Germany

During the Spring Meeting of the Condensed Matter Section of the German Physical Society (DPG), held in Dresden in March 2026, a round table was held on the theme ‘Novel Opportunities for Cooperation between France and Germany in Neutron Science’. The discussion counted on the participation of the directors of the French and German facilities and of representatives of the neutron user association in both countries, SFN and KFN. This is an account of the discussion by Jacques Jestin, ILL Science Director and French Associate Director and one of the participants of the round table.

Neutron scattering shows how local density shapes motion within self-assembled protein structures

Blood-based biomarkers are widely used to diagnose and monitor diseases through simple blood tests. However, in some cases they can be partially “hidden” and harder to detect accurately. Researchers investigated, with molecular accuracy, how biomarkers interact with lipid membranes using neutron reflectometry at the ILL.

A newly published study looks into the molecular motions of therapeutic antibodies and their ability to interact with their target molecules. The results provide crucial information for optimising design and formulations in future developments.

Paul's PhD project aims to develop a unique structural model that will ultimately help to improve the stability, medical efficiency, and range of applications of lipid nanoparticle-based drug formulations.

High-quality neutron and X-ray data acquired using red blood cells allowed researchers to establish a universal theoretical description of cell membranes.