Registration deadlines

Early Bird - 23 Jan 2025

Talk Submission - 23 Jan 2025

Poster Submission - 10 Apr 2025

Registration Deadline - 10 Apr 2025

Register

Conference Manager

Felicity Harrap

Felicity Harrap

8th Nucleic Acids Conference

#Nucleic25


04 Jul 2025 - 07 Jul 2025

Lisbon, Portugal

Chairs

David Lilley
University of Dundee
Wei Yang
NIH

Synopsis

DNA and RNA are built from just four nucleotide elements but rich in information content and functional diversity. DNA sequence encodes the cell's genetic blueprint and operating system, and must be copied with unprecedented fidelity once every cell cycle. The integrity of the genetic blueprint is vital to the cell and maintained by various mechanisms to fend off the constant onslaught of DNA damage. In addition to replication, DNA is repeatedly transcribed to RNA for protein synthesis (translation) and cellular regulation (non-coding RNA). Nevertheless, readout of DNA at single-nucleotide level by cellular machineries takes place in the context of the compacted DNA form (chromosomes), within which 2 m of human genomic DNA are compacted and stored in the cell nucleus.

In contrast to the relatively uniform DNA double helix, RNA assumes versatile structure and function. RNA is the worker bee of genetics to the DNA's queen. In addition to its roles as messenger (mRNA), interpreter and amino acid-carrier (tRNA), RNA is also the critical functional part of the ribosome and spliceosome machines and can catalyze peptide bond formation and phosphoryl-transfer reactions (and who knows what more?) as ribozymes. Furthermore, RNA can act as a molecular switch responding to small molecules (riboswitches) to control gene expression or mediating and executing DNA and RNA cleavage as in the CRISPR-Cas defense system. Failure of any of these DNA and RNA transactions can lead to disease. Meanwhile application of antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) and CRISPR-Cas technology have revolutionized gene therapy, and cell and organism manipulation.

Key Sessions

In the 8th nucleic acid conference, the central theme will be to understand processes involving DNA and RNA at the molecular and chemical level, with a marked structural and mechanistic perspective. We plan to have an up-to-date discussion of the following: 

•    DNA replication in the context of chromatin and telomere
•    DNA repair and recombination
•    Transcription and splicing
•    RNA structure and function
•    Translation and post-translation modification
•.   Gene editing by ASO and CRISPR-Cas9 
•    AI-assisted nucleic acid research 

Confirmed Invited Speakers 

Valérie Borde (Curie Institute)
SINGLE MOLECULE ANALYSES OF RECOMBINATION-ASSOCIATED DNA SYNTHESIS
Yiliang Ding (John Innes Centre)
RNA STRUCTURE, AN IMPORTANT REGULATOR IN LIVING CELLS
Sebastian Fica (Oxford University)
MAKING mRNAs: ATPase REMODELLING AND SPLICE SITE SELECTION IN THE HUMAN SPLICEOSOME
Yang Gao (Rice University)
BIOCHEMICAL PROFILING AND STRUCTURAL BASIS OF ADAR1-MEDIATED RNA EDITING
Eric Greene (Columbia University)
SINGLE MOLECULE STUDIES OF DNA RECOMBINATION 
Alba Guarné (McGill University)
TARGET-SITE SELECTION MECHANISMS OF THE Tn7 TRANSPOSON
Nick Guydosh (NIH)
Taekjip Ha (Harvard University)
Yuan He (Johns Hopkins University)
STRUCTURAL BASIS OF DNA DOUBLE-STRAND BREAK REPAIR BY NHEJ
Leemor Joshua-Tor (Cold Spring Harbor Lab)
MAD ABOUT U: REGULATING THE let-7 miRNA PATHWAY
Ailong Ke (Yale University)
LEVERAGING MECHANISTIC INSIGHTS FOR CRISPR TOOL DEVELOPMENT
Elizabeth Kellogg (St. Jude's Childrens Research Hospital)
UNDERSTANDING AND ENGINEERING TRANSPOSONS FOR GENOME-EDITING
Jeffrey Kieft (New York Structual Biology Center)
NEW METHODS, CHALLENGES, AND FRONTIERS IN RNA STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY
Ci Ji Lim (University of Wisconsin-Madison)
NEW INSIGHTS INTO HUMAN TELOMERE MAINTENANCE MACHINERY
Giulia Palermo (University of California)
COMPUTATIONAL GENE EDITING
Lori Passmore (MRC)
MECHANISTIC INSIGHTS INTO THE mRNA POLY(A) TAIL MACHINERY
Titia Sixma (Netherlands Cancer Institute)
STRUCTURAL STUDIES IN MMR ACTIVATION
Song Tan (Penn State University)
HOW CHROMATIN PROTEINS AND ENZYMES RECOGNISE THE NUCLEOSOME
Keith Weninger (North Carolina State University)
MISMATCH REPAIR PROTEIN IMPACTS ON ATYPICAL TRINUCLEOTIDE REPEAT DNA CONFIGURATIONS
Steve West (Francis Crick Institute)
THE TWO RAD51 PARALOG COMPLEXES – CHANGING PARADIGMS
Eric Westhof (Université de Strasbourg)
GEOMETRIC RECOGNITION AND RNA MODIFICATIONS IN TRANSLATION
Cynthia Wolberger (Johns Hopkins Medical School)
HISTONE UBIQUITINATION IN TRANSCRIPTION REGULATION
Sarah Woodson (Johns Hopkins University)
STICK SLIP UNFOLDING AND AGGREGATION OF TRIPLET REPEAT RNA
Wan Yue (Genome Institute of Singapore)
Yuanliang Zhai (HKUST)
STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF EUKARYOTIC REPLISOME
Jinwei Zhang (NIH)
RECOGNITION ND MIMICRY OF THE tRNA FOLD
Xiaodong Zhang (Imperial College London/ Francis Crick Institute)
HOW A MOLECULAR MOTOR OPENS UP DOUBLE-STRANDED DNA FOR TRANSCRIPTION
Xiaolan Zhao (Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center)
SMC-BASED REGULATION OF DNA REPAIR

8th Nucleic Acids Conference

#Nucleic25


04 Jul 2025 - 07 Jul 2025

Lisbon, Portugal

Chairs

David Lilley
University of Dundee
Wei Yang
NIH

Speakers

Invited Speakers

Valérie Borde

Curie Institute

Yiliang Ding

John Innes Centre

Sebastian Fica

Oxford University

Yang Gao

Rice University

Eric Greene

Columbia University

Alba Guarné

McGill University

Nick Guydosh

NIH

Taekjip Ha

Harvard University

Yuan He

Johns Hopkins University

Leemor Joshua-Tor

Cold Spring Harbor Lab

Ailong Ke

Yale University

Elizabeth Kellogg

St. Jude's Childrens Research Hospital

Jeffrey Kieft

New York Structual Biology Center

Ci Ji Lim

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Giulia Palermo

University of California

Lori Passmore

MRC

Titia Sixma

Netherlands Cancer Institute

Song Tan

Penn State

Keith Weninger

North Carolina State University

Steve West

Francis Crick Institute

Eric Westhof

Université de Strasbourg

Cynthia Wolberger

Johns Hopkins Medical School

Sarah Woodson

Johns Hopkins University

Wan Yue

Genome Institute of Singapore

Yuanliang Zhai

HKUST

Jinwei Zhang

NIH

Xiaodong Zhang

Imperial College London/ Francis Crick Institute

Xiaolan Zhao

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

8th Nucleic Acids Conference

#Nucleic25


04 Jul 2025 - 07 Jul 2025

Lisbon, Portugal

Chairs

David Lilley
University of Dundee
Wei Yang
NIH

Programme

Although the below programme is the most up to date version, please note it is still a draft copy and is subject to change. We will continue to upload the latest version here, and circulate a final copy to all participants in the week before the meeting.


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8th Nucleic Acids Conference

#Nucleic25


04 Jul 2025 - 07 Jul 2025

Lisbon, Portugal

Chairs

David Lilley
University of Dundee
Wei Yang
NIH

Prices

Ticket Type Early Bird Full Price
Single
Choose this option if you will be attending the conference alone, or if you will bring accompanying guests that will not attend the meeting.
€2206 €2302
Shared
Choose this option if you wish to share with a colleague who is also attending the conference, or if you wish to be paired with another attendee of the same sex.
€2009 €2105
Student
Choose this option if you are a student. Please note all students will be paired with another attendee of the same sex if a room sharer is not specified. If you wish to have your own room, please register under the Single option.
€1038 €1038
Additional Person
This is the cost for an additional adult or child to join you in the same room, for the entire conference period. Accompanying persons are not permitted access to the conference. If you wish to extend your stay, please see our 'Extra night' prices.

Adult

€825

Child

€455

Extra nights
Prices are per person.

Adult

€190

Child

€61


All registration fees include 3 nights accommodation and meals during the conference period. Exact inclusions are detailed below.

What's Included in our Registration Fees?

Our registration fees are inclusive of the following during the conference period only:

- Conference registration
- 3 nights’ fixed accommodation (04, 05, 06 July 2025) on a single or shared basis
- Buffet breakfast
- Buffet lunch with soft drinks, beer and wine
- Buffet dinner with soft drinks, beer and wine
- Gala Dinner with soft drinks, beer and wine
- Complimentary WIFI in both conference rooms and your guest room

What's Included in our Accompanying Adult Fees?

Our accompanying adult fees are inclusive of the following during the conference period only:

- 3 nights’ fixed accommodation (04, 05, 06 July 2025) on a shared basis with a conference participant
- Buffet breakfast
- Buffet lunch with soft drinks, beer and wine
- Buffet dinner with soft drinks, beer and wine
- Gala Dinner with soft drinks, beer and wine
- Complimentary WIFI in guest room

Important Note: Accompanying persons are not permitted access to the conference. Meals are only available during the times listed in the conference programme and accompanying guests must dine with the group.

What's Included in our Accompanying Child Fees?

Our accompanying child fees are inclusive of the following during the conference period only:

- 3 nights’ fixed accommodation (04, 05, 06 July 2025) on a shared basis with the parent/s
- Buffet breakfast 
- Buffet lunch with soft drinks
- Buffet dinner with soft drinks
- Gala Dinner with soft drinks
- Complimentary WIFI in guest room
- A crib (0-3 years old) or roll out bed (4-17 years old)

Important Note: Accompanying child fees are applicable for children aged 12-17 years. Children aged 0-3 years stay free of charge and children aged 4-11 years will be charged a rate of €156.00, inclusive of the above package. If your child is aged 0-11 years, please contact us so we can adjust the invoices relating to your child/children. Please kindly ensure your child/children are supervised at all times during conference and related events. Childcare services may be available, please contact Felicity for further information.

What's Included in our Extra Night Fees?

- 1 night’s accommodation for 1 person
- Buffet breakfast
- Complimentary WIFI in your guest room

Important Note: Extra night child fees are applicable for children aged 12-17 years. Children aged 0-11 years stay free of charge, inclusive of the above package. If your child is aged 0-11 years, please contact us so we can adjust the invoices relating to your child/children.

Prices and hotel availability are subject to change without notice.

8th Nucleic Acids Conference

#Nucleic25


04 Jul 2025 - 07 Jul 2025

Lisbon, Portugal

Chairs

David Lilley
University of Dundee
Wei Yang
NIH

Grants

X5 €1,000 Registration discount grants available for students, postdocs and junior investigators

To apply, email: felicity@fusion-conferences.com with; 

- An abstract for short talk or poster consideration

- A short statement as to why you would benefit from attending the meeting

Applications to be submitted by 23rd January 2025. T&C’s Apply


8th Nucleic Acids Conference

#Nucleic25


04 Jul 2025 - 07 Jul 2025

Lisbon, Portugal

Chairs

David Lilley
University of Dundee
Wei Yang
NIH

8th Nucleic Acids Conference

#Nucleic25


04 Jul 2025 - 07 Jul 2025

Lisbon, Portugal

Chairs

David Lilley
University of Dundee
Wei Yang
NIH

LinkedIn forum

Bringing together the global community of researchers and scientists interested in the study of DNA. Relevant specialties are wide-ranging, reflecting the importance of DNA Research in many aspects of health and disease, including; DNA Repair, DNA Replication, DNA Damage, Cancer, Chromosomal Instability, RNA and Nucleic Acids.

The group is open to all and is intended as a networking forum for past, present and future participants of Fusion Conferences as well as those interested in the related topics.

Join our group

8th Nucleic Acids Conference

#Nucleic25


04 Jul 2025 - 07 Jul 2025

Lisbon, Portugal

Chairs

David Lilley
University of Dundee
Wei Yang
NIH

Venue

Dolce CampoReal Lisboa

Located in Torres Vedras, just a 30-minute drive from Lisbon, Dolce CampoReal Lisboa offers unique tranquillity, as a result of its idyllic environment. The hotel offers stunning views over the golf course, vineyards and the extraordinary landscape of Socorro and Archeira Mountains.

The hotel has three restaurants to provide a variety of gastronomic choices, and two bars including one beside the outdoor pool.

Hotel Facilities

  • Complimentary Wi-Fi in guest rooms and throughout hotel and conference areas
  • Indoor heated swimming pool
  • Outdoor swimming pool with Jacuzzi
  • Spa
  • Gym
  • Golf course
  • 2 Tennis courts

Venue Rating

Currency

Euro (EUR)

Address

R. do Campo (Campo Real) 2565-770 Portugal

Nearest Airport

Lisbon Portela Airport

Location

The Dolce CampoReal Lisboa is nestled between the vineyards and the extraordinary landscape of the Socorro and Archeira Mountains.

Lisbon is only a short 30-minute drive away. The Portuguese capital is constantly recognised as one of the greatest cities in the world, a claim confirmed by the “Lonely Planet Guides", who named Lisbon one of the world’s top 10 cities. Lisbon in one of the world’s oldest cities, predating the likes of London, Rome and Paris by hundreds of years. Hillsides covered in tumbledown houses and a mix of baroque and neoclassical buildings, including cathedrals and palaces, make up Lisbon’s skyline. The city is a combination of old and new, with beautiful modern buildings constructed near renovated historical landmarks and ruins.

8th Nucleic Acids Conference

#Nucleic25


04 Jul 2025 - 07 Jul 2025

Lisbon, Portugal

Chairs

David Lilley
University of Dundee
Wei Yang
NIH

Transportation

Dolce CampoReal Lisboa, Torres Vedras is approximately a 30-minute journey from Lisbon Portela Airport.

Taxis

Taxis are available outside the airport, but we would strongly recommend you pre-book your airport transfer with one of the many private transfer companies that are available. The Dolce CampoReal Lisboa is located outside of the city zone and a pre-booked transfer will be a cheaper option than a taxi taken from the airport taxi rank.

Uber also operate in and around Lisbon and there are other Portuguese taxi-hailing apps such as Bolt, MyTaxi, TaxisLisboa and Coop Taxis, all offering reasonable rates.

Further information regarding pre-booked transfers will be made available closer to the conference dates.

8th Nucleic Acids Conference

#Nucleic25


04 Jul 2025 - 07 Jul 2025

Lisbon, Portugal

Chairs

David Lilley
University of Dundee
Wei Yang
NIH

Local Activities

There are various on-site activities available. These include:

- Indoor and 2 outdoor swimming pools
- Fitness centre, available 24h
- Tennis courts
- Donald Steel designed Golf Course – 18 holes Par 72
- Miguel Athayde Equestrian Centre 
- Mandalay Wellness & Spa with 7 treatment rooms
- Kids Club – The hotel will provide details of daily activities for children
- Center “Clube Aventura” for outdoor activities such as Giant Balls, Aquaball, Stand Up Paddle, Archery, Slackline, Water Slide

**Please note, there may be a charge to participate in some of the above activities.

Should you have time to venture off-site, the Oeste Region and Torres Vedras have a distinctive cultural heritage, rich history, 20 km of coastal area, and a commitment to environmental awareness, accessibility and biodiversity. Below are a few suggestions:

- Monastery of Alcobaça, a UNESCO World Heritage site
- Historical route of the lines of Torres Vedras
- Day trip to Óbidos
- Royal Palace and Convent of Mafra
- Tapada Nacional de Mafra
- Mountain biking along the Santa Cruz to Torres Vedras Loop
- Birdwatching at the Tajus Estuary Nature Reserve
- Jeep tours in and around Torres Verdras

8th Nucleic Acids Conference

#Nucleic25


04 Jul 2025 - 07 Jul 2025

Lisbon, Portugal

Chairs

David Lilley
University of Dundee
Wei Yang
NIH

Group Activities

Group activities will be announced here soon.

8th Nucleic Acids Conference

#Nucleic25


04 Jul 2025 - 07 Jul 2025

Lisbon, Portugal

Chairs

David Lilley
University of Dundee
Wei Yang
NIH

Childcare

8th Nucleic Acids Conference

#Nucleic25


04 Jul 2025 - 07 Jul 2025

Lisbon, Portugal

Chairs

David Lilley
University of Dundee
Wei Yang
NIH

Oral Presenters

We have several oral opportunities available at this meeting. To be considered for a talk, please register for the conference and upload your abstract when prompted to do so. You will be able to monitor the status of your abstract through your Fusion account and you will also receive an email if you are successful or unsuccessful.

If you are unable to register for the conference for any reason, but still wish to submit an abstract for consideration, please email Felicity Harrap directly.

Please use the abstract template provided (see below) and ensure your abstract is no longer than one page in length.

If you are accepted for a talk, we recommend you check our website regularly as the conference approaches. Regular programme updates will be released under the ‘Programme’ tab on the conference website.

Your Presentation

On the day of your presentation please make yourself known to our AV technician who will be present in the conference room. We advise running through your presentation at least 30minutes prior to your session commencing to ensure your slides and any videos or animations appear as expected. We prefer our speakers to run their presentation from the master PC or Mac, however, if you prefer to use your own laptop then please notify us prior to the session. A HDMI or VGA cable is usually available on the podium.

Our AV technician will apply your microphone and provide a combined slide advancer and laser pointer.

We ask all speakers to adhere to their time slots and respect their fellow presenters. A visual traffic light aide will be available to warn presenters as their time decreases.

Please make sure your presentation adheres to the following guidelines.

Aspect Ratio: On Screen Show (16:9)
File Type: Please save your presentation in PPT, PPTS or Keynote format.

Download Abstract Template

8th Nucleic Acids Conference

#Nucleic25


04 Jul 2025 - 07 Jul 2025

Lisbon, Portugal

Chairs

David Lilley
University of Dundee
Wei Yang
NIH

Posters

We have several poster opportunities available at this meeting. To be considered for a poster presentation, please register for the conference and upload your abstract when prompted to do so. You will be able to monitor the status of your abstract through your Fusion account and you will also receive an email if you are successful or unsuccessful.

Please use the abstract template provided (see below) and ensure your abstract is no longer than one page in length.

Our poster boards can accommodate a maximum poster size of A0 (1189H x 841W mm), portrait in orientation. Posters exceeding this size may not fit on the poster boards provided and therefore we may be unable to display your poster, so please kindly keep to these measurements.

Displaying & Presenting Your Poster

Please bring your poster to registration and hand this to a member of the Fusion team. They will advise of your poster number and display your poster for you. 

Your poster will remain on display for the duration of the conference, allowing presenters to take advantage of the refreshment breaks and free time for valuable networking opportunities, in addition to the official poster session.

Please check the programme and note the date and time of the poster session(s). Your poster will be judged during the poster session and prizes will be awarded at the Gala Dinner.

Posters will be taken down by the Fusion team and will be ready for collection at the Fusion desk on the final day of the conference.

Download Abstract Template