The 1 ECTS NDPIA course “Protein structure and drug design” focusing on the use of structural information and computational chemistry in drug design was held 18-19 January 2016 at Lund University. The course was organised by Salam Al-Karadaghi, Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Centre for Molecular Protein Science (CMPS). The overall feed-back of the course was very positive and next year a slightly modified version of the course will be held. Information about this will be provided as soon as posible.

At the course in January, participants were provided with an introduction to the use of structure-based drug design followed by hands-on exercise on the use of graphics program to analyse protein-ligand interactions. The case of COX-1/COX-2 inhibitor design was presented as an example of how structural information can be used in the design of specific inhibitors. This was followed by a lecture on the structural basis of protein synthesis and antibiotics action in inhibition of protein synthesis. Practical exercises where followed by a tutorial on the overall principles of ligand docking and the use of Internet-based tools for protein docking and screening.

Useful links:
General information on protein structures: www.proteinstructures.com
Software for download of SwissPDB viewer and tutorial: http://spdbv.vital-it.ch/.

If accepted to an EMBL course of 2-5 days linked to infections and antibiotics, NDPIA participants have the opportunity to apply for NDPIA co-funding for up to 10 000 SEK covering costs for registration fee, travel and accommodation.

Link to application (and EMBL courses).

From January 2016 NDPIA co-funding of travel costs have been raised, see below:

Travel via train/one flight (including return trip)
Up to 1500 SEK 

Travel longer distances (two flights/sleeper train, including return trip)
Up to 2000 SEK 

Everybody who applies (i.e. indicates the need for) for NDPIA co-funding of travel and/or accommodation costs to participate in activities announced at www.ndpia.se will receive co-funding.

After the activity has taken place the co-funding will be payed to the NDPIA participant's project upon submission of relevant form found at https://ndpia.se/travel-and-accommodation-support/. Please read the guidelines thoroughly before filling out and sending the form.

Please take the opportunity to network with other NDPIA participants via the new closed Facebook group for NDPIA members! The group has been set up by Clara Atterby at Uppsala University and is called: “NDPIA – Forum for young researchers in infections and antibiotics”. Activities announced at www.ndpia.se will also be promoted via this new forum and the intention is to facilitate networking among NDPIA participants.

Join the group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/1503529216642427/.

Please take the opportunity to join the second network meeting of NDPIA featuring PhD and postdoc presentations, poster sessions and additional networking opportunities, for the first time with international partners of NDPIA from Germany and Norway. In addition, four invited distinguished speakers will present their exciting research on the topic "Microbiota". The meeting will be held in Gothenburg 11-12 April, 2016.

Link to preliminary program

Link to registration and additional information about the Network Meeting

Awards for the three best posters will be provided in the form of travel grants.

Back to back with the meeting an international vaccine course will be held 13-15 April: "Vaccines for next generation".

The meeting and accommodation 10-12 (15) April is free of charge for programme participants and international partners.

Programme participants are highly encouraged to attend this and future network meetings and to continue to develop our national/international programme.

Deadline for registration: 22 February, 2016. However please register as soon as possible in order to facilitate meeting logistics.