On March 6, 2026 at 11:00, a scientific conference “A New Path to Pharmacology Using Cell-Penetrating Peptides” will take place at the Estonian Academy of Sciences (Kohtu 6, Tallinn).
The conference will present the latest research results on shuttle peptides (cell-penetrating peptides, CPP). These peptides enable the molecules attached to them to cross biological barriers and allow the efficient transport of small drug molecules as well as RNA and DNA molecules and nanoparticles. This opens up new possibilities for developing medicines capable of effectively crossing biological barriers and advances a new type of pharmacology.
The conference is organized by Tallinn University of Technology, the Estonian Academy of Sciences, the Estonian Biochemical Society, and the Estonian Chemical Society.
To participate, please register via online form no later than February 26. Participation is free of charge.
PROGRAMME
Moderated bt Ly Villo and Pirjo Spuul
| 11.00 | Opening Anne Kahru, Secretary General of the Estonian Academy of Sciences |
| 11.10 | Introduction Tiit Land, Professor, Rector of Taltech, Tallinn (Title TBA) |
| 11.30 | Remarks on the way to new pharmacology Ülo Langel, Professor Emeritus, Stockholm University and Tartu University |
| 12.00 | Crossing Cellular Barriers: CPP Applications from Lab to Therapy Prisca Boisguérin, Professor, University of Montpellier, INSERM, CNRS, and Bâtiment Institut Universitaire de Recherche Clinique, Montpellier, France |
| 12.30 | From a chimeric peptide M384 to nanoparticles for RNA delivery in vivo Margus Pooga, PhD, Tartu University, Estonia |
| 13.00 | Coffee break |
| 13.45 | An overview of the molecular mechanisms involved in cell-penetrating peptide translocation Sandrine Sagan, Professor, Sorbonne Université, École Normale Supérieure, PSL University, CNRS, Chimie Physique et Chimie du Vivant, Paris, France (TBA) |
| 14.15 | Tissue- and disease-specific homing and penetrating peptides: discovery and applications for precision medicine Tambet Teesalu, Professor, Tartu University, Estonia |
| 14.45 | From Barriers to Boulevards: Cell-Penetrating Peptides as Programmable Intracellular Taxis James Eberwine, Professor, Department of Pharmacology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA |
| 15.15 | Originality of design and not missing an unexpected outcome; Chimeric Peptide antagonists and Cell Penetrating Peptides starting with Galanin Receptor ligands Tamas Bartfai, Professor Emeritus, Stockholm University, and University of Pennsylvania, USA |
| 15.45 | Carbon-to-nitrogen atom swap in peptides for pharmacological application Jaak Järv, Professor Emeritus, University of Tartu, Estonia |
| 15.30 | Concluding remarks and general discussion Jaak Järv, Professor Emeritus, University of Tartu, Member of the Estonian Academy of Sciences, Estonia |
| 16.00 | Concluding remarks and general discussion Jaak Järv, Professor Emeritus, University of Tartu, Member of the Estonian Academy of Sciences, Estonia |
| 16.45 | End of the Conference |