On Thursday and Friday, the third edition of the RegenBell symposium on stem cells and regenerative medicine took place, bringing together more than 170 national and international experts and researchers to discuss the latest advances in this cutting-edge science field. Throughout the two days, senior and junior experts talked about their research in organ regeneration, embryology, stem cell aging and disease modelling, among others. Speakers of high level were invited and Dr. Christine Mummery, researcher and professor in developmental biology at Leiden University, gave the plenary talk on stem cell modelling of cardiovascular diseases. The conference also featured scientists from leading European centers in regenerative medicine such as the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, the Austrian Academy of Sciences IMBA in Vienna, the Pasteur Institute in Paris and the University of Cambridge.
After the welcome and official opening of the conference by Dr. Gabriel Capellá, IDIBELL director, senior experts conducted 11 conferences, divided into 6 thematic sessions. Besides, younger students and researchers prepared 38 posters and 8 short talks on the same topics. On Friday at noon, to close the symposium, the prizes for best poster and best short talk were awarded.
All the participants contributed to the Symposium’s main objective: to establish an inclusive and collaborative platform for scientists interested in regenerative medicine. The three members of this edition’s organizing committee, Ángel Raya, Ana Veiga and Anuska Linares, also RegenBell members, agree on this. The symposium is very well received among the participants, both young and senior, and reaffirms its contribution to the advancement of research in stem cells and regenerative medicine. The organizers would also like to give special thanks to this year’s sponsoring companies: MedChemExpress and Diagnostica Longwood.
The Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL) is a research center established in 2004 specialized in cancer, neuroscience, translational medicine, and regenerative medicine. It counts on a team of more than 1.500 professionals who, from 73 research groups, publish more than 1.400 scientific articles per year. IDIBELL is participated by the Bellvitge University Hospital and the Viladecans Hospital of the Catalan Institute of Health, the Catalan Institute of Oncology, the University of Barcelona, and the City Council of L’Hospitalet de Llobregat.
IDIBELL is a member of the Campus of International Excellence of the University of Barcelona HUBc and is part of the CERCA institution of the Generalitat de Catalunya. In 2009 it became one of the first five Spanish research centers accredited as a health research institute by the Carlos III Health Institute. In addition, it is part of the «HR Excellence in Research» program of the European Union and is a member of EATRIS and REGIC. Since 2018, IDIBELL has been an Accredited Center of the AECC Scientific Foundation (FCAECC).