Info

The ESBOC conference (European Symposium on Bio-organic Chemistry), now in its 59th instalment, is a cornerstone event in the field of chemical biology. Established by Cedric Hassall in 1967, ESBOC is the oldest meeting in Chemical Biology in Europe and serves as a key platform for scientific exchange, collaboration, and innovation. The meeting features an informal atmosphere that encourages interaction between early career researchers and world-leading scientists from academia, industry, and research institutions.

The 2026 ESBOC Symposium will be held at Schloss Hotel Pillnitz, Dresden from May 27^th to 29^th May 2026. The scenic venue offers ample opportunities for scientific exchange, networking and interactions.

The Chair is Prof. Benjamin Schumann, TUD Dresden University of Technology.

The Vice Chair is Prof. Concepción Gonzalez Bello, University of Santiago de Compostela.

Confirmed speakers:

• Jeremy Baskin (Cornell University)
• Valentin Wittmann (University of Konstanz)
• Dorothea Fiedler (Leibniz-Institut für Molekulare Pharmakologie)
• Akane Kawamura (Newcastle University)
• Sam Dalton (Isomorphic Labs)
• Jesús Jiménez-Barbero, (CIC bioGUNE, Bilbao)
• Sascha Hoogendoorn (University of Geneva)
• Nadia Simeth-Crespi (Georg-August-Universität Göttingen)
• Tomas Pluskal (IOCB Prague)
• Craig Markin (University of Manchester)
• Emmanuelle Thinon (Université de Bordeaux)
• Jeannine Hess (Francis Crick Institute, King’s College London)
• André Nadler (Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics)
• Antonio Molinaro (Università di Napoli Federico II)

Contact: vpf-esboc-conference26@msx.tu-dresden.de

The symposium will run approximately from 14:00 on Wednesday, 27th May 2026, until midday on 29th May 2026.

Deadlines 

• Early-bird registration: 15th March 2026
• Standard registration: 12th April 2026
• Abstract deadline (talks and posters): 31st March 2026    

Registration

• Important: Registration is complete only upon payment of the registration fee. No places will be reserved without payment.
• This platform is used for pre-registration only. Following your pre-registration, you will receive further instructions including an invoice, from the organization committee by email. Registration is only complete upon receipt of the registration fee.

Participation fees

Fees exclude taxes. 19% tax (MWSt) will be added to all invoices.

• Fees include:
  • Two nights of accommodation at Schloss Hotel Pillnitz (27th - 29th May 2026).
  • Full Board: Dinner on 27th May; breakfast, lunch, dinner on 28th May; breakfast and lunch on 29th May; coffee, soft drinks and nibbles throughout.
  • Wine reception during poster sessions
  • Out of respect to all attendees, we ask participants to attend the full symposium. Fees cannot be reduced, for instance during partial attendance.

ESBOC Conference Grants

We are excited to award up to five ESBOC conference grants to outstanding early-career scientists (students or postdocs) attending the event. The conference grants will be awarded based on evaluation of submitted abstracts by the local advisory committee. Selection criteria are: Multidisciplinary methodology, Creative problem solving, and Scientific potential of the problem being targeted. We commit to gender balance among grantees and among presenters at ESBOC in general.

Abstracts of fully registered early-career scientists can be considered, subject to opt-in during registration. Successful applicants are expected to give an oral presentation about their research topic. ESBOC conference grants feature the full reimbursement of registration costs.

To be considered for an ESBOC conference grant, applicants must be fully registered, including abstract submission and payment of the registration fee, by 31st March 2026. Successful grantees will be notified by 30th April.

Local advisory committee:

Prof. Benjamin Schumann, TUD Dresden University of Technology

Prof. Maria Fedorova, TUD Dresden University of Technology

Dr. Julia Thorn-Seshold, TUD Dresden University of Technology

Prof. Ünal Coskun, TUD Dresden University of Technology

Prof. Oliver Thorn-Seshold, TUD Dresden University of Technology

Prof. Bernd Plietker, TUD Dresden University of Technology

Dr. André Nadler, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics

Cancellation policy

• Before 15th March 2026: 50% refund of registration fee will be offered.
• After 15th March 2026: no refund of registration fee will be offered.
• Cancellation needs to be in writing to the organization committee via email (vpf-esboc-conference26@msx.tu-dresden.de). Cancellation by telephone will NOT be accepted. Confirmation of timely receipt of the cancellation will be sent via email. If you do not receive a confirmation of cancellation by email, the cancellation is not valid. All refunds will be made to the original method of payment.

To start your pre-registration, click on the button Zur Anmeldung »

Support and Sponsors

We thank the following for their support of ESBOC 2026.