Joint TargetRNA, Fragment Screen and IMPULSE Winter school

The PhD Winter Training School “Emerging Topics in Early-Stage Drug Discovery” brings together researchers from the Target RNA and IMPULSE networks for a week of interactive lectures, hands-on computational sessions, and networking activities. The school will host around 30 PhD students and early-career scientists eager to deepen their understanding of how RNA can be explored and used as a therapeutic target. 
 

Participants will gain a comprehensive overview of the drug discovery pipeline, from target identification to translational considerations. Through lectures and interactive workshops, you will:    

• Understand the biological and structural principles of RNA as a drug target with a focus on new antimicrobial agents.  
• Explore modern discovery tools such as fragment-based drug design, label-free interaction techniques, and AI-driven modelling.  
• Learn practical skills in structure-based design and computational modelling through sessions using tools like PyMOL.  
• Discuss the societal and ethical aspects of research through sessions on Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI).  
• Engage directly with experts and peers in interactive flash talks and networking sessions.  

The School will take place on January 26th to 30th 2026 in Madrid, Spain at the Biological Research Center "Margarita Salas" (CIB-CSIC).

Participation in the Winter School including preparatory work and reporting is equivalent to a workload of 3 ECTS. A participation certificate stating this will be issued to all eligible participants. 

Program

The program can be found here (external link).