BioGenies at the 4th ML4NGP Meeting in Warsaw! π§¬π€π΅π±
The 4th ML4NGP Meeting on Machine Learning and Non-globular Proteins brought the BioGenies crew to Warsaw π΅π± and this time we came in force: Valen, Jarek, Mariia, Damian and Oriol joined the final main meeting of the ML4NGP COST Action π§¬π€π.
The conference took place on 19β22 May 2026 in Warsaw and focused on machine learning, non-globular proteins, intrinsically disordered regions, aggregation, phase separation, specialised bioinformatics tools and databases, in other words: very BioGenies-coded science ππ.
The official programme featured keynote speakers including Rohit Pappu, Ben Schuler, Andrea Sinz and Tuomas Knowles, plus invited and selected talks on protein language models, condensates, fibrils, IDPs, amyloid prediction and AI-based protein analysis.
π§ Big names, big science
The programme was packed with fantastic speakers and topics, from phase transitions of RNA-binding non-globular proteins to protein language models, cross-linking mass spectrometry, IDP phase behaviour, amyloid prediction and AI-based protein analysis.
Among the keynote speakers were:
- 𧬠Prof. Rohit Pappu - phase transitions of RNA-binding NGPs
- β‘ Prof. Ben Schuler - rapid interaction dynamics of charged disordered proteins
- π§ͺ Prof. Andrea Sinz - IDPs studied by cross-linking mass spectrometry
- π Prof. Tuomas Knowles - biophysical insights into IDP phase behaviour
Basically: if a protein was disordered, fuzzy, aggregating, phase-separating or confusing ML models, it probably appeared somewhere in the schedule ππ€.
π€ Posters, talks and BioGenies everywhere
BioGenies had a strong presence throughout the meeting. We presented our work during poster sessions πΌοΈπ§¬, discussed amyloids, fibrils, databases, predictors and all the strange protein behaviours we enjoy way too much.
And on Thursday, Oriol gave a selected talk:
βTMcluster: Nuanced clustering of protein structures using similarity matrices and dimensionality reductionβ π€πͺ
His talk was part of the Thursday session focused on amyloid proteins, AI prediction tools, clustering, frustration analysis and other beautiful protein chaos.
Between posters, talks and coffee breaks, the team collected plenty of new ideas, feedback and βwe should definitely test thisβ moments. Classic conference outcome π π.
π Welcome pack = serious sightseeing support
The organisers welcomed participants with a very nice conference pack π:
- π ML4NGP backpack
- π§ Warsaw-logo water bottle
- π four 24-hour public transportation tickets
That last part was especially appreciated, because it meant we could explore Warsaw properly between science sessions. Public transport tickets: small detail, huge sightseeing enabler ππ.
ποΈ Wednesday sightseeing, food and craft beers
On Wednesday, after a day full of talks, posters and discussions, we went sightseeing around Warsaw ποΈπΈ.
Then came the natural next step in any BioGenies conference workflow:
- science π§¬
- sightseeing πΆ
- food π²
- craft beers π»
- more science talk, but louder
Warsaw delivered beautifully.
πͺ Venue review: cool place, tragic chairs
The conference venue, Targowa Creativity Centre, was a cool and atmospheric place for the meeting. However, we must report one important scientific observation:
The chairs were very, very uncomfortable ππͺ
Luckily, this was partially compensated by the fact that the food and lunches were good π½οΈβ¨. A balanced conference ecosystem: painful chairs, happy stomachs.
π The final main ML4NGP meeting
This Warsaw meeting was also special because it marked the 4th and final main meeting of the ML4NGP COST Action, a chance to celebrate the community built around machine learning and non-globular proteins.
For BioGenies, being part of this network has been a huge opportunity:
- π€ strengthening collaborations across Europe
- π§ staying close to the newest ideas in ML-based protein science
- π connecting our amyloid, fibril and prediction work with the broader NGP community
- π showing that BioGenies is very much part of this scientific ecosystem
π See you next time, ML4NGP!
Huge thanks to the organisers, speakers and the whole ML4NGP community for such an inspiring meeting.
Big applause to Valen, Jarek, Mariia, Damian and Oriol for representing BioGenies in Warsaw!
We return with fresh ideas, stronger collaborations, sore backs from the chairs, and even more motivation to keep exploring the strange and wonderful world of non-globular proteins ππ.
π½οΈ Social dinner and Mariiaβs legendary stamina
On Thursday evening, the conference programme included the official social dinner at Kameralna Restauracja Warszawa. The food was okish but lacked variety and epecially traditional Polish cuisine - pierogi.
After several packed conference days, most of us were already running on low battery ππ΄.
But not Mariia.
Only Mariia still had enough energy to join the ML4NGP folks and continue the evening in a club ππ₯. We are not saying this was the most impressive performance of the conferenceβ¦ but it was definitely up there.