From the Member Societies

American Society for Photobiology

• President: Sherri McFarland, University of Texas, Arlington - sherri.mcfarland@uta.edu
• Secretary: Masaoki Kawasumi, University of Washington in Seattle - kawasumi@uw.edu
• Treasurer: Theresa Busch, University of Pennsylvania - Theresa.Busch@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
• Contact: Brett Burk - bburk@burkinc.com or headquarters@photobiology.org

European Society for Photobiology

• President: Massimo Trotta, Italian National Research Council - Bari - president@photobiology.eu
• Secretary: Francesca Giuntini, Liverpool John Moores University - F.Giuntini@ljmu.ac.uk
• Treasurer: Giorgia Miolo, University of Padova
• Contact: info@photobiology.eu

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The primary aims of the Society are to co-ordinate and promote all aspects of photobiology in Europe in a way which will optimise the achievements of European photobiology across a range of scientific, technological and medical arenas. Such developments include liaison with and encouragement of photobiologists in other parts of the world. These aims are achieved through publication of a peer-reviewed journal, Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences (PPS), the organisation of a biennial Congress, the holding of regional meetings within Europe, and providing support for meetings outside Europe. Educational opportunities for younger scientists form an important part of the society´s activities and include workshops, exchange study visits between research institutions and scholarships opportunities for attending conferences. ESP is also working towards the establishment of European Union PhD programmes.

In order to make ESP accessible to all interested photobiologists, there has been increased focus on the dissemination of information through the setting up of a dedicated website (which will also function as the website for the biennial congresses and other activities), and publication of books and other materials. ESP also wishes to continue to promote joint activities between relevant societies in the form of co-hosting of symposia speakers at congresses in order to promote cross-society contact and collaboration.

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Photobiologie

• Chair: Dr. Helger Stege, Klinikum Lippe, Detmold - Helger.Stege@klinikum-lippe.de
• Deputy chair: Prof. Dr. med. Peter Wolf, Medical University of Graz - peter.wolf@medunigraz.at
• Secretary: Dr. Thorsten Peters, University Hospital, Ulm
• Treasurer: Peter Saalmann

Norwegian Society for Photobiology and Photomedicine

• President: Pål Kristian Selbo, Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority, Østerås - selbo@rr-research.no
• Vice-President: Lise Lyngsnes Randeberg
• Secretary: Lill Tove Norvang Nilsen, School of Pharmacy, Oslo
• Treasurer: Ellen Bruzell at the Nordic Institute of Dental Materials, Oslo - ebr@niom.no

The Photobiology Association of Japan

• President: Prof. Takayuki Kohchi, Kyoto University, Kyoto - tkohchi@lif.kyoto-u.ac.jp

Société Française de Photobiologie/French Society for Photobiology (SFPb)

• President: Dr Patricia Vicendo, CIRIMAT-CNRS, Toulouse - patricia.vicendo@univ-tlse3.fr
• Vice-President: Michel Sliwa, LASIR, Université de Lille - michel.sliwa@univ-lille.fr
• Secretary: Henri-Pierre Lassalle, CRAN, Université de Lorraine, Nancy - henri-pierre.lassalle@univ-lorraine.fr
• Contact: sfpb@photobiologie-france.fr

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First joint congress of the Italian and French Photochemists and Photobiologists

The Italian Society for Photobiology (SIFB), the French Society for Photobiology (SFPb), the Italian Group of Photochemists (GIF) and the French Group of Photochemistry, Photophysics and Photosciences (GFP2P) have joined their efforts and organized the first joint congress of the Italian and French Photochemists and Photobiologists. It held on 19-22 September 2016 at the University “Aldo Moro” of Bari, ex-Palazzo delle Poste, in Bari, the capital of the Italian region of Apulia, under the baton of Massimo Trotta.

Photochemistry and photobiology are disciplines which are very much intertwined and such congress does fertilize the field.

160 researchers from the two countries attended the congress. The program included 2 plenary lectures, 13 keynotes lectures and 74 oral communications, delivered in 6 joint and 10 parallel sessions, and over 30 posters. Much attention was brought to Ph.D students, post-docs, who were funded by 40 fellowships and gave 39 oral communications.

• Jacques Piette, from GIGA, University of Liège, Belgium, delivered a plenary lecture entitled “RIP3 antagonizes a TSC 2-mediated pro-survival pathway in Photodynamic therapy-induced glioblastoma cell death”.
• Luisa De Cola, from Institut de Science et d'Ingénierie Supramoléculaires, University of Strasbourg, France, delivered a plenary lecture on “Seeing, understanding and controlling self-assembly of luminescent species’’.

The 6 joint sessions covered topics on Optogenetics - Photochemical, photophysical and photobiological approaches in medicine and environmental science - Photoactive nanoparticles - Sensing and imaging - Devices and advanced material in photochemistry and photobiology - Artificial biomimetic and natural photosynthesis.

The 10 parallel sessions included PDT and nanomedicine - Photodermatology and photoprotection - Molecular and cellular targets - UV effects - DNA lesions and repair - Photosensors and photoprotection in plants and microorganisms - Fast processes in photobiology - Photochemical synthesis – Photocatalysis – Photovoltaics - Computational photochemistry - Photophysical/chemical methods for cultural heritage.

Società Italiana di Fotobiologia

• President: Dr. Greta Varchi, ISOF-CNR Bologna - greta.varchi@cnr.it
• Secretary-Treasurer: Dr. Enrico Caruso, University of Insubria - enrico.caruso@uninsubria.it
• Contact: info@sifb.it

The Italian Socieof Photobiology (SIFB) is a non-profit association dedicated to the advancement of photobiology in all its forms. It aims to bring together scientists from the field of photobiology, facilitate their interactions, and promote collaborations with researchers in related disciplines. To achieve these goals, SIFB is committed to advancing scientific research in photobiology and disseminates scientific knowledge through conferences, seminars, and annual meetings. It encourages information exchange and collaborations between scientists and professionals in the field. Additionally, the Society supports the professional development of its younger members, fostering their growth within the scientific community.

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2024 SIFB Annual Congress

The secretariat of the Italian Society of Photobiology is happy to announce that the 2024 conference will take place in Messina, 9 (start: 9 a.m.) – 11 (end: 1 p.m.) September Continuing our tradition of encouraging interdisciplinary exchange, the 2024 conference intends to broaden the audience to encompass scientists from across the Mediterranean who are actively involved in these areas.