The remarkable developments in machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) are revolutionising biology, accelerating the pace of research and providing novel dimensions to scientific enquires. A major breakthrough has been the prediction of macromolecular structures with an unprecedentedly high level of accuracy.

While AI-based models are now routinely used to speed up structure determination, these methodologies have opened new fascinating challenges and new questions both at the scientific and societal level that need a timely response. Scientific challenges include modelling the effect of co-factors and small molecules/drug candidates, complexes involving nucleic acids, amyloids, large multimeric assemblies, dynamic conformational states, protein design, exploring the limits of what can be achieved presently and in the future. But the scientific community also need to explore how AI and ML have an impact in industry and can potentiate science development in emerging countries.

The conference has the ambition to tackle some of these still under-explored emerging topics and provide a forum for discussion  that can attract both experimentalists and computational scientists, to better understand the potentialities and limitations of the techniques involved, optimise current practices, and open up new potential avenues to integrate AI-based predictions into the workflows of experimental structure determination and expand its frontiers, for a synergistic future in structural biology. We will also discuss how all these new developments may affect the development of structural biology in emerging countries.

The conference is particularly tailored to encourage early-career investigators and inspire new generations of postdocs, but scientists at any level of their career are welcome.

Key sessions

• AI use in structural biology pipelines
• Macromolecular interactions (protein-protein, protein-DNA, protein-RNA)
• Fully exploiting protein coevolution
• Predicting interaction with small molecules
• Protein design
• Structures and dynamics
• Future perspectives in Structural Biology
• Implications for emerging countries

Educational Need

The convergence of AI and rapidly developing experimental techniques is transforming the field of structure determination at an unprecedented pace. However, while AI-based prediction tools are now widely available, the full exploitation of their potential requires a much closer dialogue between experimental structural biologists and computer scientists. Researchers in structural biology have now a strong background in biochemistry, cell and molecular biology, but use software packages as 'black boxes' and often lack the computational literacy to fully interpret or integrate these predictions into their workflows.  Conversely, computational scientists often have limited exposure to the practical challenges and nuances of macromolecular structure analysis.

There is an urgent need to educate and equip researchers - from early-career to established scientists - with the interdisciplinary skills required to navigate and contribute to this evolving landscape. The meeting will contribute to build a new generation of researchers who are not only technically skilled but also cross-trained in the principles of data-driven discovery and empirical validation. This alignment is essential for accelerating innovation, improving reproducibility, and ensuring that recent technological breakthroughs are translated into meaningful biological insights and potential medical applications.

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 Wednesday 13 May 2026. The conference will conclude no later than 12:30 on Saturday 16 May 2026.

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 activity details will be announced here soon.