On 12-14 May EMBO hosted the 89th meeting of the EMBO Council. The Council is the governing body of EMBO, responsible for ensuring the development of the organization. It consists of 15 members who serve for a period of three years and who may be re-elected for one additional term of office.
The meeting was chaired by the EMBO Council Chair, Maria Rescigno, Vice Rector and Basic Research Deputy Scientific Director at Humanitas University, Milan, Italy. The EMBO Council Vice Chair is Marta Miaczynska, Director of the International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw, Poland. Among the observers to the meeting: EMBO Secretary General, Paul Nurse, and Nektarios Tavernarakis, President of the European Molecular Biology Conference (EMBC), the intergovernmental organization of 31 member states and funding body of EMBO.
Celebrating achievements and continuous improvements
The meeting was opened by a report of recent activities and initiatives given by EMBO Director Fiona Watt. The report included highlights from the main programmes and initiatives set up by EMBO to acknowledge, catalyze and nurture excellence in the life sciences in Europe and beyond for the advancement of science, in line with its core mission.
We are fortunate that 60 years ago visionary scientists came together to found EMBO, laying the ground for an institution that continues to promote scientific excellence, innovation, and international cooperation
Maria Rescigno, EMBO Council Chair
“We are fortunate that 60 years ago visionary scientists came together to found EMBO, laying the ground for an institution that continues to promote scientific excellence, innovation, and international cooperation,” observes Maria Rescigno. “In the growing uncertainty about the future of scientific research – be it due to funding challenges, political instability, or misinformation – it is more important than ever to uphold the core values of science. We must continue to demonstrate that scientific discoveries are not only essential for advancing knowledge but are also fundamental to combating disease, addressing global challenges, and improving the quality of life”, concludes the Council Chair. “ Today, it is our collective responsibility to preserve and strengthen that legacy – supporting scientists through fellowships, training courses, recognition awards, and platforms for global collaboration.”
In-depth overviews and analyses covered the well-established EMBO Programmes regarding Fellowships, Scientific Exchange Grants, Courses and Workshops and Global Activities.
We are grateful for the expert guidance provided by our Council. The open and fertile collaboration is of great value for the organisation
EMBO Director Fiona Watt
EMBO Press, the scientific publishing sector of EMBO, updated the Council on the activities of the five EMBO Press journals serving the global life science community, ranging from computational, synthetic and systems biology to molecular medicine. Along with the journals, the report covered updates on policies and practices that EMBO Press has been championing for a more transparent, fair, and ethical publishing process and reliable, reproducible literature. In this framework, updates on several Open Science initiatives were presented, including Review Commons. Other areas of impact on research policies covered Research Integrity and Sustainability.
“We are grateful for the expert guidance provided by our Council,” says EMBO Director Fiona Watt. “The open and fertile collaboration is of great value for the organisation, securing alignment between all our activities and the shared goal of enabling high-quality and high-impact research for the benefit of the scientific community, the EMBC Member States, EMBO / EMBC Global Partners, and society at large.” In line with the EMBO calendar, the yearly meeting of the Council saw the finalization of the election of the new EMBO Members and the award of two EMBO Gold Medals. The outcome of both processes will be officially communicated by EMBO across its channels in June.
Council Members, Chair and Vice Chair – Updates
The Council welcomed two new Members, Alexander Aulehla (Germany) and Helder Maiato (Portugal) and thanked three Members whose mandate will end in December 2025: Silvia Arber (Switzerland) and Crisanto Gutierrez (Spain).
Council Chair, Maria Rescigno, whose mandate will also come to an end in December, thanked her Council colleagues, the EMBO leadership and all members of staff: “My experience on the EMBO Council over the past six years – and particularly during the last two as Chair – has been one of the most rewarding and enriching chapters of my professional career. It has provided me with a unique opportunity to contribute to an organization that plays a central role in shaping the future of life sciences across Europe and beyond. Together with outstanding Council colleagues, we had the privilege of working closely with an exceptionally dedicated and motivated EMBO staff, whose professionalism and unwavering commitment to scientific excellence have left a lasting impression on me. Through this experience, I gained a much deeper understanding of the EMBO mission, values, and the positive impact it continues to have on generations of researchers.”
EMBO plays a pivotal role in promoting scientific excellence and fostering an open, collaborative research environment across Europe and beyond
Ivan Đikić, EMBO Council Chair from 2026
During the meeting, the Council elected the new Chair and Vice Chair, whose mandate will start in January 2026. The next Chair of the EMBO Council will be Marta Miaczynska and Vice Chair will be Ivan Đikić. A Member of the Council since 2023, Ivan Đikić is the Director of the Institute of Biochemistry II, University Hospital of Goethe University in Frankfurt, Germany. “EMBO plays a pivotal role in promoting scientific excellence and fostering an open, collaborative research environment across Europe and beyond”, says Đikić. “I very much look forward to working with Marta and the entire Council in this new capacity. It is a particular pleasure to work with the outstanding EMBO team and its leadership in shaping and delivering the organization’s visionary programmes. From fellowships and training courses to awards and scientific networks, the EMBO initiatives are truly exceptional in advancing both science and education. At a time when scientific collaboration and trust are more important than ever, I am proud to contribute to the EMBO mission and to the vibrant scientific community it serves.”
As a strong believer in collective wisdom, I look forward to working with Ivan and all my colleagues on the Council to provide strategic advice and direction to EMBO, an organization we all value and care deeply about
Marta Miaczynska, EMBO Council Vice Chair
“As the EMBO Council, we must ensure that the EMBO activities are aligned with its mission to promote excellence in life sciences, while also responding to the current challenges faced by scientists in Europe and beyond,” says Marta Miaczynska. “We need to seek solutions for efficiently recruiting and retaining talent in science, maintaining scientific integrity in communication and publishing in the era of AI, and advocating for science among politicians and decision-makers, just to name a few pressing issues. As a strong believer in collective wisdom, I look forward to working with Ivan and all my colleagues on the Council to provide strategic advice and direction to EMBO, an organization we all value and care deeply about.”
The 90th meeting of the EMBO Council will take place in May 2026.
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EMBO Governance and Leadership
