- Systems biology promotes quantitative, holistic understanding of biological processes

- New, interdisciplinary challenge for biologists, computer scientists, engineers and systems scientists

For the five days of the 5th ICSB, from 9 to 13 October 2004, Heidelberg will be at the hub of systems biology. This conference, organized by DECHEMA Society for Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, will highlight new, innovative approaches to successful biotechnological processes in medicine and industry. The event takes place under the auspices of Edelgard Bulmahn, the German Federal Minister of Education and Research, and is anticipated to attract over 500 experts from all over the world.

This year the ICSB will open on 9 and 10 October 2004 with a two-day Tutorial and Workshop Programme in the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) in Heidelberg. From 11 to 13 October over 40 lectures will be held by distinguished experts on the topics Metabolic Systems, Signal Transduction, Microbial Systems Biology, Methods and Software for Systems Biology, Spatial Models and Systems Biology for Medicine in the Heidelberg Congress Centre. The Conference Programme will be rounded off by a 250-strong Poster Presentation with an integrated Exhibition featuring companies’ products and services.

The invited speakers include renowned experts, such as Prof. Denis Noble of Oxford University/UK, Prof. Bernhard O. Palsson of the University of California, San Diego, CA/USA, Prof. Marc Kirschner of Harvard Medical School in Boston, MA/USA, and Prof. Masura Tomita of Keio University in Fujisawa/Japan.

The ICSB conference series was launched in Japan in 2000 and has since developed into a key event in systems biology. The fact that the ICSB always takes place at different, internationally renowned, “pioneering” locations for systems biology has had an extremely positive effect on its high standing and highlights the individual regional strengths of research in systems biology.

For further information on the Conference Programme, registration, submission of last-minute posters, and details of the exhibition for companies: http://www.icsb2004.org.

And here’s an important date for your diary:
11 October 2004, 10.45 a.m., Congress Center Heidelberg - Press conference on
“Systems of Life – Systems Biology” – with Education and Research Minister Edelgard Bulmahn and international experts