FEBS-IUBMB-ENABLE Conference crosses seven seas: Report on the 3rd International Molecular Biosciences PhD and Postdoc Conference—“Artificial intelligence: reshaping biomedical and healthcare research”

Abstract

The 3^rd FEBS-IUBMB-ENABLE International Molecular Biosciences PhD and Postdoc Conference was held for the first time outside Europe, in South East Asia. On 4–6 December 2024, the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, hosted over 260 participants from all around the world. The theme of this year's conference was “Artificial Intelligence – Reshaping biomedical and healthcare research”. The conference included a 2-day scientific symposium subdivided into four sessions: “AI in metabolic diseases, population and global health”, “AI in neuroscience and mental health”, “AI in respiratory and infectious diseases” and “AI in skin diseases and wound repair”. Ten global experts working at the forefront of expanding these horizons using AI were hosted. Through over 40 talks and 80 poster presentations, the participants at the conference, mostly young scientists at the doctoral and postdoctoral levels, had the chance to exhibit their research, fostering scientific exchange and collaboration. The last day of the conference included a career day dedicated to workshops, career sharing sessions and a panel discussion, where the focus was on career development, personal well-being, and translating academic research into industry innovations and startups. Pre-conference activities aimed towards fostering camaraderie and creating lasting memories made it a ‘must-to-attend’ event. The legacy of this conference will be carried forward by the next edition of FEBS-IUBMB-ENABLE titled “Bridging minds – Interdisciplinary research for the future of life sciences”, that will be hosted by Cancer Research UK (CRUK) Scotland Institute in Glasgow, UK, on 10–12 September 2025.