Over 40 renowned speakers will present their latest research projects across the three-day event. Two of these scientists are Li Qian, McAllister Heart Institute, USA, and Marius Wernig, Stanford School of Medicine, USA, whose research focuses on the direct reprogramming of cells.

At the end of 2012, Shinya Yamanaka, Japan, and John Gurdon, UK, received the Nobel Prize in Medicine for the reprogramming of differentiated cells to induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS). Similar to embryonic stem cells, iPS cells are able to redevelop into any type of cell in the body. Based on this technology, other research groups have now managed to directly transform cells – without having to go via iPS cells, a path which had proven to be laborious and ineffective. This direct form of cell reprogramming is one of the current topics being addressed at the World Conference on Regenerative Medicine.

In the talk "Reprogramming fibroblasts towards cardiomyocyte-like cells", Li Qian will speak about how she managed to transform connective tissue cells directly into cells resembling cardiac muscle. In his talk "Direct reprogramming into the neural lineage", Marius Wernig will go into his accomplishments in the direct reprogramming of connective tissue cells into neural cells.

Besides the scientific programme, there will also be plenty of time to exchange ideas and network. A well-rounded supporting programme including opening, get-together, poster party and an event held in the newly opened Gondwanaland, Europe's largest tropical hall at Leipzig Zoo, offers participants the opportunity to speak to colleagues from both science and industry.

The World Conference on Regenerative Medicine is organised every two years by the Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology and the Translational Centre for Regenerative Medicine at the University of Leipzig.