25 - 26 November 2008 - ICTP Kastler Hall, Adriatico GH

Emerging Applications of Synchrotron Radiation in the Life Sciences

The interface between physics and biology is one of the fastest growing and most successful areas of science. Although novel techniques are increasingly expanding the range of information that can be obtained on biological samples, many life scientists are still unaware of the potentialities offered by synchrotron radiation methods and their ability to provide data at the molecular, chemical, cellular or tissue level. The aim of the workshop is to bridge the gap between beamline and life scientists, and to stimulate the interest of new potential users towards emerging synchrotron radiation methods, including x-ray diffraction and small angle scattering, x-ray imaging and microscopy, infrared spectromicroscopy, x-ray absorption and x-ray microfluorescence. Speakers will provide a basic introduction on the physical principles and the kind of information that can be obtained by each method, keeping in mind the non-expert audience. Case studies will also be discussed to illustrate the possibilities offered by these techniques in terms of biological results, from molecular biology to medicine.

Tuesday, November 25

16:10-16:30 Giorgio Paolucci (ST) "Opening address"

Chemical Imaging and Spectromicroscopy - Chair: Maya Kiskinova

16:30-17:00 Lisa Vaccari (ST), "FTIR Spectromicroscopy at SISSI: Technical Overview and Life Sciences Applications"

17:00-17:30 Burkhard Kaulich (ST), "X-ray Transmission and Fluorescence Microscopy"

17:30-18:00 Diane Eichert (ST), "XRF Perspectives at Elettra and the Potential of Combining SR-based Techniques"

18:00-18:40 Carole Poitry- Yamate (EPFL), "Metabolic and Functional Imaging of Brain Activation Related to Neurodegenerative Diseases Using Core Techniques as NMR, PET and Synchrotron Radiation"

19:30 Conference Dinner

Wednesday, November 26

Macromolecular Structures - Chair: Silvia Onesti

09:00-09:30 Heinz Amenitsch (Austrian Academy of Sciences), "SAXS and its applications to the life sciences"

09:30-10:10 Silvia Morante (Universita' di Roma "Tor Vergata"), "Metals and Neurodegenerative Diseases: a Challenging Synergy Between XAS and Ab-initio Simulations"

10:10-10:50 Giuseppe Legname (SISSA and ST), "Solving the Prion Puzzle with Synchrotron Radiation"

10:50-11:20 Coffee break

11:20-12:00 Annalisa Pastore (NIMR, London), "SAXS and NMR as Complementary Techniques"

12:00-12:30 Loredana Casalis (ST), "AFM: an Emerging Tool Complementary to SR Techniques in the Context of the Life Sciences"

12:30-14:00 Lunch break

High Resolution Imaging and Tomography - Chair: Domenico Romeo

14:00-14:30 Giuliana Tromba (ST), "Recent Progress in Phase-contrast Imaging and Microtomography at SYRMEP"

14:30-15:10 Roman Polishchuk (Consorzio Mario Negri Sud), "Electron Microscopy Tools to Combat Genetic Diseases"

15:10-15:40 Lorella Pascolo (ST), "From Drug- to Nano-toxicology: General Concepts and Expectations"

15:40-16:10 Coffee break

16:10-16:50 Alessandro Marcello (ICGEB), "Analysis of Viral Replication in Real-time in Single Living Cells"

16:50-17:20 Lucia Monaco (Telethon), "Telethon's Achievements and Challenges: the Experience of a Biomedical Charity in Italy"

17:20-17:30 Closing address