AICBC-2026
The 49th All India Cell Biology Conference and Symposium is the annual meeting of the Indian Society of Cell Biology, co-hosted this year by IISER Pune and BRIC-NCCS Pune, 9–12 December 2026.
With a theme centred on “Architecture of Life”, the conference explores how cellular life is organised across space and time — from molecules and biomolecular condensates to organelles, cells, tissues, and the dynamics of development and ageing. It asks a single question across every scale: what design principles keep a living system organised, robust, and alive?
The programme is organised around broad areas of cell biology — Organelles and Trafficking, Host–Pathogen Interaction, The Nucleus, The Cytoskeleton, and Lipids and Metabolites — together with named endowment lectures, special seminars, and short student talks. It opens with pre-conference workshops at both host institutes on 9 December and closes at BRIC-NCCS Pune on 12 December.
About the Indian Society of Cell Biology (ISCB)
Founded in 1976, the ISCB promotes research and education in cell biology across India — running conferences, workshops and training programmes, and supporting young scientists. Membership is open to researchers and students: see iscb.co.in.
Endowment awards and travel grants are open to ISCB members only. If you intend to be considered for either, join the Society before you submit your abstract.
About IISER Pune
The Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune, established in 2006, integrates research and education in the basic sciences and is recognised as an Institution of National Importance.
Its cell and molecular biology community works across genome organisation, biophysics, microbiology, development and ageing, supported by extensive imaging and microscopy facilities on the Pashan campus.
About BRIC-NCCS Pune
The BRIC-National Centre for Cell Science (BRIC-NCCS), established in 1986, is an institute of the Department of Biotechnology’s Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council (BRIC), Government of India, and one of the country’s principal centres for research in cell biology. It is located on the Savitribai Phule Pune University campus.
It hosts the National Cell Repository, among India’s largest collections of authenticated cell lines, and its research spans chromatin biology, immunology and infection, cancer biology, stem cells and regenerative medicine, and microbial diversity.
Register for AICBC 2026
Registration and payment are a single step through SBI Collect. Early-bird registration runs 20 August – 20 September 2026, with a lower rate if you are not taking campus accommodation.
Fee Structure
| Category | Accommodation | Early bird 20 Aug – 20 Sep | Late 20 Sep – 20 Nov |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student | Hostel, shared | ₹5,900 | ₹7,080 |
| None | ₹4,425 | ₹5,310 | |
| Post-doctoral | Guest House, shared | ₹8,260 | ₹9,440 |
| None | ₹6,608 | ₹7,552 | |
| Faculty | Guest House, single | ₹11,800 | ₹14,160 |
| None | ₹9,440 | ₹11,328 | |
| Industry | Guest House, single | ₹16,520 | ₹16,520 |
| None | ₹13,216 | ₹13,216 | |
| International | Guest House, single | US$200 | US$250 |
| None | US$160 | US$200 |
Fees cover all scientific sessions, meals and tea. Rows showing a room type include accommodation on the IISER Pune campus for the nights of the meeting; rows showing None do not. GST is already included in every amount above, so there is nothing further to add at the payment screen.
ISCB membership is encouraged for non-members, and is required for endowment awards and student travel grants — join via iscb.co.in.
Venue
Days 0–2 — IISER Pune
Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pashan, Pune 411008
Day 3 — NCCS Pune
SPPU Campus, Ganeshkhind, Pune 411007
✈ Pune International Airport (PNQ) — ~17 km · 🚉 Pune Junction — ~9 km
Campus accommodation is optional and, if taken, is included in the fee. A shuttle will transfer delegates to BRIC-NCCS on the morning of 12 December.
Pleasant December climate (~12–28 °C).
Important Dates
Organisers
- Girish Ratnaparkhi
Department of Biology, IISER Pune - Richa Rikhy
Department of Biology, IISER Pune - Deepa Subramanyam
Scientist E, BRIC-NCCS Pune - Asif Ali
Department of Biology, IISER Pune - ISCB · IISER Pune · BRIC-NCCS Pune
Biology Conference
of Life
Contact Us
IISER Pune, Pashan
Pune 411008, Maharashtra
Registration
Registration & payment in one step
SBI Collect takes your details as you pay, so completing the payment completes your registration. Keep the receipt and transaction number — you will be asked for them at the registration desk.
Register & Pay →
Fees are listed in full under Fee Structure, near the top of this page.
Conference Venues
The meeting runs across two campuses. The first three days are held at IISER Pune, with all talks in Raman Hall, Lecture Hall Complex, and poster sessions and meals in the Dining Hall Complex. The final day (12 December) moves to NCCS Pune for Sessions 5 and 6, the endowment lecture and the award ceremony.
IISER Pune on Google Maps → · NCCS Pune on Google Maps →
Pre-conference workshops run on 9 December at both IISER Pune and NCCS Pune. Places are limited and require separate sign-up during registration.
Accommodation
Campus accommodation is optional. If you take it, it is bundled into your fee and allocated on the IISER Pune campus — students in shared hostel rooms, post-docs in shared guest-house rooms, faculty, industry and international delegates in single rooms. No separate booking is needed.
Making your own arrangements? Register at the lower rate for your category.
Getting between the campuses
A shuttle will be provided to transfer delegates from IISER Pune to BRIC-NCCS Pune on the morning of 12 December.
The organisers do not arrange transport to or from the airport, railway station or bus terminals. App-based taxis (Uber, Ola, Rapido) are readily available at all of these and reach the IISER Pune campus in about 30–45 minutes.
How to Reach IISER Pune
By Air
Pune is well connected by air through Pune International Airport (PNQ), located approximately 17 km from the IISER Pune campus (~45 minutes by road, depending on traffic). It receives direct flights from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai and Kolkata.
By Train
Pune Junction Railway Station (PUNE) is well connected to major cities across India through frequent express and superfast trains. It is about 9 km from the campus (~30 minutes by road). The Pune Metro Aqua Line reaches Vanaz, the nearest station to campus, from where a taxi is a short ride.
By Road
Pune is well connected by several major national highways and expressways. The Mumbai–Pune Expressway links Pune to Mumbai in approximately 3 hours. Long-distance buses run from Mumbai, Nashik, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad), Hyderabad and Bengaluru, via MSRTC and private operators. The campus is reached from anywhere in Pune via Pashan Road.
Weather Advisory for December in Pune
December in Pune is dry and sunny, roughly 28 °C by day and 12 °C at night. Bring a light jacket for the early-morning and evening sessions.
Programme & Abstract Book
The Programme and Abstract Book will be published here before the meeting.
coming soon
of Life
Platform and Poster Presentation Schedule
Platform speakers, poster timings, board numbers and a printable schedule will follow closer to the meeting.
Abstracts
Abstracts close 20 September 2026. Submission instructions will be published here; until then, write to aicbc2026@acads.iiserpune.ac.in. Abstracts close on the same day as early-bird registration, so register at the early-bird rate on or before 20 September if you intend to submit.
Awards & Endowment Prizes
Students and young investigators presenting posters or platform talks are eligible for the Society’s endowment awards — a certificate and a cash prize each. A limited number of travel grants may be available to student members.
Eligibility rules, prize values and the travel-grant application route will be published here. Enquiries: aicbc2026@acads.iiserpune.ac.in.
Invited Speakers
National and international leaders in cell biology, biophysics and ageing. The line-up will be announced as speakers confirm.
Plenary, keynote, memorial and invited speakers are being confirmed now. Names and talk titles will appear here as they are finalised.
Programme at a Glance
Four days across two campuses: Days 0–2 at IISER Pune, the final day at NCCS Pune. Select a day to view its schedule.
IISER Pune & BRIC-NCCS Pune · workshops, registration and the opening seminar
IISER Pune · Raman Hall, Lecture Hall Complex
IISER Pune · Raman Hall, Lecture Hall Complex
NCCS Pune · shuttle from IISER Pune at 09:00
Poster boards go up on the morning of 10 December and stay up for both full conference days. Odd-numbered presenters attend their board in the afternoon slot and even-numbered presenters in the evening slot, on each of 10 and 11 December.
Timings are confirmed. The remaining session topics and the speaker names will be published as they are allocated.
Sponsors & Exhibitors
Manufacturers of instruments and reagents will exhibit throughout the meeting. Sponsorship and exhibition enquiries are welcome at aicbc2026@acads.iiserpune.ac.in.