Tim Craggs: Adding dynamics to structural biology

9th December 2025, 10:30 AM
Brdička Hall, J. Heyrovský Institute, Prague

Single-molecule techniques, such as Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (smFRET) and Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy (FCS) provide unique insights into the dynamics of biomolecular complexes, such as temporal conformational changes, binding kinetics and diffusion properties. By revealing transient states and heterogeneous populations in real time, these approaches bridge the gap between high-resolution structures and functional dynamics, enabling a comprehensive understanding of biomolecular mechanisms. Unfortunately, so far, these methods have been inaccessible to the broader life science and drug development community.

To tackle this, we developed the EI-FLEX, a benchtop instrument designed for seamless smFRET and FCS measurements, democratizing access to these powerful techniques. Its compact, user-friendly design requires minimal setup and no specialized expertise, allowing researchers in standard lab environments to perform and analyze these experiments effortlessly. I will guide you through the journey of how we are managing to bring these powerful methods into the broader community and discuss various application cases.

Tim Craggs, CEO and founder of Exciting Instruments, is a leader in the field of single-molecule fluorescence. With extensive multidisciplinary experience spanning chemistry, physics and biology he has held research positions at Cambridge, St Andrews, Yale, Oxford, Bristol, and Sheffield. Craggs founded Exciting Instruments to democratize advanced single-molecule detection methods for applications in biophysics, drug discovery and diagnostics.