In mid-October 2023, the vibrant halls of University College Dublin came alive as the Quantitative Biosciences Institute (QBI) at UCSF and Systems Biology Ireland (SBI) hosted the in-person QBI/SBI Symposium on Molecular Networks of Cancer and Other Diseases. Building on a successful virtual symposium in 2020 and an online seminar series, the event brought together researchers from Ireland, the United States, and beyond to share insights, spark collaborations, and explore the future of cancer and disease research at a systems level.
UCD President Orla Feely opened the symposium with a warm welcome, highlighting the profound impact that cancer research has on patients’ lives—a mission that resonated deeply with both QBI and SBI. Co-organizers Nevan Krogan (QBI) and Walter Kolch (SBI) reflected on the partnership’s evolution, noting how years of shared vision and collaboration had created a unique synergy between San Francisco and Dublin.
Over two days, participants moved seamlessly between sessions on fundamental disease mechanisms, network biology, host determinants, and translational applications. Early-morning talks from Nevan Krogan, Colm Ryan, Davide Ruggero, Joanne Lysaght, and Margaux Pinney set the stage by exploring mechanistic insights into disease, while Walter Kolch led the collaborative Precision Oncology Ireland Workshop, exemplifying the power of cross-institutional teamwork. Later sessions highlighted network biology and translational research, featuring keynotes and talks from Alan Ashworth, Boris Kholodenko, Danielle Swaney, Krystal Fontaine, Faranak Fattahi, and others.
The symposium also spotlighted emerging talent through flash talks by early-career researchers, including Teerna Bhattacharyya, Richa Tiwari, Soraya Epp, Nadia Arang, Tânia Dias, Patrick O’Leary, and Anjan Venkatesh, reflecting the next generation of leaders in quantitative biology. A forward-looking panel discussion, chaired by UCD Director of Research Triona McCormack and featuring international experts from the Health Research Board, National Cancer Institute, Queen’s University Belfast, and Science Foundation Ireland, explored opportunities for future collaboration and research funding.
The event concluded with the launch of a Research Funding Award and closing remarks from Prof. Helen Roche, UCD Vice-President for Research, Innovation, and Impact, leaving attendees energized and inspired. The 2023 QBI/SBI Symposium was more than a series of talks—it was a celebration of transatlantic collaboration, a testament to the shared commitment to understanding disease through quantitative approaches, and a springboard for discoveries yet to come.