General context
The concept of liquid-liquid phase separation provides a rationale for the cellular organization of cytoplasmic and nuclear components into biomolecular condensates. These biomolecular condensates can serve as specialized regions for biochemical reactions, dynamically sequester components or act as organizational hubs for signaling networks. In recent years, the interests in how these biomolecular condensates are formed, how they are organized, and what their functional properties are has grown substantially, and has led to increasing evidence that dysregulation of liquid-liquid phase separation contributes to neurodegenerative diseases as well as cancer. To keep up to date with the latest developments and break-throughs in this field, we organize a VIB training day on ‘Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation’.

Objectives
The aim of this training day is – after a brief introduction – to provide guidelines for accurate experimental characterization of LLPS processes in vitro and in cells. We will end the day with a discussion on the implications of dysregulation of liquid-liquid phase separation for human disease. We have invited top-notch speakers on this topic to inform you on the latest developments.

Event intended for
This training targets scientists who want to keep up-to-date with the latest evolutions in the field of liquid-liquid phase separation. The training is aimed at PhD students, postdoctoral fellows, technicians or other scientists with a molecular biology background.

Scientific committee
Eleonora Leucci, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven

Thomas Moens, VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research

Peter Tompa, VIB-VUB Center for Structural Biology

Trainers