In the first week of our 50th anniversary academic conference programme, this meeting will explore the cutting-edge developments and methodology in resolving dynamic phosphatase function in health and disease. We will also discuss the current state of play in developing phosphatase-directed therapeutics.

The reversible phosphorylation of substrates by kinase and phosphatase enzymes is a fundamental currency used by all cells to process and interpret a diverse range of stimuli. The rewiring of phosphorylation networks underpins an array of pathological states, including cancer, chronic inflammation and metabolic disorders. Recent advances using a range of biochemical, cell biological and genetic approaches have served to underscore the key role played by spatial and temporal phosphatase activities in both physiological and pathophysiological settings. These include using novel imaging, proteomic and transgenic approaches to unveil previously cryptic regulatory roles. Many phosphatases previously considered ‘undruggable’ are also becoming increasingly viable and attractive therapeutic targets.

This Biochemical Society Focused Meeting is hosted by the University of Bath. The event will cover a wide range of themes including:

• the use of multiple experimental approaches to characterise the spatiotemporal signalling roles of phosphatases in health and disease
• overcoming challenges in target specificity with respect to small molecule inhibitors/drugs and their use as therapeutics or research tools
• the likely role of phosphatase loss, mutation or inhibition in the remodelling of phosphorylation networks and the potential for combinatorial phosphatase/kinase inhibition in order to achieve sustained and effective treatment of pathological signalling

Confirmed speakers include:

Dr John Scott, University of Washington, USA

Dr Adrian Saurin, University of Dundee, UK

Dr Anne Bertolotti, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, UK

Professor Benjamin Neel, NYU School of Medicine, USA

Professor Jukka Westermarck, University of Turku, Finland

Professor Paola Vagnarelli, Brunel University London, UK

Professor Nicholas Tonks, Cold Spring Harbour Laboratory, USA

Dr Maja Kohn, EMBL Heidelberg, Germany

Professor Stephen Keyse, University of Dundee, UK

Professor Alexandra Newton, University of California at San Diego, USA

Professor Andy Clark, University of Birmingham, UK

Professor Ari Elson, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel

Registration

Registration is open. Find out more information here.

Target audience

Researchers from academic, charity and commercial sectors interested in the role of phosphatases in the spatiotemporal regulation of signalling by protein and lipid phosphorylation cascades.