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EMBO Workshop

Autophagy: foundations, functions and physiology

06 – 11 September 2026 | Grenå, Denmark

  • Registration Deadline
  • 15 June 2026
  • Abstract Submission Deadline
  • 15 June 2026
  • Chosen Participants Will Be Notified By
  • 20 June 2026 (or before)
  • Payment Deadline
  • 30 June 2026

Apply now!

Use #EMBOAutophagyResearch

Download calendar invitation

About the Workshop

Autophagy plays a central role in maintaining cellular quality control and homeostasis by degrading dysfunctional or excess structures and organelles. It also regulates various cellular and organismal functions, including metabolism, immunity, and cell differentiation. While the mechanism by which autophagy-related (ATG) proteins mediate the formation of autophagosomes has been delineated, the molecular interactions between different functional groups of ATG proteins, lipids, and other intracellular compartments remain poorly elucidated. Additionally, although autophagy has traditionally been considered a bulk process, a series of groundbreaking discoveries has revealed that, in most cases, it operates in a highly selective manner to eliminate unwanted structures. This has led to the identification of selective autophagy receptors (SARs) and provided insights into how they interact with and coordinate the ATG machinery. While much remains to be uncovered, this knowledge now allows for the precise modulation and monitoring of different types of selective autophagy. Researchers can now investigate how each form is regulated and how it contributes to the homeostasis and function of specific tissues and organisms, as well as their adaptability to environmental and developmental cues. This EMBO Workshop will explore the latest advances in the mechanism of autophagy, with a particular emphasis on its selective forms.

Image credits: Dr. Ian Ganley, University of Dundee, UK


About EMBO Courses and Workshops

EMBO Courses and Workshops are selected for their excellent scientific quality and timelines, provision of good networking activities for all participants and speaker gender diversity (at least 40% of speakers must be from the underrepresented gender).

Organisers are encouraged to implement measures to make the meeting environmentally more sustainable.

 
 

Programme

 

Registration

  • Registration Deadline
  • 15 June 2026
  • Abstract Submission Deadline
  • 15 June 2026
  • Chosen Participants Will Be Notified By
  • 20 June 2026 (or before)
  • Payment Deadline
  • 30 June 2026

 

  • STUDENTS/POSTDOCS (single room) EUR 385
  • STUDENTS/POSTDOCS (double room) EUR 345
  • ACADEMIC (single room) EUR 605
  • INDUSTRY (single room) EUR 770

Registration includes:

  • Registration to the workshop
  • Admission to all lectures
  • Workshop materials
  • Accomodation
  • Catering: Breakfasts (5x), Lunches (4x), Dinners (5x) and Coffee breaks
  • Transportation from Billund Airport or Aarhus Airport to the venue, as well as the return trip

Payment

You are kindly requested to pay via the registration system. Please, include in your payment the name of the participant and the Reference ID.

Cancellation Policy

If you need to cancel your conference registration before June 15, 2026, you will receive a refund of the entire amount, minus a 30€ administrative fee.

Cancellations made between June 15, 2026, and August 15, 2026, will be eligible for a 50% refund of the registration fee. No cancellation requests will be accepted after August 15, 2024.

Please be aware that any changes or cancellations MUST BE COMMUNICATED via email to: f.m.reggiori@biomed.au.dk.

Your attendance at the conference can only be confirmed once the registration fee has been paid.

Selection criteria

In addition to the invited speakers, 21 speakers for short talks will be selected from submitted abstracts. When selecting these speakers, we will prioritize early stage researchers, aiming for a balance of PhD students, postdocs, and new PIs. As an early stage, we will consider researchers with ~ < 8 years post-PhD. We will take special circumstances into account, for example, if maternity leave has delayed a research career.

In addition, we will also select 50 participants to introduce their posters with a flash talk.

Abstract guidelines

Abstract body: The limit of 300 word refers to manually typed text and excludes spaces. If an error occurs try using a different web browser (preferably Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox).

If you copy-paste the text into the form, hidden formatting might still be included which may cause the text to exceed the 300 words limit resulting in an error message. We recommend you clear all formatting before pasting in the text.

If you have special symbols in your text, make sure you are using Unicode characters, otherwise these will not be recognised.

Title: The title should not exceed 20 words. Only the first word of the title should start with a capital letter and the rest should be lowercase.

Authors and affiliations: Please fill in the author’s details as requested in the online form. The compulsory fields are: First Name, Last Name, Organisation Name (Affiliation or Company), Country and Email.

Kindly mark only one author in the role of First Author and please do not forget to indicate who will be the presenter.

Please enter your co-authors correctly via the system by adding accounts together with their organisation/institute. Do not copy-paste them into the body of the abstract text, as they will not be indexed in the abstract book.

Presentation types: When submitting your abstract, you can apply for an oral, poster presentation or. A selection process will take place with the results announced by June 20th after the abstract submission deadline.

Poster specifications

All Posters should be A0 (portrait)

Width: 90 cm

Height: 120 cm

The Workshop Secretariat will supply materials for the mounting of posters.

Travel grants and registration fee waivers

Travel grants and registration fee waivers are available for participants.

Selection of awardees is handled directly by the organizers. EMBO travel grants and registration fee waivers are allocated on the basis of the quality of the submitted abstract.

Applicants do not need to apply separately for these but should indicate on the registration form if they wish to be considered.

Additional travel grants are available for EMBC Associate Member States Chile, India, Singapore and Taiwan.

Child care grants

EMBO Courses and Workshops offers grants to offset additional childcare costs incurred by participants or speakers when participating at any EMBO Courses and Workshop funded meeting. Eligible costs include fees for a caregiver or child-care facility, travel costs for a caregiver, or travel costs for taking the child to the meeting etc. Please indicate on the registration form whether you would like to be considered for the grant. Please also describe how you intend to use the childcare grant and specify the sum that you will need.

Accessibility grants

EMBO offers accessibility grants to support participants at EMBO Courses & Workshops with any access needs. These grants cover up to 500 Euros for any additional costs e.g. to adapt the conference environment, or to be accompanied by someone to assist them where necessary.

Participants with access needs may apply for a grant via the registration system of the related EMBO event, or by emailing the organizers of the related EMBO event directly.


Code of conduct

Anti-harassment and non-discrimination policy

At EMBO, we believe that harassment and discriminatory behaviour are unacceptable in any setting.

Media and communications policy

Recording or communication of the presented data needs to be agreed upon by all concerned.

EMBO's code of conduct is applicable for all participants of this EMBO meeting and can be found here.

 

Contact

Fulvio Reggiori

Email: f.m.reggiori@aias.au.dk

 

 

Venue

Kysthotellet

Kystvej 26, 8500 Grenå, Denmark

Accommodation

The registration fee includes accommodation in a single room.
Shared double rooms are also available, with a €40 reduction in the registration fee.
Apartments suitable for families are available at the venue. If you are interested, please contact the organizer.

Transport

Shuttles between Billund Airport (the main international airport in Jutland) and Aarhus Airport (a smaller regional airport) will be organized for the workshop participants.

Below are some travel options for participants who plan to arrive in Aarhus by train or who wish to arrive earlier or stay longer after the workshop, to explore and enjoy the region.

Schedules and tickets for public transportation in Denmark can be checked and purchased using the Rejseplanen or Midttrafik apps.

Getting from Grenå Letbane (train) Station or Bus Station to Kysthotellet (venue)

Kysthotellet Grenå is located close to the beach and Grenå Marina, about 2 km from the town centre, where both the Grenå Letbane (train) station and the bus station are situated.

By bus

  • The bus stop (Grenaa Trafikterminal) is close to both the Grenå Letbane and main bus stations.
  • Take the bus #2 to Kattegatcentret.
  • Go out at the Soren Kannes V./De Lichtensbergs bus stop; it is approximately a 15 minutes journey.

· This bus stop is 650 m away from the workshop hotel.

Taxi

  • The ride takes about 5 minutes from either the Grenå Letbane station or the bus station
  • The fare is typically DKK 80–120 (€10–15)
  • Taxis can be found outside the stations

· Most taxis accept credit cards and mobile payments (Visa, Mastercard, MobilePay).

Walking

  • Walking from the Letbane or bus station to Kysthotellet takes around 25 minutes (about 2 km)

Getting from Aarhus City Centre to Grenå

  • Take the regional train (Letbane, line L1) from Aarhus Central Station (Aarhus H) to Grenå Station
  • Trains run approximately every 30 minutes during the day
  • The journey takes about 1 hour 15 minutes
  • Tickets can be purchased at station ticket machines, on board (card payment), or via the Rejseplanen or Midttrafik apps

Getting from Aarhus Airport (AAR, Tirstrup) to Grenå and Aarhus City Centre

Aarhus Airport (AAR) is located about 40 km northeast of Aarhus and 35 km southwest of Grenå. The airport is small and easy to navigate, with good bus connections to both destinations.

To Grenå by bus

  • Take bus 212 from Aarhus Airport directly to Grenå Bus Station
  • The journey takes about 45 minutes
  • The bus operates several times daily; schedules are available on Rejseplanen
  • Tickets can be purchased via the Rejseplanen or Midtrafik apps

To Grenå by taxi

  • Taxis are available directly outside the arrivals terminal at Aarhus Airport
  • The trip to Kysthotellet Grenå takes approximately 35–40 minutes, depending on traffic and weather conditions
  • The distance is about 35 km, and the fare is typically DKK 650–800 (€85–110)
  • Most taxis accept credit cards and mobile payments (Visa, Mastercard, MobilePay)

To Aarhus City Centre

  • Take airport bus 925X, which runs directly from Aarhus Airport to Aarhus Central Station (Banegårdspladsen) in the city centre
  • The bus stop is located just outside the arrivals terminal
  • Journey time: about 45–55 minutes
  • The bus schedule is coordinated with flight arrivals and departures, ensuring service after each flight
  • Tickets can be purchased on the bus (cards accepted) or via the Rejseplanen app

Getting from Billund Airport to Aarhus

There are two main ways to travel from Billund Airport (BLL) to Aarhus: a direct bus or a bus+train combination.

Direct Bus (recommended)

  • Take bus 912X directly from Billund Airport to to Aarhus Central Station (Banegårdspladsen) in the city centre
  • The bus stop is right outside the airport terminal
  • The journey takes about 1 hour 20 minutes and costs around DKK 160–170 (€21)
  • Buses run roughly once per hour throughout the day
  • Tickets can be bought on board (cards accepted)
  • On arrival, you will be in the city centre, a short walk from the rail station

Bus + Train via Vejle

  • Take bus 43 from Billund Airport to Vejle Station (about 30 minutes)
  • The bus stop is right outside the airport terminal
  • From Vejle, take a train to Aarhus Central Station (Aarhus H; about 1 hour)
  • Total travel time is around 1½ hours
  • Tickets can be purchased separately for the bus and train, or as a combined journey via the Rejseplanen or Midtrafik apps

Getting from Copenhagen/Copenhagen Airport (Kastrup) to Aarhus

There are several convenient options to travel from Copenhagen or Copenhagen Airport (CPH/Kastrup) to Aarhus, but the most convenient is by train.

  • Direct trains to Aarhus Central Station (Aarhus H) depart regularly from both Copenhagen Airport (Københavns Lufthavn / Kastrup Station) and Copenhagen Central Station (København H)
  • Operated by DSB (Danish State Railways)
  • Journey time: about 3–3½ hours from the airport, or 2½–3 hours from central Copenhagen
  • Trains are frequent (usually every 30–60 minutes)

Tickets can be purchased at DSB ticket machines, or via the Rejseplanen, Midtrafik and DSB apps.

About the Area

Grenå is a charming historic town located on the Djursland Peninsula in Jutland, offering beautiful coastlines, rich culture, vibrant art, and a variety of delightful water experiences. Here, you can enjoy the sea and harbor atmosphere, or visit the town’s main attraction, Kattegatcentret, where you can see sharks, penguins, and other fascinating marine life.

Grenå is also conveniently close to Aarhus, Denmark’s lively and youthful metropolis. As the country’s second-largest city, Aarhus offers world-class urban experiences — from exciting attractions and striking modern architecture to exquisite gastronomy, great shopping, cozy events, and plenty of fun and adventure for everyone.

For more information about what to see and do in Grenå, Djursland, Aarhus, and Jutland, please visit: VisitAarhus

Sustainability at the meeting

The EMBO Courses & Workshops Programme assesses meetings based on the proposal and implementation of sustainability measures. Meetings can earn points across a range of measures, with each measure assigned a point value from one to five. These points classify the meeting into one of three sustainability levels, reflecting the organizers' commitment to enhancing the sustainability of their event. More information on the EMBO Courses & Workshops Sustainability Badge can be found here.

We have selected a venue that is easily accessible by train from most parts of Northern Europe. The venue incorporates energy-efficient practices. Catering will include vegetarian days, locally sourced ingredients, and bottled water or single-use wares will be avoided.

We have invited LEAF (Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework) to present their initiative at the workshop. LEAF is dedicated to reducing plastic waste and energy consumption in laboratories, offering certification upon successful inspection.

As a new initiative to offset the CO2 footprint of our workshop, we will make the most of the stunning natural surroundings of the venue by organizing four emission-free social activities: a guided walk through the adjacent beaches and forest, a guided bike tour through the adjacent forest, a beach afternoon with games and other activities (which include a Seaweed & Sustainability Talk, in which the potential of seaweed as a sustainable resource will be presented), and a visit Kattegatcentre just 15 minutes on foot. This aquarium is immerged into the natural habitat of the area connecting the North Sea to the Baltic Sea; the mission is to contribute to the protection of marine ecosystems and the preservation of ocean life. These activities are designed not only to minimize emissions but also to foster networking opportunities among attendees.

If resources permit, participants traveling by train will receive a discount on registration fees.

Abstract books and programs will be shared in electronic form only.

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