The North-West University (NWU) will host the 26th biennial conference of the South African Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (SASBMB) in conjunction with the Federation of African Societies of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (FASBMB) from 8 to 11 July.

The four-day conference will bring together a host of renowned national and international specialists, researchers and academics who include such luminaries as Prof Jeremy Nicholson of Imperial College London and Prof Valerie Mizrahi of the University of Cape Town, winner of the MRC Platinum medal in 2017.

Prof Francois van der Westhuizen, chair of the organising committee, says everyone who is interested in biochemistry and molecular biology is welcome to attend the plenary sessions which will take place in the Sanlam Auditorium on the NWU’s campus in Potchefstroom. Delegates have already registered for the parallel sessions which will take place in various venues on the campus.

Delegates will attend sessions which focus on the four themes of the conference. These are human disease, biological systems, structural, cellular and molecular biology and therapeutics, and biotechnology.

As part of these themes, 12 topics will be discussed during the event. They include infectious diseases, non-communicable diseases, inflammation and immunity, cell biology and drug discovery and medicinal plants.

“The conference has been accredited with 26 Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points. It is an ideal opportunity for professionals to earn CPD points towards achieving their required annual points,” Francois says.

The SASBMB-FASBMB conference is held in this format only once every six years and is a wonderful platform for students to learn about the diversity of biochemistry and molecular biology research and for researchers and industry to network.

For more information about this exciting conference, phone Francois at 018 299 2318 or, to view the programme, visit www.sasbmb-fasbmb2018.com.