttgart, Germany), vice-chairs.
Program pdf.


2005

ESF-EC Conference Biological Surfaces And Interfaces: Euroconference On Biomaterials, Biosensors And Analytical Techniques
Bengt, Kasemo (Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden), chair.
Marcus Textor (ETH-Zurich, Switzerland), vice-chair.
Program pdf.


Website developed and maintained by Dr. Ilya Reviakine

Logo credits: Hudson Pace, Umeå University, Sweden