Every year in mid-May, the annual Spring School of the Estonian Biochemistry Society brings together people united by a shared interest and passion for biochemistry.

This year’s event featured an engaging keynote by Karmen Reinpõld, PhD (Health Sciences, Tallinn University), titled “HIIT Me with Science.” She gave an insightful overview of the effects of endurance, interval (HIIT), and strength training. Our Society’s president, Ly Villo, complemented the talk by discussing these training types from a biochemical perspective, explaining the metabolic pathways involved.

Participants also had the opportunity to showcase their own work. A range of interesting talks were given by researchers from TalTech – Tallinn University of Technology and the University of Tartu. From TalTech’s Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Priit Eek (Protein Design Lab) presented our current project on novel protein-based food additives. Naatan Seeba (Biochemistry of Lipids and Lipoproteins Group) shared insights into their ongoing research.

As is tradition, students got the chance to pre-present their theses and practice for their defense, receiving valuable feedback in a supportive setting. To wrap up the event, the more adventurous attendees had a canoe trip along the beautiful Navesti River.

The traditional spring school of our society will take place on May 8-9, this time at Vanaõue puhkekeskus, Vihi küla, Viljandimaa.
In addition to the seminar, we can enjoy canoeing, volleyball, hiking, morning runs, sauna, and simply spending two pleasant days together.

Congratulations to Mattias Kaspar Krõlov, University of Tartu Masters student and the winner of the Estonian Biochemistry Society’s 2024 student research competition.
His work contributed to the study of Inhibition of epigenetic and cell cycle-related targets in glioblastoma cell lines reveals that onametostat reduces proliferation and viability in both normoxic and hypoxic conditions, published in Nature Scientific Reports.

Congratulations to Gertrud Sildnik, TalTech’s second year graduate student and the winner of the Estonian Biochemistry Society’s 2022 student research competition.

Gertrud studied the effect of ⍺-lipoic acid on copper-induced neurodegeneration in Drosophila melanogaster model of AD.
The results of the work were published this year in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease.

Statement of Estonian academic societies in relation to the crisis in Ukraine

Statement of Estonian academic societies in relation to the crisis in Ukraine in Ukranian