The concept of the Symposia is to bring together researchers using diffraction, and more generally interactions of X-rays, electrons and neutrons with matter in the study of structural biology and, secondly, within this domain to facilitate the interaction between academic and industrial researchers. The interfaces with other active fields in biological ultra-structure using microscopies, spectroscopies including NMR are also respected as vital for the growth of a more systematic understanding of biological function based on structure. Such other techniques can give additional information on structures and ultrastructures (i.e. structures at the intermediate scale between the atomic scale and seen in the optical microscope) and dynamics. There is a balance between the developing methods (tomographies, imaging, picosecond to femtosecond scattering) and the science at all relevant length scales (molecular to cellular).

The scientific topics covered in ISDSB2010 will include the following items and hot structures:

> New technologies and methods 
          I - Electron and X-ray imaging and tomography, fourth generation synchrotron radiation sources…
          II - Ultra-fast measurements, high pressure…

> Macromolecular structure and function

> From large biomolecules to larger objects

> Membrane proteins

> Developments in electron and neutron diffraction

> Structure-based drug design, pharmaceutical applications.

> Structural genomics, systems biology