IBB PAS co-organized ISSY38 in Warsaw, where yeast researchers from 36 countries met to share results. Two young IBB PAS scientists earned poster prizes.

Last week was an exciting time for scientists working with yeast worldwide, as the 38th International Specialized Symposium on Yeasts (ISSY38): “Yeast – The Omni-Tool” was held here in Poland.

The meeting gathered prominent researchers from 36 countries, including such renowned keynote speakers as James E. Haber (USA), Jens Nielsen (Denmark), Judith Berman (Israel), Duccio Cavalieri (Italy), Mark Hochstrasser (USA), Gianni Liti (France), Kevin J. Verstrepen (Belgium), Xin-Qing Zhao (China), and Terrence Cooper (USA).

ISSY38 was held on September 1–5 in Warsaw, in the historic Old Library Building of the University of Warsaw. It was a unique occasion for Poland to host this prestigious event, which is organized in a different country every year under the leadership of the International Commission on Yeasts.

The IBB PAS played a crucial role in making this symposium possible. The conference was co-chaired by Adrianna Skoneczna (IBB PAS) and Zbigniew Lazar (UPWr), with the help of the Local Organizing Committee, including Marek Skoneczny and Teresa Żołądek from IBB PAS.

ISSY38 was organized by Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics PAS, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences (UPWr), and University of Warsaw (UW), and enjoyed the patronage of noble scientific institutions such as the Polish Biochemical Society, Biotechnology Section of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Prof. Wacław Szybalski Foundation, Genetics Society of America, the journals G3, Genetics, FEMS Yeast Research, Yeast (Wiley), and Rector of UW.

Thanks to generous sponsorship from numerous partners, 11 young researchers received prizes for their poster or oral presentations; with Katarzyna Grelewska-Nowotko and Malak Farhat from IBB PAS receiving awards for their posters, “The biogenesis of RNA polymerases I and III in yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae” and ”A tRNA-like sequence in the yeast gene encoding Maf1, a general repressor of tRNA transcription: possible regulatory implications”, respectively.

We sincerely thank all people and organizations who contributed to making ISSY38 such a success — especially the International Scientific Committee, Session Chairs, and our tireless Local Organizing Committee. Special thanks go to WhyNotTravel for their excellent logistical and technical support.

Above all, however, we thank all the participants — your presence, high-quality presentations, and inspiring discussions were the true heart of ISSY38. We are very delighted that among the 82 lectures, 14 talks were presented by researchers from 9 scientific institutions in Poland, , prominently showcasing the impact of Polish yeast research on that scientific field.

We are happy that IBB PAS co-organized this important event and contributed to underline the research community, which is working using yeasts “to feed us, to heal us, to fuel us, power our economy, improve our wellbeing and protect our environment”, as brightly summarized Isak S. Pretorius, one of the speakers.

See also issy38.com.pl.