WCMM Linköping together with the scientific program committee, warmly welcomes you to the annual PALS conference between 20-22 May 2026 in Kolmården.
We will have an exciting event filled with scientific talks, networking opportunities and competence development workshops. Welcome to the Swedish east coast and the beautiful view on the shores of Bråviken.
Participants
Research leaders within basic, clinical, and data-driven life science research from universities across Sweden, as well as management, administrative staff and guest speakers are invited to this event that usually gatheres over 100 fellows from the DDLS, SciLifeLab and WCMM/WCMTM, programs. New for this year is that we expand our network and welcome research leaders from MIMS and WIFORCE to the meeting. This will complete the Swedish research community in Life Science.
PALS Conference 2026 | All you need to know
Bring your curiosity and scientific expertise to make these days rich with interactions, valuable networking, and the inspiration you need to energize your research.
The conference program contains topics that cover the broad interest areas of fellows within the PALS network. With a mix of basic, clinical, and data-driven topics, the aim is to offer opportunities to discuss and establish multi-disciplinary and translational research collaborations. If you are new fellow, you will also have excellent chance for an introduction to the Swedish research infrastructure landscape.
On top we will offer you competence enhancing workshops on outreach and communication.
Here, we have selected highlights from the days, and you can find the full three-day program further down on this page.
Day 1 (Wednesday May 20):
- Visit to Visualisation center and talk of key note Anders Ynnerman
- BBQ dinner in Kolmården zoo restaurant with a wonderful view on Bråviken
Day 2 (Thursday May 21):
- Flash talks by fellows
- User focused infrastructure presentations and infrastructure lunch
- Workshop on research communication
- Dinner and live music
Day 3 (Friday May 22):
- PALS projects presentations
- Flash talks by fellows
- Handing over to PALS 2027 host WCMM Lund
During the conference, a number of infrastructures will be presented by user-focused talks. Short flash talks by other infrastructure representatives will be held and you have the possibility to talk with the representatives in depth during lunch and mingle.
LiU campus Norrköping and Vildmarkshotellet, Kolmården
We will start the meeting at Linköping University, campus Norrköping a short walk to Visualisation Center just across the river. After a visit and presentation at Visualisation Center by Anders Ynnerman, transport to Vildmarkshotellet in Kolmården by buss is organised.
Vildmarkshotellet is perched on a cliff in the heart of Kolmården’s forest, offering stunning views over Bråviken. It is part of Kolmården Wildlife Park, which is not only a destination for memorable experiences, but also carries out extensive work in wildlife conservation, research and education focused on biodiversity.
Contact to the hotel
Address
Vildmarkshotellet
SE-618 92 Kolmården
Phone
+46 10- 70 87 790
Vildmarkshotellet official webpage
Arrival – Travel to Norrköping
The conference will start at LiU campus Norrköping. Norrköping can easily reached by train or bus and from Norrköping central station, a bus will take you to Campus Norrköping. If you prefer a walk to campus, you can just leave your luggage in the bus at the station and walk appx 15 minutes to reach campus.
Organized bus transfer Norrköping – Vildmarkshotellet
After the program in Norrköping, a bus transfer is organized to Vildmarkshotellet arriving there in time for check in and dinner.
Departure – From Vildmarkshotellet
After the event, busses will leave from Vildmarkshotellet for Norrköping station for further transport by train or bus. Another bus will take you to Kolmården station from where you can take the train to Stockholm.
Public transport
Vildmarkshotellet can be reached by public transport from Norrköping station and Kolmården station by bus 420, leaving every half hour. Please see ostgotatrafiken.se for detailed information.
Guest speakers
Sloan Kettering Institute
Agnel Sfeir
Linköping University
Anders Ynnerman
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Ronald T. Raines
Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation
Sara
Mazur
Program details
Wednesday 20 May 2026
13:00 | Bus departure from Norrköping station to Campus Norrköping (departure time will be adapted to train/bus arrival times at Norrköping station)
13:15 | Welcome and opening of the meeting
David Engblom, Director WCMM Linköping
13:30 | Key note speech
Ronald T. Raines, MIT
14:20 | Walk to Visualisation Center
14:30 | Fika at Visualisation Center
15:00 | Guided tour at Visualisation Center in two groups
Anders Ynnerman will present the center and connected research
17.00 | Bus departure to Vildmarkshotellet
17:45 | Check-in
18:30 | BBQ Dinner at restaurant “Hyllan” in the zoo
Thursday 21 May 2026
07:00 | Morning stroll or run
In your own pace or together with a group. For the group activity we will meet at 07:00 in the hotel entrance.
9:00 | Key note speech
Agnel Sfeir, Professor at Sloan Kettering Institute
“Rewiring the DNA Damage Response: Polθ as a Target in Cancer”
10:00 | Fika
10.45 | Short talks by fellows
11:45 | Infrastructure showcases
Presentation of infrastructure by users and infrastructure representatives mixed with flashs from other infrastructure representatives on site.
12:30 | Infrastructure lunch & mingle
Take the opportunity to discuss your infrastructural needs with the representatives during lunch.
For PALS management: Meeting of PALS Steering group 13.15-14.00
14:00 | Short talks by fellows
15:00 | Fika
For WCMM management: WCMM director’s meeting 15:00-15:45
15:30 | Communication Workshop – reaching out to society
In this workshop with experts from the communication’s office at Linköping University you will learn how to present your research in a way the public understands and what to do – and not to do – in front of a camera.
18:00 | Pre-Dinner Mingle
18:30 | Dinner with live entertainment
20:00 | Dance Party
Friday 22 May 2026
07:00 | Morning stroll or run
In your own pace or together with a group. For the group activity we will meet at 07:00 in the hotel entrance.
8:45 | Checkout
9:00 | PALS call presentations
Presentation of the winning projects of the PALS call 2025.
10:00 | Fika
10:30 | PALS call presentations continue
11:30 | Closing remarks
Including handing over to PALS 2027 meeting organiser WCMM Lund.
11:45 | Lunch (optional lunch to go)
12:45 | Busses leaving for Norrköping station and Kolmården station (departure time will be adapted to train/bus departure times at the stations)
#PALS2026 in Social media
Please use the hashtag #PALS2026 in social media so that participants can follow your posts and see what you share.
Questions or Comments
If you have questions or comments about the conference, feel free to get in touch. The event’s contact person is Lisa Dobrosch, senior coordinator for WCMM Linköping.
Scientific Program Committee (Fellows)
Claudio Cantù, WCMM Linköping
Francisca Lottersberger, WCMM Linköping
Frank Hernandez, WCMM Linköping
Fredrik Iredahl, WCMM Linköping
Hanna Israelsson Larsen, WCMM Linköping
Muhammad Arif, DDLS Göteborg
Wen Zhong, DDLS Linköping
Coordination and event management
Lisa Dobrosch, coordinator WCMM Linköping
David Gotthold, project leader SciLifeLab
Josefine Sandström, site coordinator SciLifeLab Linköping
Director and Co-Director
David Engblom, director WCMM Linköping
Fredrik Elinder, co-director WCMM Linköping