Sponsorship & Exhibition

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The Exhibition Floorplan will be available 30 September 2026

Welcome / Invitation
On behalf of the Local Organising Committee, we take great pleasure in inviting you to participate in the 27th International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (IUBMB) Congress to be held in Cape Town, South Africa from 19-23 September 2027 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC). We thank you for taking the time to review our Sponsorship and Exhibition Prospectus, and for considering supporting the IUBMB Congress 2027.

The Congress will be co-hosted by three prestigious Biochemistry and Molecular Biology organisations with a proven track record of attracting large numbers of delegates from the full spectrum of bioscience and biotechnology practitioners:

  • International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (IUBMB)
  • South African Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (SASBMB)
  • Federation of African Societies of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (FASBMB)

The overarching theme of the Congress is: Biochemical and Molecular Innovation for a Sustainable World. Biosciences and biotechnology are uniquely positioned to help reach the goals of sustainability. Over the five days, the Congress will offer a series of plenary sessions, keynotes, symposia and poster presentations. There will also be a dedicated pre-congress Young Scientists Programme (YSP) which will include career development, education and networking opportunities.

The decision to host this prestigious international Congress on the African continent, for the first time, marks an important milestone in the history of the IUBMB which was founded in Brussels in 1955. South Africa, is an attractive destination offering a dramatic array of fauna, flora and landscapes. In Cape Town and surrounds, you can experience majestic mountains, beautiful winelands and indigenous wildlife. One of the highlights is Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens where you can immerse yourself in the Cape Floral Kingdom, one of the richest biodiversity hotspots on earth.,. Furthermore, September is beautiful springtime in South Africa when you can enjoy mild weather.

Cape Town is the perfect location for this event because of its sophisticated infra-structure. The CTICC is an ideal venue, which is conveniently situated near the Central Business District and the famous V&A Waterfront, offering the choice of a vast range of hotels and tourist attractions. It is located only a short drive from Cape Town International Airport. In addition, South Africans are warm and hospitable, and the country boasts a vibrant, multi-faceted nation where many cultures and languages co-exist.

The Local Organising Committee has worked arduously to ensure quality conditions for rigorous scientific exchanges, forging collaborations and social engagements. It is thus with great pleasure and enthusiasm that we look forward to welcoming you in Cape Town and invite you to participate as actively as possible in this event.

The IUBMB, FASBMB, SASBMB Congress 2027 will be one of the largest international conferences in basic biomolecular science. It will share the latest advancements in research and education with members of the academic, research and industry communities, and the broader public. A key feature of the Congress is a dynamic and extensive exhibition showcasing cutting-edge innovations, products and services within the biomolecular research sector. This exhibition offers an excellent chance to engage with colleagues and clients from South Africa, the African continent and around the world, fostering professional connections that will benefit your organisation long-term. The Congress also presents valuable opportunities to align your brand with this prestigious event, highlighting your innovation, strategic vision and leadership in the field. This prospectus outlines a variety of ways you can participate and we are happy to tailor options to your specific needs.

We thank you in advance for your valuable support and look forward to welcoming you to the IUBMB Congress and to Cape Town, South Africa.

Professors Sharon Prince and Edward Sturrock (Congress Co-chairs), Professor Dario Alessi (President IUBMB), Professor Lawal Bilbis (President FASBMB), Professor Jo-Anne de la Mare (President SASBMB)

Paul Kappo
Prof Abidemi Paul Kappo is a full Professor of Biochemistry and Group Leader of the Molecular Biophysics and Structural Biology Group at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa. He is a structural biologist with over 25 years of academic research experience. He obtained his PhD from the University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa, by determining the structure of the RING finger domain of the splicing-associated protein, RBBP6, using heteronuclear NMR spectroscopy. His research focuses on applying structural biology and structural bioinformatics techniques to discover and design new/novel biopharmaceuticals against infectious diseases. Additionally, dissecting the nexus between schistosomiasis and other infectious diseases for biotherapeutics, as well as schistosomiasis and cancer for vaccinomics, using molecular biophysics techniques and biomathematics, has been at the forefront of his research lately. He is a rated researcher by the National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa, has published widely on infectious diseases, and has graduated several MSc and PhD students. His research has been primarily funded in the past generously by the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) and, lately, by the National Research Foundation of South Africa (NRF). Prof Kappo is highly skilled in scientific organization and advocacy, having served as the President of the South African Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (SASBMB) for two terms (2018-2022) and is presently the Vice-President of the Federation of African Societies of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (FASBMB) since 2022. He is a visiting scientist at the Department of Biochemistry, Lagos State University (LASU), and holds an adjunct Research Professorship with the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Lagos, Nigeria.

Monique Williams
Designation: Senior lecturer
My research is focused on studying the physiology of mycobacteria, with a specific interest in biosynthetic pathways that are required by the bacteria during infection. Pathways of interest include molydopterin co-factor biosynthesis, ergothioneine biosynthesis and iron-sulphur cluster biogenesis.

Karl Storbeck
Karl Storbeck (PhD) is an Associate Professor at the Department of Biochemistry, Stellenbosch University and a Visiting Senior Research Fellow at the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences, UK. He obtained his PhD in Biochemistry (SU) in 2008 and was appointed to Faculty in 2012. His research is focused on investigating the biosynthesis and metabolism of steroid hormones with a particular focus of understanding the role of 11-oxygenated androgens in health and disease.

Theresa Coetzer
Professor Theresa Coetzer (University of KwaZulu-Natal) received her PhD in Biochemistry from the former University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. She was a J William Fulbright Fellow at the Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA in 1995 and is a former President of the South African Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (SASBMB). Her research focusses on proteolytic enzymes as diagnostic and drug targets in African parasitic diseases: mainly animal and human trypanosomiasis (nagana and sleeping sickness) and also trichinellosis and theileriosis. Her research expertise encompasses protein/protease isolation and characterisation, and immunochemical techniques, including chicken egg yolk antibody (IgY) production against peptide epitopes and proteins.

Addmore Shonhai
Addmore Shonhai is Professor of Biochemistry based at the University of Venda in South Africa. His research involves understanding the role of heat shock proteins in the development infectious agents. Another area of interest involves using heat shock proteins as biotechnological tools to enhance recombinant protein production in E. coli. He is a current council member of the South African Society of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology (SASBMB). He is a recipient of a prestigious Georg Foster Fellowship, awarded to him by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation of Germany. He is life-time member of the Cell Stress International Society.

Francois van der Westhuizen
Francois started his academic career in 1993 as junior lecturer and is currently Professor of Biochemistry and the Deputy Dean (Research and Innovation) at the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences at the North-West University (NWU). His teaching expertise has been enzymology, molecular biology and bioenergetics. After receiving his PhD in 1998, his research focus narrowed to mitochondrial disease. Since 2002 he helped establish the Mitochondria Research Group at the NWU, which focusses on mitochondrial- and other neuromuscular diseases in SA, as well as research on bioenergetics and mtDNA and their role in health and disease.

Jo-Anne de la Mare
Prof Jo-Anne de la Mare is a Senior Lecturer and Head of the Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Bioinformatics at Rhodes University and President of the South African Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. As the Principal Investigator of the Female Cancers Research at Rhodes University (FemCR2U) group, her research focuses on preclinical drug discovery for female cancers including triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) and cervical cancer. In addition, the development of drug resistance models for triple negative breast cancer and cervical cancer cell lines from South African women is geared towards developing more relevant disease models for the African context.

Ed Sturrock
Ed Sturrock is a full professor in the Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences and a founding member of the Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine (IDM) at the University of Cape Town. He received his PhD in 1994 and went on to do a postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard Medical School where he started his research on angiotensin-converting enzyme. In 2003 he was awarded a Wellcome Trust International Senior Research Fellowship. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of South Africa and the University of Cape Town, a member of the Academy of Science of South Africa, has a National Research Foundation A2 rating, and is a recipient of the South African Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Gold Award. He has published over 130 papers in peer-reviewed international journals and five granted patents.

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