​The IMPALA-NET Kick-Off Meeting marks the official launch of the UK-wide Integral Membrane Proteins And Lipid Assemblies Network (IMPALA-NET), a new BBSRC-funded network bringing together researchers, industry professionals, and technology experts working at the forefront of membrane protein science and polymer-lipid particle (PLP) technologies.

​IMPALA-NET has been established to accelerate collaboration between academia and industry and to unlock the transformative potential of polymer-lipid particles (PLPs) for the study and application of membrane proteins. The network aims to create a collaborative national community that shares expertise, addresses technical and industrial challenges, develops best practices, and supports the wider adoption of PLP technologies across biotechnology, pharmaceutical discovery, structural biology, and related sectors.

​This two-day kick-off event in Cambridge will bring together leading academic researchers, biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, CROs, polymer chemists, computational scientists, structural biologists, biophysicists, and early career researchers to collectively explore the current challenges and future opportunities surrounding PLP technologies and membrane protein applications.

​The Objective of the Kick-off Event

• ​Connect academia, industry, and biotechnology professionals

• ​Identify key challenges in PLP technologies adoption

• ​Explore industrial needs and research opportunities

• ​Share expertise, best practices, and emerging innovations

​The Agenda

​Day 1: Challenge Mapping

​10:00 – 11:00 | Registration, Welcome & Networking

​11:00 – 12:30 | Session 1: IMPALA-NET and the Current PLP Landscape

• ​Welcome and introduction to IMPALA-NET

• ​Overview of network opportunities and future activities

• ​Introduction to PLP/SMALP technologies and current developments

• ​Industrial perspectives on opportunities, limitations, and adoption challenges

​12:30 – 13:30 | Lunch & Networking

​13:30 – 15:00 | Session 2: PLPs in Research and Industrial Practice

• ​Real-world experiences using PLP technologies

• ​Current technical challenges and limitations in laboratory applications

• ​Open discussions on experimental barriers and lessons learned

• ​Community flash talks on unsuccessful or challenging PLP applications

​15:00 – 17:00 | Session 3: Collaborative Challenge Mapping

• ​Interactive challenge mapping workshops

• ​Identifying priority technical and industrial bottlenecks

• ​Group discussions on future collaboration opportunities

• ​Community feedback and shared priority setting for the network

​Day 2: Research, Innovation & Future Opportunities

​09:30 – 11:00 | Session 1: Innovation and Industrial Applications

• ​Emerging innovations in PLP/SMALP technologies

• ​Advances in membrane protein research and applications

• ​Industrial case studies and real-world implementation examples

• ​Lessons learned from successful collaborative and translational projects

​11:00 – 11:30 | Coffee & Networking

​11:30 – 12:30 | Session 2: Future Funding & Career Opportunities

• ​Future funding and collaboration opportunities within IMPALA-NET

• ​Research and innovation opportunities for PIs and ECRs

• ​Career development pathways linked to PLP technologies

• ​Strategic discussions around large-scale collaborative funding

​12:30 – 13:30 | Lunch & Networking

​13:30 – 14:00 | Session 3: Collaboration & Grant Development

• ​Roundtable discussions on future research directions

• ​Collaborative project and grant development discussions

• ​Building interdisciplinary teams and partnerships

• ​Exploring opportunities for exchange placements and pump-priming projects

​14:00 – 14:30 | Closing Discussion & Next Steps

• ​Key outcomes and reflections from the kick-off meeting

• ​Future opportunities to engage with IMPALA-NET activities

• ​Upcoming funding, exchange, and collaboration opportunities

• ​Building the future IMPALA-NET community together

​Interested in giving a flash talk?

​You will have the opportunity to give a flash talk on day one. If you have a failed attempt to use PLPs that you are willing to present to a sympathetic audience, please submit an abstract to [email protected]. Talks should be 3-5 minutes, using no more than 2 slides and should describe exciting scientific questions where the use of PLPs was unsuccessful, Submission deadline is 14th June, and invitations will be sent out by 17th June.

​Join the IMPALA-NET Kick-Off Event to drive the next generation of therapeutic and biotechnological innovation.