Introduction

Dear Colleague,

We are delighted to invite you to participate at the 9^th International Conference on Biology and Synchrotron Radiation, to be held in Manchester UK on 13-17 August 2007 to celebrate and communicate current research and future applications of synchrotron technology.

The unique capabilities of synchrotron radiation have enabled successful structural studies on biological macromolecules to an extent that would have been impossible using conventional laboratory sources a few years ago. During the last five years, over 70% of all the X-ray structures in the Protein Database have been determined using synchrotron radiation.

In 2007 two new 3^rd generation sources will become available in Europe, Diamond in the UK and SOLEIL in France. These new facilities will enhance the application of cutting-edge technology in the elucidation of biological structures and systems. The prototype of the VUV free-electron-laser based facility of the 4GLS (4^thGeneration Light Source) should be completed at Daresbury in 2007 and the world's first coherent X-ray source, LCLS (Linac Coherent Light Source, Stanford), is scheduled to produce its first beam in 2008, offering new challenges to the biophysical and biological communities.

The Conference will bring together the world’s leading authorities for a 4 day programme of plenary lectures and invited talks in parallel academic sessions covering the latest advances in structural genomics, multiprotein complexes, structure based drug design, membrane proteins, metallo proteins, biological spectroscopy (CD, IR, etc), non-crystalline diffraction, XAFS, imaging, instrumentation, computational biology and radiation damage. The meeting will also feature sessions on new biological problems and on ‘hot topics’. Some places for speakers in the programme will be selected from submitted abstracts. On the last day, the delegates will have the opportunity to visit the Diamond Light Source at Chilton, Oxfordshire and hear presentations about Diamond and SOLEIL.

The Conference will also include Poster Sessions, and a Commercial Exhibition.

We look forward to welcoming you to Manchester and Diamond in 2007 and hope that your visit will be an enjoyable one, as well as a rewarding scientific and social experience.

BSR conference Chairs,
Samar Hasnain and Louise Johnson

Previous Conferences