Wednesday, 11 June 2025 | 8:30 AM - 10:00 AM

CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMBINING CELL TRANSPLANTATION WITH NEUROMODULATION FOR SPINAL CORD INJURY

Organized By:

Matthew Dominguez, Gladstone Institutes, USA
Lyandysha Zholudeva, PhD, Gladstone Institutes, USA

  • Unlike genetic predisposition and viral infections, spinal cord injury (SCI) can occur to anyone at any time. This session highlights cutting-edge research from teams focused on combining cell therapy with other treatment strategies for spinal cord repair. Topics will include the use of pre-clinical SCI animal models, the bioengineering of new spinal repair technologies, and the integration of cell transplantation with neural stimulation to enhance functional connectivity. Speakers include leading senior investigators  in the field of SCI repair, as well as early-career investigators. 

    Speakers:

    Nisha Iyer, PhD, Tufts University, USA  

    Lyandysha Zholudeva, PhD, Gladstone Institutes, USA 

    María del Mar Sánchez, PhD, Principe Felipe Research Center (CIPF), Spain and Stanford University, USA 

    Michael Lane, PhD, Drexel University, USA 

    Hideyuki Okano, MD, PhD, Keio University, USA 

THE VALUE OF QUALITATIVE RESEARCH IN ADVANCING STEM CELL SCIENCE: A PATHWAY TO ETHICAL, SOCIAL, AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE 

Organized By:

Roslyn Le Gautier, PhD, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Australia
Megan Munsie, PhD, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Australia

  • The success of stem cell therapies depends on a strong ethical foundation, social alignment, and robust policy frameworks. This session explores how qualitative research – through methods like interviews, focus groups, and public engagement – captures diverse perspectives that are crucial for shaping policy and clinical translation. Experts will discuss how these insights help identify stakeholder concerns and values, guiding more effective engagement, decision-making, and strategies. The session will also address the challenges and opportunities specific to qualitative research in this context, with a focus on maximizing social impact.  

    Speakers:

    Martine de Vries, MD, PhD, Leiden University Medical Centre, Netherlands 

    Amander Clark, PhD, University of California, Los Angeles, USA 

    Roslyn Le Gautier, PhD, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Australia

    Hilda Mekelenkamp, RN, PhD, Leiden University Medical Centre, Netherlands

    Kazuto Kato, PhD, Osaka University, Japan 

    Nienke de Graeff, MA, MD, PhD, Leiden University Medical Centre, Netherlands 

CELLULAR AGRICULTURE: HARNESSING STEM CELLS FOR SUSTAINABLE FOOD INNOVATION

Organized By:

Danai Georgiadou, PhD, Bioprocessing Technology Institute, A*STAR, Singapore

  • The rising demand for sustainable and ethical food production makes cellular agriculture—powered by stem cell applications—a transformative opportunity. This session explores the latest advancements in bioprocess engineering and biomaterial development driving innovative cultivated meat production. Attendees will engage with interdisciplinary research focused on food security, environmental sustainability, and ethical challenges, all aimed at reshaping the global food landscape. 

    Speakers:

    Deepika Rajesh, PhD, Roslin Technologies, Scotland 

    Alfredo Franco-Obregon, PhD, National University of Singapore, Singapore

    Jianyong Han, PhD, China Agricultural University, China

    Shigeki Sugii, PhD, Singapore Institute of Food and Biotechnology Innovation (SIFBI), A*STAR, Singapore

    Stephan Alfaro, UPSIDE Foods, USA

IMMUNOENGINEERING - FROM THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE IMMUNE SYSTEM TO ITS ENGINEERING NEXT-GENERATION THERAPY

Organized By:

Chloe Kan, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Rio Sugimura, MD, PhD, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 

  • This session explores immunoengineering, from the fundamental biology of immunity to advancements in immunotherapy. Speakers will discuss immune cell regulation, development, CAR immune therapies, and next-generation treatments, emphasizing the role of engineering in immune studies. This session also offers valuable networking opportunities to help you build connections and collaborations.

    Speakers:

    Filipe Pereira, PhD, Lund University, Sweden 

    Christine Wells, PhD, The University of Melbourne, Australia 

    Bin Zhou, PhD, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China

    Kathy Lui, PhD The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

    Weike Pei, PhD, Westlake University, China 

    Jian Shu, PhD, Harvard Medical School, USA 

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