We are pleased to announce a new meeting: Evolutionary Systems Biology: From Model Organisms to Human Disease. This conference will provide a forum for scientists interested in applying systems and mechanistic approaches to understand evolution and those incorporating evolutionary perspectives to understand human disease. It should be of particular interest to those working at the interface of systems biology, evolutionary genetics and genomics.

Recent advances in several areas make this an exciting time for the emerging field of evolutionary systems biology. Next generation sequencing is providing unprecedented insights into experimental evolution and fitness landscapes. In parallel, multiple model organisms have been developed into systems for studying ecology, evolution and genomics, and gene editing technology has revolutionised what is possible in non-model organisms. In addition, the more widespread use of computational modelling is enabling the systematic study of the evolution of networks and dynamical systems.

The programme will explore the evolution of biological systems at different levels: from genes and molecules, through networks and microbes, to cancer and other human diseases. Particular emphasis will placed on understanding evolution through mechanistic biology and providing an evolutionary perspective on human disease. We will explore recent advances in the evolution of host-pathogen interactions, antibiotic resistance and cancer, taking advantage of the many shared conceptual and methodological approaches that span these areas.

The conference will start at approximately 13.00 on Wednesday 2 March and close at approximately 13.00 on Friday 4 March 2016.

Scientific sessions

• Molecules
• Networks
• Microbes
• Multicellular systems & cancer

Scientific programme committee
Ben Lehner Centre for Genomic Regulation, Spain
Marie-Anne Felix Institute of Biology of the Ecole Normale Supérieure, France
Csaba Pal Biological Research Center, Hungary

Keynote speakers
Naama Barkai Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel
Martin Kreitman University of Chicago, USA

Confirmed speakers
Nathalie Balaban The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel
Santiago Elena Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas, Spain
Isabel Gordo Insituto Gulbenkian de Ciencia, Portugal
Angela Hay Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, Germany
Michael Lynch Indiana University, USA
Ville Mustonen Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, UK
Fred Nijhout Duke University, USA
Dan Tawfik Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel
Olivier Tenaillon INSERM, Universités Paris Diderot et Paris Nord, France
Joe Thornton University of Chicago, USA
Dennis Vitkup Columbia University, USA
Andreas Wagner University of Zurich, Switzerland
Patricia Wittkopp University of Michigan, USA

Conference organiser
Emily Rees Wellcome Genome Campus, UK

Registration Fees:

The registration fee includes entrance to the lectures and poster sessions, an abstract book, meals (lunch and dinner) and refreshments during the conference. Breakfast will be provided for delegates who have booked accommodation.

Registration deadline: Closed

Accommodation
Accommodation is provided for the nights of 2 and 3 March 2016. Please note there is limited on-site accommodation and this will be allocated on a first-come first-served basis. Therefore, early registration is recommended.
If you wish to book onsite accommodation either side of the conference dates, please contact the Conference Centre directly.

Travel visas
Contact the conference organiser if you require a letter to support a travel visa application. Note that letters will be provided to confirmed registrants.

We welcome abstracts from all areas relevant to the main themes of the meeting for both oral and poster presentations. Several oral presentations will be chosen from the abstracts submitted.

Poster boards onsite will accommodate 118 cm high by 84 cm wide (A0- portrait) of printed material. Accepted abstracts will appear in the conference programme book and poster boards will be allocated at the conference.

Abstract deadline: closed

Abstract Guidelines

• Format & Font: Prepare your abstract in Microsoft Word in 11-point Ariel Font.
• Title: The title should be concise and be in bold, sentence case.
• Author names: The presenting author's name must be the first name to appear on the list of authors. Underline the name of the presenting author. For each author give the forename followed by the surname.
• Affiliations: Please list the authors and affiliations directly under the title, separated by one empty line, and followed on additional lines as necessary. Indicate each author's affiliation with a superscript numeral following the surname.
• Abstract length: should not exceed one 1.5-spaced page. The total word limit is 400 words (to include title, authors, affiliations and abstract narrative).
• Abstract narrative: must be clear and concise. Clearly describe the problem you are addressing, the results to date and any conclusions you can draw from them, so that your abstract can be evaluated by the programme committee. Avoid saying in effect ‘a solution to XYZ problem will be presented’. Please ensure that your abstract is checked for correctness of spelling and grammar in advance of submission.
• Subheadings: Please avoid the use of subheadings in the abstract narrative.
• References: A separate list of references at the end of the abstract is not necessary.
• File name: should be the same as the surname of the presenting author.
• Download a sample abstract document (Microsoft Word), which can be used for formatting purposes.

A limited number of registration bursaries are available for PhD students to attend this conference (up to 50% of the registration fee) from Wellcome Genome Campus Scientific Conferences.

The following documents will need to be provided:

•     Abstract
•     CV
•     Covering letter
•     Letter from supervisor

To apply, please contact the conference organiser.

Bursary deadline: Closed

We thank the following organisations for their support: