Structural Biology

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About Conference

Why to attend

Attending Structural Biology 2026 offers a unique opportunity to engage with the forefront of scientific discovery in molecular and structural biology. The conference will bring together leading experts, young researchers, and industry innovators to share breakthroughs in techniques like cryo-EM, NMR, AI-based protein modeling, and integrative structural analysis. Participants will gain valuable insights into how these tools are revolutionizing drug discovery, disease research, and our understanding of biomolecular mechanisms. Whether you're looking to present your work, build collaborations, explore career opportunities, or stay ahead of technological trends, Structural Biology 2026 is the ideal platform to grow professionally and contribute to the advancement of life sciences.

Benefits of attending:

Attending the Structural Biology 2026 Conference allows you to stay informed about the latest developments in molecular and structural biology, including breakthroughs in cryo-EM, AI-driven modeling, and drug discovery. It offers hands-on learning through expert-led workshops, opportunities to present your research to a global audience, and valuable networking with leading scientists, innovators, and industry professionals. The conference also provides a platform to explore cutting-edge tools and technologies that can enhance your research and open new career paths in academia, biotech, and pharmaceutical industries.

• Gain insights into the latest developments in structural biology and protein science
• Stay updated on advancements shaping the future of the field
• Official Certificate of Participation
• Enhance Career Development
• Access to Premium Scientific Content
• Abstract Publication with DOI
• Global Networking Platform
• Explore Breakthrough Research
• Opportunities for Collaboration
• Discounted Journal Publication
• Conference Kits and Materials
• Awards and Recognition

Target Audience:

Structural Biology 2026 is designed to bring together a diverse and interdisciplinary group of professionals, researchers, and students who are actively engaged in the fields of molecular biology, structural analysis, and related sciences. The target audience includes:

• Structural Biologists
• Molecular Biologists & Biochemists
• Bioinformaticians & Computational Biologists
• Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology Professionals
• Crystallographers & NMR Spectroscopists
• Geneticists & Cell Biologists
• Academicians & University Faculty
• Postdoctoral Researchers & PhD Students
• Healthcare and Clinical Researchers
• Instrumentation & Software Developers
• Policy Makers & Scientific Advisors
• Scientific Publishers & Journal Editors

Scientific sessions /tracks

1.Advanced Techniques in Structural Biology:

Advanced techniques in structural biology—such as cryo-EM, X-ray crystallography, NMR, and integrative modeling—have revolutionized our understanding of biomolecular structures and their functions. These tools allow scientists to visualize complex proteins and molecular assemblies with remarkable precision. Looking ahead, innovations like AI-driven structure prediction and cellular cryo-ET promise to reveal dynamic molecular processes in real time. Such advances will significantly impact drug discovery, disease research, and the future of personalized medicine.

2. AI & Computational Structural Biology:

AI & Computational Structural Biology are transforming the way scientists study biomolecules by enabling faster, more accurate structure prediction and analysis. Tools like AlphaFold and Rose TTA Fold have revolutionized protein structure prediction, reducing the need for time-consuming experimental methods. Computational approaches also support molecular modeling, docking, and dynamics simulations, helping researchers understand interactions, design drugs, and predict mutations. These technologies are essential for accelerating discoveries, improving precision medicine, and bridging the gap between structural data and functional insights. Their importance continues to grow as they integrate with experimental techniques to offer a more complete view of biological systems.

3. Structure-Function Relationships:

Structure-function relationships refer to the concept that the three-dimensional structure of a biological molecule—such as a protein, enzyme, or nucleic acid—directly determines its function. The specific shape, folding, and arrangement of atoms within a molecule enable it to interact with other molecules, perform chemical reactions, or carry out biological roles. Even small changes in structure, like mutations or misfolding, can significantly affect a molecule’s activity and lead to diseases. Understanding structure-function relationships is essential in fields like drug design, enzyme engineering, and disease research, as it helps scientists predict how molecules work and how to modify them for therapeutic purposes.

4. Membrane Proteins and Receptors:

Membrane proteins and receptors are vital components of cell membranes, responsible for transporting molecules, transmitting signals, and maintaining cellular communication. They include ion channels, transporters, and G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), which play key roles in numerous physiological processes. Despite their complexity and structural challenges, studying these proteins is crucial, as over 50% of current drugs target membrane proteins. Understanding their structures helps in unraveling disease mechanisms and designing more effective, targeted therapies. Their importance continues to rise with advancements in cryo-EM and other structural tools that now make high-resolution visualization possible.

5. 3D Structure Determination:

3D structure determination involves uncovering the three-dimensional shape of biomolecules like proteins and nucleic acids using techniques such as X-ray crystallography, NMR spectroscopy, and cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM). These structures reveal how molecules function, interact, and change during biological processes. Understanding a molecule’s 3D shape is essential for identifying active sites, designing drugs, and engineering proteins for therapeutic or industrial use. Accurate structural data also provides insights into disease mechanisms and enables structure-based drug discovery, making it a cornerstone of modern biomedical research.

6. Computational Approach in Structural Biology:

Computational approaches in structural biology involve the use of algorithms, simulations, and modeling tools to predict, analyze, and visualize the structures and dynamics of biomolecules. These methods complement experimental techniques by enabling researchers to study large complexes, dynamic interactions, and difficult-to-crystallize proteins. Key tools include molecular dynamics simulations, protein-protein docking, homology modeling, and AI-based structure prediction. Their importance lies in accelerating discoveries, reducing experimental costs, guiding drug design, and offering insights into biological mechanisms that are otherwise hard to capture in the lab.

7. Structure-Based Drug Discovery:

Structure-based drug discovery (SBDD) is a powerful approach that uses the 3D structure of biological targets—such as proteins or enzymes—to design and develop new drugs. By understanding the molecular architecture of a target, researchers can identify active sites, predict binding interactions, and design molecules that fit precisely, increasing drug specificity and efficacy. Techniques like cryo-EM, X-ray crystallography, and computational modeling play a key role in this process. SBDD significantly reduces trial-and-error in drug development, accelerates lead optimization, and is essential for creating targeted therapies with fewer side effects, making it a cornerstone of modern pharmaceutical research.

8. Structural Virology and Infectious Diseases:

Structural virology focuses on determining the 3D structures of viruses and their components, such as capsids, envelope proteins, and viral enzymes. By understanding how viruses assemble, enter host cells, and replicate, scientists gain crucial insights into their life cycles and mechanisms of infection. This structural knowledge is essential for designing antiviral drugs, vaccines, and therapeutic antibodies. In the context of infectious diseases, structural virology plays a vital role in rapid response to emerging pathogens—such as SARS-CoV-2—by revealing targets for treatment and prevention. It bridges molecular understanding with real-world medical solutions, making it key in global health defense.

9. Proteomics and Genomics:

Proteomics and genomics are complementary fields that provide a comprehensive understanding of biological systems. Genomics involves the study of an organism’s entire genetic material (DNA), helping identify genes, mutations, and their roles in health and disease. Proteomics, on the other hand, focuses on the full set of proteins expressed by a genome, including their structures, functions, and interactions. Together, they offer insights into how genetic information is translated into functional molecules and how changes at the DNA level affect cellular behavior. Their importance lies in advancing personalized medicine, biomarker discovery, and the development of targeted therapies for complex diseases.

10. Structural Biology in Cancer Research:

The primary aim of integrating structural biology into cancer research is to design and discover novel, effective drugs that can target cancer at the molecular level. By combining structural biology with molecular modeling, researchers can understand how cancer-related biomolecules function and interact, enabling precise drug design. This approach accelerates the development of targeted therapies with higher efficacy and fewer side effects. As a result, a significant portion of structural biology research today is focused on cancer, with many leading scientists dedicating their efforts to unraveling the molecular mechanisms behind the disease to drive innovation in cancer treatment.

11. Biochemistry and Biophysics:

Biochemistry is the study of chemical processes and substances that occur within living organisms. It plays a crucial role in understanding the molecular foundations of life by exploring how proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and carbohydrates function within cells. Recently, biochemistry has gained immense importance across all areas of biosciences and biotechnology, as it provides the basis for fields like molecular biology, genetics, pharmacology, and medicine. By regulating information flow through biochemical signaling and managing energy via metabolic pathways, biochemistry explains how cellular processes are coordinated. Its importance lies in uncovering the mechanisms of health and disease, paving the way for the development of diagnostics, therapies, and innovative treatments.

Biophysics is that the trending topic within the field of biology. It relates physics and biology. In other words, it signifies how traditional physical methods are wont to study the biological phenomena inside the physical body. Biophysical research shares significant overlap with biochemistry, biology, chemistry, physiology, nanotechnology, bioengineering, computational biology, biomechanics and systems biology.

12. The Structural Basis of Disease:

The structural basis of disease refers to understanding how changes in the 3D structures of biomolecules—such as proteins, enzymes, or nucleic acids—lead to the onset and progression of diseases. Mutations, misfolding, or abnormal interactions at the molecular level can disrupt normal biological functions and cause conditions like cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, and genetic diseases. By studying these structural changes, scientists can identify disease mechanisms, discover potential drug targets, and design more effective, structure-based therapies. This approach is crucial for developing precision medicine, as it links molecular abnormalities to clinical outcomes, enabling more accurate diagnosis and targeted treatment.

13. Structure-Based Solutions to Global Health Challenges:

Structure-based solutions to global health challenges involve using detailed knowledge of the 3D structures of biomolecules to tackle pressing medical issues such as infectious diseases, cancer, and antibiotic resistance. By understanding how proteins and pathogens function at the molecular level, researchers can design highly specific drugs, vaccines, and diagnostics. This approach accelerates the development of targeted therapies and improves their effectiveness while reducing side effects. Structural biology thus plays a vital role in responding to global health threats by enabling rapid drug discovery, guiding vaccine design, and supporting efforts in personalized and precision medicine across diverse populations.

14. Hybrid Approaches for Structure Prediction:

Hybrid approaches for structure prediction combine multiple experimental and computational techniques to determine the accurate 3D structures of biomolecules, especially large or complex systems that are difficult to study using a single method. These approaches may integrate data from cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), X-ray crystallography, NMR spectroscopy, small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), mass spectrometry, and computational modeling to build comprehensive structural models.

The importance of hybrid methods lies in their ability to provide more complete, flexible, and accurate structures, particularly for dynamic or multi-component molecular assemblies. They allow researchers to overcome limitations of individual techniques and gain deeper insights into biological mechanisms, aiding in drug discovery, understanding disease processes, and advancing structural systems biology.

15. Structural Virology:

Structural virology is the study of the three-dimensional structures of viruses and their components—such as capsids, envelope proteins, and viral enzymes—at the atomic or molecular level. By using advanced techniques like cryo-electron microscopy, X-ray crystallography, and NMR spectroscopy, researchers can visualize how viruses assemble, infect host cells, and replicate.

The importance of structural virology lies in its ability to reveal critical viral mechanisms, which are essential for the development of antiviral drugs, vaccines, and therapeutic antibodies. It plays a key role in combating global health threats by enabling the rapid identification of drug targets and guiding the rational design of effective treatments and immunizations, as seen in responses to viruses like HIV, influenza, and SARS-CoV-2.

16. Structural Bioinformatics and Computational Biology:

Structural bioinformatics and computational biology are interdisciplinary fields that use computational tools and algorithms to analyze, predict, and model the three-dimensional structures of biological macromolecules. Structural bioinformatics focuses on the storage, analysis, and visualization of structural data, while computational biology applies mathematical models and simulations to study biological processes at the molecular level. These fields play a vital role in protein structure prediction, molecular docking, drug design, and understanding biomolecular interactions. Their importance lies in accelerating research, reducing experimental costs, and enabling the exploration of complex biological systems that are difficult to study through traditional laboratory methods alone.

17. Molecular Modelling and Dynamics:

Molecular modeling involves hypothetical and computational procedures used to mimic the behavior of macromolecules. These techniques are applied in various fields such as drug design, computational chemistry, materials science, and computational biology. They help in studying and understanding the structural and functional properties of molecules. One of the major applications of molecular modeling is molecular simulation, which uses powerful computers to simulate interactions between atoms and explore the properties of materials. Such simulations range from highly detailed quantum mechanical calculations at the atomic level to coarse-grained classical dynamics of large molecular systems over timescales of milliseconds or longer.

Molecular dynamics (MD) specifically focuses on studying the physical movements of atoms and molecules using simulation techniques, and is classified as a type of N-body simulation. Atoms and molecules are allowed to interact over a fixed time period, providing insight into the dynamic evolution of the system. Their trajectories are typically determined by numerically solving Newton’s equations of motion for groups of interacting particles. The forces and potential energies are calculated using interatomic potentials or molecular mechanics force fields. An extension of this method, Steered Molecular Dynamics (SMD), allows researchers to apply external forces to simulate mechanical unfolding or molecular recognition processes in a more targeted manner.

18. Drug Designing and Biomarkers:

A biomarker is an attribute which will be studied as an indicator of pathogenic and biological operation alongside pharmacological retort to a therapeutic involvement. They indicate either normal or diseased activity within the body. Biomarkers are specific molecules, genes, gene products, hormones, cells or enzymes.

Drug Designing is an ingenious process to seek out new medication centered on the knowledge of biological target. Drug is most ordinarily a little molecule that inhibits or activates the function of a biomolecule, which successively outcomes during a therapeutic benefit to the patient. Drug design commonly but not essentially relies on computational techniques. This sort of modelling is usually mentioned to as computer-aided drug design.

Market analysis

The structural biology sector continues its strong upward trajectory into 2026, driven by rapid advancements in cryo-electron microscopy, X-ray crystallography, NMR technologies, and the growing integration of AI and computational modeling. Major public agencies and national research programs across the U.S., Europe, and Asia-Pacific are sustaining substantial investment in structural biology infrastructure, national service centers, and translational biomedical research, which collectively strengthen global research capacity. North America and Europe remain leaders due to robust NIH, UKRI, and EU-funded initiatives, while the Asia-Pacific region—particularly China, India, Japan, and Australia—is witnessing the fastest growth, fueled by expanding pharmaceutical and biotech industries. The global structural biology tools and services market is projected to continue its mid- to high-single-digit annual growth through 2026, with cryo-EM-related segments expected to grow even faster due to increasing adoption by both academia and industry. Rising demand for structure-guided drug discovery, biologics development, and precision medicine is further accelerating market expansion, making structural biology a central driver of innovation in oncology, neurodegenerative diseases, and infectious disorders. As these technological and commercial forces intensify, the 22nd World Congress on Structural Biology stands well-positioned to attract researchers, industry partners, and policymakers seeking collaboration, training, commercialization opportunities, and access to cutting-edge structural science.