Revisiting Metabolic Fundamentals

Organisers: Lydia Finley and Wilhelm Palm

Date: 26-29 April 2026

Location: Buxted Park, East Sussex, UK

This Workshop will bring together a diverse group of scientists whose work challenges and redefines traditional views of metabolism, for example uncovering new enzyme functions, mechanisms of metabolic rewiring, and metabolite signaling roles. By revisiting metabolic fundamentals across biological scales – from molecular mechanisms to animal physiology – we will re-evaluate core principles that govern metabolic processes in health and disease. With a focus on unifying concepts rather than specific research areas, the Workshop will provide a unique forum to take stock of the rapidly expanding space of metabolic possibilities and define important questions for future research.

Topics for discussion include:

Metabolic enzymes and pathways
Configuration of organellar and cellular metabolism
Metabolic principles in animal physiology and development
Metabolites as signaling molecules and covalent modifiers

Organisers & speakers

Lydia Finley Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, USA
Wilhelm Palm, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Germany

Elvan Böke Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Spain
Edward Chouchani Harvard Medical School, USA
Constantinos Demetriades Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing (MPI-AGE), Germany
Christian Frezza University of Cologne, Germany
Judy Hirst University of Cambridge, UK
Richard Hite Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, USA
Howard Jacobs Tampere University, Finland
Isha Jain Gladstone Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, USA
Natalie Krahmer Helmholtz Munich, Germany
Stephen O’Rahilly University of Cambridge, UK
Katel Patel MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, UK
Josh Rabinowitz Princeton University, USA
Markus Ralser Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany
Jared Rutter University of Utah School of Medicine, USA
Almut Schultze German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Germany
Luca Scorrano University of Padova, Italy
Jessica Spinelli UMass Chan Medical School, USA
Karen Vousden The Francis Crick Institute, UK

Early-career researchers

Apply here

Application deadline Friday 24 October 2025

We offer 10 funded places for early-career researchers (PhD, postdocs and PIs in the first three years of their first appointment) to attend our Workshops along with the 20 invited speakers. We just ask that you pay for your own travel costs. If you would like to attend please complete the online application form and include a one page CV and a letter of support from your supervisor. If your supervisor would prefer to send the letter directly to us please ask them to email it to workshops@biologists.com

All attendees are expected to actively contribute to the Workshops by asking questions at presentation sessions and taking part in discussions, as well as giving a short talk on their research.

At some Workshops, early-career researchers are given additional responsibilities to promote their involvement, such as:

- Writing a blog for our Community Sites (the Node or FocalPlane)
- Summarise the previous day’s themes to set the scene for the next day’s sessions
- Propose future directions and collaborations
- Make a short two minute video on their experience at the Workshop

Most of these activities would be carried out in pairs or small groups and often with the support of more senior scientists present.

About Buxted Park

The Workshop will be held at the beautiful Buxted Park in East Sussex which dates back to the 12^th century. The current house was built in 1722 by Sir Thomas Medley and is an elegant Grade II Palladian mansion set in 312 acres of parkland. Over the years it has played host to a number of high profile visitors including William Wordsworth, Winston Churchill, and George V and Queen Mary. Whilst it was a health hydro in the 1960s Gregory Peck, Dudley Moore and Marlon Brando were regular visitors.

Buxted Park is less than 25 miles from Gatwick Airport and 60 miles from Heathrow Airport. There are direct trains taking 1 hour 10 minutes from London Bridge to the village of Buxted which is only a mile away from the hotel.

Buxted Park Hotel
Station Road
Buxted
East Sussex
TN22 4AY
Tel: +44 (0) 1825 733333

www.handpickedhotels.co.uk/buxtedpark

Apply here

Please follow this link to apply to attend the Workshop.

Apply here

Download the Workshop poster

Please share with your colleagues and across your networks.

workshop poster

"This conference was outstanding, my favorite conference scientifically I have ever been to. Established at least 3 new collaborations!"

"Great content, fantastic venue, amazing organisation"

"As an ECR, I feel so lucky to have participated in this workshop and learnt so much"

"The discussions have led to new experiment ideas and future directions for my project. It gave me a fresh perspective on my work"

"Fantastic workshop! I really appreciate the idea of interaction between both early career researchers and the experts in the field"

"This was one of the most scientifically rewarding meetings I have had the pleasure to attend in my career"

Why apply for a funded place at one of our Workshops?

Early-career researchers can apply for a funded place at one of our Workshops. This is a great opportunity that could enhance your career in various ways. Watch the video to hear from some of our previous attendees on how they found the experience.

About our Workshops

The Company of Biologists is widely known for its excellence in scientific publishing and it now runs a successful high level series of Workshops. The Workshops provide leading experts and early career scientists from a diverse range of scientific backgrounds with a stimulating environment for the cross fertilisation of interdisciplinary ideas. The programmes are carefully developed and are intended to champion the novel techniques and innovations that will underpin important scientific advances.

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