There were over 400 scientific abstracts that highlighted topics like Stem Cell Research, Cell Therapy, Tissue Engineering, Biomaterials and its molecular basics. Furthermore, regulatory strategies for the translation of therapeutic approaches into the clinical practice as well as the associated ethical questions were discussed.

»With the conference we could contribute to different disciplines of Regenerative Medicine and offer a discussion platform. The participants heard about many interesting approaches and got renewed impetus for their future research activities,« said Conference President Prof. Dr. Frank Emmrich.

Dr. Heike Walles, from the University of Würzburg, presented a list of solutions that showed how the need of engineered tissues can be satisfied with automated operating methods. Dr. Michele De Luca, from the University of Modena in Italy, showed results from the field of the Cornea Regeneration. With his 10-year- study, he was able to show that autologous stem cells have a positive impact on the regeneration of the cornea after chemical injuries. Dr. Laura Niklason, from the Yale School of Engineering and Applied Science in New Haven (USA), gave insights into her ongoing scientific work with lung regeneration. Her approach involves a decellularized lung scaffolds which are going to be recolonized with autologous stem cells. The greatest challenge in the first lab tests was to connect the complex and highly sensitive architecture of the lung tissue with the blood supply.

Overall, the conference shed a light on the numerous verterinary medicine contributions. Dr. Roger Smith, from the Royal Veterinary College (UK), presented his studies for the successful using of mesenchymal stem cells that permit the healing of wounded tendons of the horse. "The interest in veterinary medicine topics is great because the results of the studies with large animals are valuable for the human medicine, too", said Dr. Brehm, from the University of Leipzig. Together with the Veterinarian Regenerative Medicine Society he organized several sessions.

Dr. Frank Emmrich was pleased about the top-class abstracts as well as the nearly 20 percent increase in exhibitors from industry from the previous conference: »That shows us that the interest of the industry in the developments in Regenerative Medicine and in the transfer into clinic has grown.

The World Conference on Regenerative Medicine was organized by the Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology IZI and the Translational Center for Regenerative Medicine (TRM) at Leipzig University. The next conference will be in 2013, October 23–25.