Programme

Programme

The meeting will cover the different areas of stem cell research, from biology to bioengineering towards clinical applications and disease modeling using stem cells. Presentations and discussion will include recent developments in pre-clinical and clinical trials of stem cell therapy and regenerative medicine and quality requirements and policies.

Click HERE to view the Scientific Program.

Sessions and Workshops

ORAL SESSIONS

Session 1 (Day 1, 15^th October)

Stem cells: niches and signaling in development and disease

Sponsored by: Grupo Tecnimede

Chairs: Perpétua-do-Ó (i3S and INEB) and Catarina Brito (iBET and ITQB-NOVA)

The session will cover the biology of stem cells and the dynamic interactions between stem cells and their niche or microenvironment. This includes mechanisms underlying reprogramming, stem cell pluripotency and differentiation, as well as regulation of stem cells during embryonic development and tissue regeneration. Stem cell-based disease models will be addressed and stem cells, aging and cancer will also be covered.

Session 2 (Day 1, 15^th October)

Stem cell metabolism

Sponsored by: MERCK

Chairs: Luis Almeida (CNC-UC) and Ana Teixeira (iBET and ITQB-NOVA)

This session will address the role of cellular metabolism on cell fate, how stem cell metabolism is modulated throughout the differentiation pathways, how the regulation of energy metabolism is intertwined with genetic and epigenetic mechanisms that control stem cell development; how this knowledge can be used to devise bioprocess strategies to improve expansion and targeted differentiation will be addressed. Addressing metabolic imbalances in disease states using stem cell-derived models will also be covered.

Session 3 (Day 1, 15^th October)

Targeting unmet medical needs with advanced cell therapies

Sponsored by: Bial

Chairs: Claudia Lobato (IBB and IST-UL) and Vitor Espírito Santo (iBET and ITQB-NOVA)

This session will address the latest achievements on cell therapy in the field of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine towards clinical application. This includes combinatory strategies using advanced biomaterials and stem cells for the recreation of instructive niches, as well as the application of theranostic nanomedicine tools for simultaneous monitoring and targeted therapies. The latest milestones on the synergism between immunotherapy and standard therapies for disease treatment will also be explored in this session.

Session 4 (Day 2, 16^th October)

Stem cell manufacturing

Sponsored by: Medinfar

Chairs: Pedro Cruz (ECBio), Francisco dos Santos (Cell2B) and Margarida Serra (iBET and ITQB-NOVA)

Advances in processes and technology are creating new possibilities for the manufacturing of cell-based products for cell therapy and drug screening applications. This session will cover stem cell biomanufacturing, process development, integration and scale-up, novel engineering approaches, pro-survival systems for stem cell transplantation and microphysiological systems (i.e. organ-on-a-chip).

Session 5 (Day 2, 16^th October)

Cells as products: validation and qualification

Sponsored by: Laboratórios Azevedos

Chairs: Lino Ferreira (CNC-UC) and Patricia Alves (iBET and ITQB-NOVA)

This session will address the thematic of stem cell-based products quality assessment and regulatory aspects. Definition of product quality specifications, development of analytical tools will be covered and discussed. Aspects on cell comparability requirements for clinical approval will also be covered.

WORKSHOP SESSION

(Day 2, 16^th October)

Moving Cell Therapies to the Clinic – Clinical Challenges & Industry Highlights

Sponsored by: iBET

Workshop organizers: Manuel Carrondo (iBET and FCT-NOVA) and Joaquim Cabral (IBB and IST-UL)