The maintenance of genome integrity is critical for the suppression of several pathological disorders in humans, including cancer, infertility premature ageing, and neurodegeneration. Destabilization of the genome can occur as a result of several cell intrinsic or extrinsic factors, including errors arising during DNA replication or chromosome segregation, as well as exposure of cells to agents that induce DNA damage. In this conference, we aim to bring together scientists studying DNA replication & repair, chromosome segregation and cellular responses to DNA damage, such as cellular senescence, with those interested in how chromosomal instability can influence human pathology, with a special focus on aging and age-related pathologies. Moreover, we aim to show how high throughput and high content screening methods can be used as a discovery tool both for basic science applications and to identify potential therapeutic modalities.

Key Sessions

• Pathways for repair of DNA damage and disrupted DNA replication forks
• Screening tools for analysis of genome maintenance pathways and for development of new therapeutics
• Molecular and cellular determinants of aging, with a particular focus on cellular senescence.
• Chromosome instability as a driver of tumorigenesis, neurodegeneration and ageing
• Exploitation of defects in chromosome maintenance in cancer treatment

Confirmed Invited Speakers

Peter Baumann (Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz)
TELOMERASE AND THE RULE OF THREE
Ivana Bjedov (University College London)
Dan Durocher (Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute)
CIP2A-DEPENDENT CHROMOSOME STABILITY
Maria Ermolaeva (Leibniz Institute on Aging)
Daniele Fachinetti (Institut Curie)
CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF CENTROMERIC INSTABILITY
Daniel Gerlich (Institute of Molecular Biotechnology)
HOW COHESIN GUIDES HOMOLOGY SEARCH DURING DNA REPAIR
Jesus Gil (MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences)
CELLULAR SENESCENCE AS A THERAPEUTIC TARGET
Myriam Gorospe (National Institutes of Health)
Andrew Jackson (University of Edinburgh)
GENOME INTEGRITY DISORDERS: LESSONS FROM THE SMALLEST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD
Oscar Llorca (Spanish National Cancer Center)
CRYO-EM REVEALS HOW POXVIRUSES TARGET NHEJ PROTEINS
Niels Mailand (Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research)
CHARTING GENETIC DETERMINANTS OF MICRONUCLEUS FORMATION
Cristina Mayor-Ruiz (IRB Barcelona)
CHEMICAL REWIRING OF E3 UBIQUITIN LIGASES
Juan Mendez (Spanish National Cancer Center)
Daniel Munoz-Espin (University of Cambridge)
TARGETING SENESCENCE AND TRANSIENT REPROGRAMMING IN THE LUNG TUMOUR MICROENVIRONMENT
Serena Nik-Zainal (University of Cambridge)
Andre Nussenzweig (National Institutes of Health)
GENOME INSTABILITY IN MITOTIC AND POSTMITOTIC CELLS
Mark O'Connor (AstraZeneca)
TARGETING REPLICATION STRESS IN CANCERS
KJ Patel (Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine (WIMM), University of Oxford)
Lorenza Penengo (Institute of Molecular Cancer Research)
UBIQUITIN SYSTEM IN GENOME STABILITY
Evi Soutoglou (University of Sussex)
Zuzana Storchova (University of Kaiserslautern-Landau)
David Vilchez (CECAD Research Center)
COLD TEMPERATURE DELAYS AGING AND PROTEOSTASIS COLLAPSE

Target Audience

This meeting will appeal to Molecular/Cell Biologists/Geneticists & Biochemists interested in genome stability. Researchers interested in the molecular basis of cancer, neurodegenerative diseases and ageing and those with an interest in high throughput genetic and pharmacological screening methods will also find the conference highly relevant along with those wishing to exploit genome maintenance abnormalities in tumour cells for therapeutic benefit.

Educational Need

Chromosome instability is involved in several human diseases and is a feature of natural ageing. This conference will bridge fundamental studies on the mechanisms by which cells maintain genome stability with applications of these studies aimed at the development of new therapies. Hence, the conference will bridge basic biology and clinical applications in this rapidly advancing field. Attendees should be able to obtain a full picture of the current status of the field, as well as to interact with prominent research leaders driving the clinical application of the latest research.

Although the programme has not yet been released, we are able to confirm that the conference should begin no earlier than 14:00 with opening comments on Tuesday 07 October 2025. The conference will conclude no later than 12:30 on Friday 10 October 2025.

Speakers selected for short talks will be eligible for a registration grant to help offset part of their registration costs. To apply, please submit your abstract by 1st May 2025.

Please note, only successful applicants will be awarded the grant.

The hotel is approximately 20 minutes from Malta International Airport, the official airport of the Maltese Islands.

Taxis

Taxis are available outside the airport, however we would strongly recommend you use one of the transport app providers below.

There are 3 options for booking transport with an app- Uber, Bolt and eCabs. They all operate in and around Malta, and the fares are generally cheaper than a taxi. The cost of transfers between Malta International Airport and the city of St Julians generally ranges from €15 to €20.

Local activity details will be announced here soon. 

Group activities will be announced here soon.

The DNA Research Network is an excellent platform to connect with fellow attendees and likeminded researchers prior to the conference. 

The Linkedin Group is designed to bring together the global community of researchers and scientists interested in the study of DNA. Relevant specialties are wide-ranging, reflecting the importance of DNA Research in many aspects of health and disease, including; DNA Repair, DNA Replication, DNA Damage, Cancer, Chromosomal Instability, RNA and Nucleic Acids. The group is open to all and is intended as a networking forum for past, present and future participants of Fusion Conferences as well as those interested in the related topics.