Add a news item to announce v1.11

_posts/2026-04-28-release-v1.11.md

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+---
+layout: post
+title: "openfe v1.11:  Introducing support for membrane systems"
+categories: science update
+---
+
+We are pleased to announce the release of **openfe** version 1.11!
+
+This release brings along some long-awaited features, notably support for membranes! 
+
+Please see below for some highlights and see the [Changelog][] for more details.
+
+## New Features
+
+### Support for Protein-Membrane Systems
+
+**openfe** can now perform simulations of proteins in membranes. These simulations require additional preparation: the user must supply a fully built, solvated, pre-equilibrated system, prepared with an external package. On the CLI, use the option `--protein-membrane` instead of `--protein` if you are providing this type of system, and see the new [tutorial][] on RBFE Calculations of Protein-Membrane Sytems for guidance. You can find additional information in the [User Guide][].
+
+### Updated Default Settings for Improved Accuracy
+
+By default, we now Lambda scale 1-4 interactions between core and dummy (i.e. unique in either end state) atoms in our [hybrid topology protocol][]. In the past, such 1-4 interactions would be kept across the transformation. Our internal research shows that this modification yields a small, yet significant, improvement in the accuracy of relative binding free energy simulations.
+
+Should you wish to toggle this feature, it can be controlled using the [HybridTopologyProtocol alchemical settings][] `turn_off_core_unique_exceptions` parameter.
+
+## Installing `openfe v1.11`
+
+`openfe` is made available as a [conda-forge][] package, or [docker and singularity images][].
+
+Please see our [installation instructions][] for details on how to install `openfe`.
+
+[changelog]: https://docs.openfree.energy/en/latest/CHANGELOG.html
+[tutorial]: https://docs.openfree.energy/en/latest/tutorials/rbfe_membrane_protein.html
+[User Guide]: https://docs.openfree.energy/en/latest/guide/setup/chemical_systems_and_thermodynamic_cycles.html
+[hybrid topology protocol]: https://docs.openfree.energy/en/latest/guide/protocols/relativehybridtopology.html
+[docker and singularity images]: https://github.com/OpenFreeEnergy/openfe/pkgs/container/openfe
+[conda-forge]: https://anaconda.org/conda-forge/openfe
+[installation instructions]: https://docs.openfree.energy/en/latest/installation.html
+[HybridTopologyProtocol alchemical settings]: https://docs.openfree.energy/en/latest/reference/api/openmm_rfe.html#protocol-settings