From December 11 -13, scientists gathered together at the Helmholtz-Institut Würzburg for a three-day TXTL workshop. Young scientists got insights into cell-free transcription-translation lysate (TXTL), which consists of bacterial cell substrate without the bacterial envelope. The event, organised by HIRI department head Chase Beisel and supported by PhD students Thomas Gaudin and Charlotte Kamm, highlighted the potential of TXTL for protein synthesis, enzyme engineering and synthetic biology. The workshop was organised in collaboration with SPP 2330.