Shifting paradigms: phosphatases from basic biology to druggable targets

The EMBO Workshop 'Phosphatases: from basic research to translation' (27 to 31 July 2025, Würzburg, Germany) brought together researchers from academia and industry for a deep dive into the rapidly evolving world of phosphatase biology. Over five days, participants explored the interplay of phosphatase structure, function, regulation, and signalling, while also uncovering their expanding influence in cancer, immunology, neurological disorders, and cardiometabolic health. The central focus of the meeting was the accelerating progress in phosphatase drug discovery, an enzyme class historically considered undruggable. This Meeting Review summarises the key findings and novel insights presented at the meeting and reflects the progress being made in the field.