Discoveries made when biology meets computational sciences are revolutionising the landscape of life sciences and healthcare. Computational biology and bioinformatics are driving this transformation, helping researchers analyse vast amounts of biological data. European Conference on Computational Biology (ECCB) is Europe’s main event in computational biology and bioinformatics this year, bringing 600–800 experts to Turku, Finland, on 16–20 September 2024.

The volume of data in modern life sciences research has exploded in recent years. Therefore, improved methods are continuously needed to understand the data. Using computational tools to interpret biological data and harnessing artificial intelligence have become crucial in, for example, modern medical research.

European Conference on Computational Biology (ECCB) is an esteemed international scientific gathering held annually. The conference is making its debut in the Nordic countries this year. Under the theme “Data and algorithms for health and science”, ECCB2024 anticipates participation from 600–800 researchers and experts spanning computational biology, systems biology, bioinformatics, AI, biology, and medicine. The event unfolds in Turku, the oldest city of Finland, at Logomo event venue.

Finnish organisers create an interesting conference experience

“ECCB offers a gateway to the latest advancements, opportunities and challenges in computational biology. A key topic is how data can be transformed into biological knowledge through development and use of computational methods and tools,” says Laura Elo, Professor of Computational Medicine at the University of Turku, and ECCB2024 co-chair. 

Finland is well-known for its cutting-edge research, high-quality health data, as well as its high-level of digitalisation, making it an interesting location for the conference.

“ECCB strives to bridge people with different skills in biological research, data management and scientific computing. Its Finnish debut is a platform for breakthroughs. Finland has a global impact in these fields,” says Tommi Nyrönen, Head of ELIXIR Finland at CSC – IT Center for Science, and ECCB2024 co-chair. 

The University of Turku and CSC – IT Center for Science collaborate to organise the conference. Together, the organisers have unique expertise in computational biology research and data infrastructures. The University of Turku is a part of Turku’s strong health and bioscience cluster. The Medical Bioinformatics Centre led by Prof. Elo develops computational methods, models, software tools to improve the diagnosis and treatment of complex diseases like diabetes and cancer, leveraging the latest artificial intelligence techniques. CSC brings internationally renowned expertise on data management, computing services and sensitive data services to the partnership, including the resources of Europe’s fastest supercomputer, LUMI.

Top-tier speakers in computational biology

ECCB2024 promises insight and expertise from top-tier speakers in computational biology and bioinformatics. Keynote speakers include, among others:

• Professor Peer Bork, Director of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) Heidelberg, speaking on “Microbiome analysis for human and planetary health”
• Professor Sarah Teichmann, Head of Cellular Genetics at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, addressing “Mapping the human body, one cell at a time”

Beyond keynotes and main program tracks, ECCB2024 offers poster sessions, workshops, tutorials, and networking opportunities.

The call for highlight talks and posters for ECCB2024 is open until 23 April. For submission details and more information, visit https://eccb2024.fi/calls

For more information, visit the ECCB2024 website https://eccb2024.fi/.