In May 2025, our OpenLab Workshop series welcomed 50 participants from academia and industry to experience nanotechnology and precision medicine up close. From Vienna to Linz to Brno, each event showcased the incredible potential of cross-border collaboration within the INTERREG AT-CZ funded NanoPrecMed Consortium, and with it the power of open labs, open minds, and open exchange.
Kicking off in Vienna, the first workshop focused on extracellular vesicles and translation in biotech. Guided by project lead Conny Schneider, the event brought together a wonderfully diverse crowd, from EV veterans to curious newcomers. Talks by experts like Johannes Grillari, Matthias Hackl, Christina Klasen, and Klaus Graumann illustrated the translational impact of EV research from diagnostics to therapy. A live interview with Heinz Redl offered first-hand insights into the challenges of turning lab discoveries into real-world innovations.
In Linz, the spotlight turned to Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). At JKU Linz, researchers Peter Hinterdorfer, Rong Zhu, and Yoo Jin Oh introduced AFM’s potential for precision measurements at the single-molecule level. In hands-on sessions, participants explored AFM imaging of bacteria and force spectroscopy, making nanoscale phenomena tangible. Later, FH Linz showcased cutting-edge imaging platforms, including an AFM–fluorescence combo and a high-speed AFM system that lets you watch DNA move in real time – a highlight for many. As one participant put it: “Fifteen years in research, and it took this workshop for me to see live moving DNA!”
Finally, in Brno, the series concluded with a deep dive into nanostructures, molecular modelling, and therapeutic innovation. TU Brno and Mendel University welcomed participants with scientific excellence and warm hospitality. Talks covered vaccine models, antimicrobial nanostructures, lipid nanoparticle therapeutics, and post-AI protein design, with speakers including Václav Brazda, Lucia Dzurická, Martin Palus, Andrew Miller, and Yazan Haddad. Afternoon lab tours gave everyone a hands-on look into Brno’s research infrastructure – from microscopy to molecular brewing, quite literally, at the university’s own beer lab.
With the workshop series now complete, NanoPrecMed moves forward strengthened by new ideas, new connections, and a shared mission: to harness the power of nanotechnology and precision medicine for better health, across borders.