ALLODD Science Cafe with ESR 11 Hryhory Sinenka
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Date: March 3, 2025
Location: Online ESR11 Hryhory Sinenka has hosted an online Science Café devoted to his PhD research done under the ALLODD initiative. The Science Café was accessible to the general public and focused on an easy-to-comprehend discussion of the science of synaptic receptors’ modulation and relevant computational chemistry techniques. Additionally, the ALLODD Network was presented and explained, as well as the concept of allostery. In the end, listeners' questions were addressed, establishing a direct connection with the general public. This initiative brought better awareness of the ESR11 work to the wider audience outside of the academic setting.
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Utställningen Unga Forskare 2025 (The Young Scientists Exhibition)
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Date: February 10-14, 2025
Location: Online ESR9 Bohdana Sokolova participated as an expert scientific juror in Utställningen Unga Forskare 2025, Sweden's largest youth science competition, where she engaged directly with Swedish high school students. In this role, she actively interacted with students' research projects during February 10-14, 2025, providing detailed scientific feedback and guidance to help them develop their research skills and scientific thinking. The event involved over 720 participants from across Sweden, and she personally worked with and mentored 6 high school students.
Through this digital mentorship, Bohdana engaged in constructive dialogue about their work, shared insights from her field, and helped nurture the next generation of Swedish researchers. This outreach activity was conducted as part of her work with ALLODD, allowing her to translate her research expertise into meaningful educational impact. More information can be found here. 
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Matí de la Recerca 2024 (European Researcher’s Night 2024)
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Date: 30 September
Location: Jesuïtes de Sarrià – Sant Ignasi The ALLODD member David Sotillo Núñez (ESR14) participated in the activity “Matí de la Recerca” in the framework of 2024 Researcher’s Night in the school Jesuïtes de Sarrià – Sant Ignasi.
There, he organized a talk for students on their last high school year. The talk focused on bringing the process and techniques used in Drug Discovery to the students. Computational techniques such as Docking and Molecular Dynamics were discussed and demonstrated. Lastly, the ALLODD project was showcased, as well as the ESR work within it to serve as a practical example to what was explained. More information can be found here. 
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Life is Science (European Researcher´s Night 2024)
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Date: 27 September 2024
Location: University of Graz, Graz, Austria ALLODD member Jonathan Lefèbre (ESR2) participated in the European Researcher's Night, held at the University of Graz. Organized by the acib GmbH, the University of Graz, and the University of Applied Sciences St. Pölten, the event allowed participants of all ages and backgrounds to explore and engage with science, technology, and scientific collaboration through a variety of exhibitions, workshops and shows.
At a hands-on station, Jonathan presented the goals of the ALLODD project, explaining how it aims to facilitate the discovery of drugs for difficult-to-treat diseases. Attendees explored the complexities and opportunities of allosteric drug discovery by building models of approved allosteric drugs and learning about their protein targets. More information can be found here. copyright of photos: acib, T. Schärfl |
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Nit de la Recerca 2024 (European Researcher´s Night 2024)
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Date: 27 September 2024
Location: Museu de la Ciència Cosmo Caixa, Barcelona, Spain ALLODD members Varbina Ivanova (ESR 3), Özge Ergün (ESR 4), David Sotillo (ESR 14), Prof. Jordi Juarez and Prof. Carles Curutchet participated in Researcher´s Night activities held in Museu de la Ciència Cosmo Caixa (Science Museum) in Barcelona.
They organized a science fair with the title “A visual trip to binding of a drug to a receptor” targeting the general public from kids to adults. They demonstrated different protein structures and ligands by using VR glasses and also enlightened people about the ALLODD program. Attendees also got the chance to try on the glasses and get hands-on experience in the virtual protein world. More information can be found here. |
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Mednight – Nuit Mediterranéenne des chercheuses 2024 (European Researcher’s Night 2024)
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Date: 27 September 2024
Location: Lycee Joffre in Montpellier Sigrid Pedersen (ESR 6) took part in Montpellier’s version of the European Researcher’s Night, organised by Genopolys and partners of the Mednight consortium. The event, open to the public from five years and up, saw almost 150 researchers from different fields gather to share their passion for science through interactive workshops, conferences, games and debates.
Sigrid Pedersen participated as part of the EU corner (“Coin de l’UE”), which was focused on teaching about EU-actions, especially Marie Sklodowska-Curie actions, European women researchers and science through a wheel of fortune game and the distribution of learning material. More information can be found here. 
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Bio3 2024
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Date: 1-5 September 2024
Location: Technopolis City of Athens ALLODD participated in the Bio3 2024: Biomedicine, Bioinformatics & Biotechnology Forum: Fostering Collaboration in Industry & Academia in Technopolis City of Athens. The Bio3 2024 unlocks the limitless potential of AI in biotech, pharma, human health, and microbiome research, where groundbreaking discoveries, industry insights, and collaborative opportunities will converge to accelerate innovation and foster commercial success.
This year top experts, biotech innovators, and investors from across the globe gathered for engaging discussions, groundbreaking innovation showcases, and unparalleled networking opportunities. The Cournia lab including Francho Nerín Fonz (ESR1) through their speeches and poster presentations presented ALLODD to scientists and undergraduate and graduate students. Find out more about this event here. |
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Berlin Long Night of Science 2024
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Date: 22 June 2024
Location: Berlin, Germany The Long Night of Science is an annual event during which scientific institutions in Berlin and its surroundings invite the public to take a glimpse at their research, to attend lectures and perform exciting experiments.
The Nazaré Lab at FMP opened its doors to visitors under the topic "The path to perfect medicines: medical compounds and chemical reactions". After an introductory lecture by ALLODD PI Prof. Dr. Nazaré, the audience visited the chemistry lab, where students including ESR 7 Vincenzo DiLorenzo and ESR 8 Nina-Louisa Efrém gave an insight into the chemistry lab work in drug discovery. Visitors could experience and learn about basic processes in the development of medical compounds: chemical reactions, compound isolation and -characterisation procedures as well as computer-aided exploration of proteins and protein-ligand interactions. More information can be found here. Copyright of the photos: Peter Himsel |
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EuroScience Open Forum - MSCA Satellite event
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Date: 10-11 June 2024
Location: Katowice, Poland ALLODD participated in the EuroScience Open Forum (ESOF) - MSCA Satellite event that took place in Katowice (Poland), on 10 and 11 June 2024. The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions organised a training and networking event for their community back-to-back with the 11th edition of the EuroScience Open Forum.
Selected MSCA fellows, alumni, supervisors, and project managers, including Alexios Chatzigoulas (ALLODD Project Manager), explored important scientific and societal issues through a mix of panel discussions, workshops, and training sessions. The program included training on science communication for different audiences, practical exercises on using AI in research, and panels on greening research projects, collaborations between academic and non-academic partners, and careers at the intersection of science and policy. At ESOF, the project plan of ALLODD was communicated to the other MSCA fellows, alumni, supervisors, project managers, and policymakers. The event offered many opportunities for networking and social activities, helping build valuable personal and professional connections. Find out more about this event here. |
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Antibody Engineering & Therapeutics Europe
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Date: 4-6 June 2024
Location: Excel London Platinum Suite ALLODD participated in the Antibody Engineering & Therapeutics Europe that took place in London (UK). This meeting is organized by the Antibody Society and is recognized as Europe´s leading antibody conference for accelerating next-generation antibodies to commercial success.
Léxane Fournier (ESR12) presented a poster at the event. Find out more about this event here. 
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J&J in Belgium: From Lab to Life
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Date: 1-2 June 2024
Location: Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, Beerse, Belgium ALLODD member Martijn Bemelmans (ESR13) participated in J&J in Belgium: From Lab to Life, held at Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, Beerse, Belgium, on June 1-2, 2024. This public engagement event opened J&J Belgium’s research facilities to friends and family of employees, offering an inside look at the company’s drug discovery efforts.
Martijn engaged with attendees, explaining the importance of allostery in drug discovery and showcasing computational modeling approaches used to identify novel therapeutic targets. Through interactive discussions, visitors gained insights into the application of computational tools in modern pharmaceutical research. |
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Athens Science Festival 2024
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Date: 16-21 April 2024
Location: Technopolis City of Athens ALLODD participated in the Athens Science Festival 2024 in Technopolis City of Athens. The Athens Science Festival 2024 is organised by the educational organisation “Science Communication – SciCo”, the British Council, and the Technopolis City of Athens in collaboration with numerous academic, research institutions, and educational organisations with the support of COSMOTE as a Platinum Sponsor.
This year the festival celebrated its 10th anniversary, sharing all those significant changes that mark our lives today and open new horizons under the theme “Tales of Change”. The Cournia lab including Francho Nerín (ESR1) presented ALLODD to the general public and students from schools of diverse levels, actively engaging through the use of Virtual Reality and the exhibition of ESR1's science slam. Find out more about this event here. 
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Festival of Biologics USA 2024
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Date: 15-17 April 2024
Location: San Diego Convention Center ALLODD participated in the Festival of Biologics USA in San Diego, USA. The Festival of Biologics USA is America´s most exciting biologics event. It is dedicated to covering from the start-to-finish of biologics, from discovery to market access.
Léxane Fournier (ESR12) was among the poster presenters, showcasing her work within ALLODD to leading companies in the field of antibodies. The event provided an excellent opportunity to connect with American biologics experts also explore the allosteric antibody field. Find out more about the event here. |
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Johnson & Johnson Postdoc & PhD Student Community Belgium WIP Science
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Date: 29 March 2024
Location: Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, Beerse, Belgium ALLODD member Martijn Bemelmans (ESR13) took part in the Johnson & Johnson Postdoc & PhD Student Community Belgium WIP Science Session on March 29, 2024, at Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, Beerse, Belgium. This internal event, organized by J&J’s PhD & Postdoc community, served as a platform for early-career researchers to share their work.
ESR13 delivered an oral presentation on enhanced sampling approaches to identify cryptic pockets and allosteric modulators in so-called "undruggable" proteins. The session facilitated knowledge exchange and discussions on computational strategies for tackling drug discovery challenges. |
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Protein & Antibody Engineering Summit (PEGS) Europe 2023
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Date: 14-16 November, 2023
Location: Lisbon Congress Center ALLODD took part in the 15th Annual PEGS Europe, held in Lisbon, Portugal. PEGS Europe is recognized as the largest protein & antibody engineering event in Europe and one of the largest globally, with over 1500 attendees, 300 speakers, and 250 posters.
At PEGS Europe 2023, Léxane Fournier (ESR12) shared her project within ALLODD through a poster presentation, engaging with leading biotech firms and pioneering biotechnological companies. The event facilitated networking among top biopharma and academic professionals. Find out more about the event and the programme here. 
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European Researcher's Night 2023
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Date: 29.09.2023, 5-10 PM
Location: Averof Building, National & Technical University of Athens ALLODD recently took part in the Researcher's Night event in Athens for the second year in a row. This event was a fantastic opportunity for people of all ages to learn more about the ALLODD Network, its mission, and ongoing projects. ALLODD is at the forefront as the first ITN exploring the concept of allostery in drug discovery. Their main goal is to educate and train the next generation of young scientists in understanding and utilizing this concept. Cournia Lab once again had a presence at the event, actively engaging with the general public to explain the complex science behind ALLODD. These outreach efforts are crucial for the network as they aim to increase public awareness about the importance of allostery in drug discovery.
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BioSpain 2023
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Date: 26-28 September 2023
Location: Barcelona ALLODD participated in the BioSpain 2023, 11th International Meeting on Biotechnology in Barcelona, Spain. BioSpain is the largest biotech event organized by a national bioindustry association in Europe and one of the largest in the world by the number of one-to-one meetings and companies participating.
At BioSpain, ALLODD communicated the project plan with leading biotech firms and companies deeply involved in pioneering biotechnological activities. The event served as a dynamic hub for networking, bringing together the realms of science, academia, research, and industry. Find out more about the event and the programme here. |
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Long Night of Sciences 2023
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Date: 17 June 2023
Location: Berlin ALLODD participated in the Long Night of Sciences 2023, an annual science dissemination event in the Berlin metropolitan area. The principles of Medicinal Chemistry and key experimental research workflows such as a prototypic drug design, compound synthesis and isolation procedure were illustrated. During lab tours, experiments were presented to a broad non-scientific audience. Over the course of the evening, we welcomed around 100 visitors, engaged in vivid discussions and answered the audience’s questions regarding our work.
Find out more about the event and the programme here. |
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Athens Science Festival 2022
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Date: 21-23 October 2022
Location: Technopolis City of Athens ALLODD participated in Athens Science Festival 2022 in Technopolis City of Athens! We were happy to communicate ALLODD ITN results and news with more than 500 visitors in the Technopolis City of Athens, between Friday 21 and Sunday 23 October.
The Athens Science Festival 2022 is organized by the educational organization “Science Communication – SciCo”, the British Council, and the Technopolis City of Athens in collaboration with various academic, research, and educational institutes and aims to celebrate research and science with presentations, workshops, competitions, experiments, applications and more. Find out more about the event and the programme here. |
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European Researcher's Night
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Date: 30.09.2022, 5-9 PM
Location: Averof Building, National & Technical University of Athens ALLODD successfully participated in this year's Research's Night in Athens, giving the opportunity to more than 250 interested individuals of all ages to get to know ALLODD Network, its objectives and actions. Being the first ITN to explore the concept of allostery in drug discovery, ALLODD aims to train the next generation of young scientists to exploit this concept and set the foundation for the emergence of the field. Cournia Lab was there in Researcher's Night in Athens, to communicate the science behind ALLODD to the general public. Such actions are of great importance and a major goal of the network, in order for more people to get familiar with the role of allostery in drug discovery.
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Student Summer Workshop – Onco Beerse
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Date: 11.08.2022
Location: Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, Beerse, Belgium ALLODD member Martijn Bemelmans (ESR13) participated in the Student Summer Workshop – Onco Beerse, held at Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, Beerse, Belgium, on August 11, 2022. Organized for upper secondary school students, this workshop provided an interactive learning experience focused on the role of computational methods in drug discovery.
Martijn led a session demonstrating how Molecular Docking and Virtual Screening can be used to identify allosteric modulators and impact signaling pathways relevant to diseases such as cancer. Through hands-on activities and discussions, students were introduced to computer-aided drug design, sparking interest in the intersection of computational science and medicine. |
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This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No 956314.
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