The Biophysical Society Annual Meeting is the largest annual gathering of biophysicists from around the world. Bringing together leading scientists who work at the interface between the life, physical and computational sciences, BPS 2024 allows attendees to share their latest findings and learn about the newest emerging techniques and applications.

The meeting runs from 10 to 14 February, in Philadelphia, PA, with some 5000 delegates expected to attend. The event incorporates symposia, workshops, poster presentations and the Biophysical Society Lecture, as well as career, education, policy and social programmes. Subgroup symposia held on the first day allow attendees to meet and interact within focused areas.

In a new feature for this year, more than 500 presentations have been selected from submitted abstracts. “At BPS 2024, our Annual Meeting gets a facelift,” explain programme chairs Ibrahim Cissé, from the Max-Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, and Elizabeth Villa from the University of California, San Diego. “The symposia and workshops are as exciting as ever, with a slate of invited speakers that represent breakthrough biophysics research and who will give a glimpse into what the next generation of our Society looks like. For the first time, in this upcoming meeting we have reserved at least 20% of symposia talks for speakers selected directly from submitted abstracts.”

There’s also a technical exhibition, showcasing displays of new equipment, publications and products. Some of the exhibiting companies are also running hands-on demonstrations of scientific products and their uses. Read on to find out more about some of the products on show at BPS 2024.

MadAFM lines up for life sciences applications

New for 2024, Mad City Labs introduces MadAFM, a sample-scanning atomic force microscope (AFM) that supports multiple microscopy modes for applications in life sciences. Joining the company’s existing line-up of AFM instruments, the MadAFM is simple to install and features a compact table-top design. The microscope exploits the company’s closed-loop nanopositioning systems to enable precise movement of the sample and probe.

These piezo nanopositioners feature the company’s proprietary PicoQ sensors, which provide ultralow noise and excellent stability to yield sub-nanometre resolution. These attributes make them ideal for applications in single molecule microscopy, imaging, optical and force microscopy, and particle tracking.

For 25 years Mad City Labs has provided precision instrumentation for biophysical research and industry applications, including nanopositioning systems, micropositioners, single-molecule microscopes, AFMs and customized solutions.

The company’s other products include the RM21 single-molecule microscope, which offers direct optical pathway access, high stability and precision alignment. Meanwhile, the unique MicroMirror TIRF system offers multi-colour total internal-reflection fluorescence microscopy with an excellent signal-to-noise ratio and efficient data collection, along with an array of options to support multiple single-molecule techniques.

As well as offering turnkey instruments, Mad City Labs supplies standalone micropositioning products, such as optical microscope stages, compact positioners and the Mad-Deck XYZ stage platform. These devices use proprietary intelligent control to optimize stability and precision. The micropositioning products are compatible with the high-resolution nanopositioning systems, enabling users to develop solutions tailored to their applications.

Learn more about how Mad City Labs products are enabling biophysical research by attending Looking to the Future – Enabling Single Molecule Methods for Improved Health Outcomes on Sunday 11 February at 1:30 pm (room 103C). Speakers include Uri Zvi from the University of Chicago, discussing new quantum techniques to probe biological processes with nanoscale resolution, Aaron Hoskins from the University of Wisconsin, demonstrating the power of single molecule fluorescence for revealing complex RNA pharmacology, and Leigh Plant from the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and the Center for Drug Discovery at Northeastern University.

• Discover more by visiting Mad City Labs at booth 700 or message the company on X (@madcitylabs1) to schedule an appointment to discuss your application needs.

A focus on fluorescence

The IOP Publishing journal Methods and Applications in Fluorescence (MAF) will be hosting a “Meet the Editors” session at the IOP Publishing booth (#909) in the BPS 2024 exhibition, from 2:00– 3:00 pm on Sunday 11 February. Current and prospective MAF authors will be able to discuss the journal with the publisher and members of the editorial board, including Editor-in-Chief Marcia Levitus. Visitors to the booth can also enjoy complimentary coffee and cakes courtesy of IOP Publishing.

Methods and Applications in Fluorescence was founded in 2012, and has since become an internationally leading journal welcoming contributions on the study, application, techniques and instrumentation of fluorescence. These encompass biological, medical, chemical, material and nano research using experimental, theoretical and data analysis methods.

MAF provides a forum for original research articles, topical reviews, tutorials, technical notes and editorial perspectives in the areas of fluorescence spectroscopy, imaging, fluorescent probes, labels and materials.

The unique position of the journal at the vertex of so many different fields of study is reflected across the diverse editorial board and MAF’s three Editors-in-Chief. As such, MAF gives the community a unique place to publish truly focused cutting-edge fluorescence research, whilst also reaching a truly multidisciplinary audience.

• Find out more about Methods and Applications in Fluorescence by visiting booth 909.