Date
7–8 February 2026
Full Program
Conference Schedule
7:30 – 8:30
Registration
8:40 – 9:55
Session 1: Hematopoietic Power
Stem Cells In Blood, Immunity & Oncology
8:40
New Approaches to Blood Stem Cell Generation from Pluripotent Cells
Dr. Anna Bigas
New Approaches to Blood Stem Cell Generation from Pluripotent Cells
Dr. Anna Bigas
9:05
Modulation of bone marrow haematopoietic stem cell activity as a therapeutic strategy after myocardial infarction
Prof. Nina Cabezas-Wallscheid
Modulation of bone marrow haematopoietic stem cell activity as a therapeutic strategy after myocardial infarction
Prof. Nina Cabezas-Wallscheid
9:30
Incorporating novel conditioning regimen in allogeneic stem cell transplants: the American Hospital of Dubai experience
Dr. Emmanouil Nikolousis
Incorporating novel conditioning regimen in allogeneic stem cell transplants: the American Hospital of Dubai experience
Dr. Emmanouil Nikolousis
9:55 – 10:15
Industry Symposium by Eppendorf
10:15 – 10:25
Industry Symposium by Opubor - Miracell
10:25 – 10:35
Industry Symposium by Medselect
10:35 – 11:15
Innovation Exchange
Exhibitor Sessions, Poster Presentations & Coffee Connect
11:15 – 12:05
Session 2: Mastering Cell Fate
Innovations in Stem Cell Reprogramming
11:15
iPS cell based therapy for muscular disorders
Prof. Hidetoshi Sakurai
iPS cell based therapy for muscular disorders
Prof. Hidetoshi Sakurai
11:40
hiPSCs Cardiac Organoids for Reducing Acute Myocardial Infarction
Dr. Sarkawt Hamad
hiPSCs Cardiac Organoids for Reducing Acute Myocardial Infarction
Dr. Sarkawt Hamad
12:05 – 13:05
Opening Ceremony
13:05 – 14:05
Lunch Break
★ Keynote Lecture
Prof. Hongkui Deng
14:05 – 14:45
Curing Diabetes with Stem Cells
Chemical Reprogramming for Regenerative Medicine: From CiPSCs to Functional Cure of Type 1 Diabetes
Prof. Hongkui Deng
14:45 – 16:00
Session 2 Continued: Mastering Cell Fate
14:45
Building the Future of Eye Regeneration with iPSCs and Bioprinting
Dr. Heli Skottman
Building the Future of Eye Regeneration with iPSCs and Bioprinting
Dr. Heli Skottman
15:10
Modeling Monogenic Diabetes Mechanisms Using iPSC-Derived Islets
Dr. Essam Abdelalim
Modeling Monogenic Diabetes Mechanisms Using iPSC-Derived Islets
Dr. Essam Abdelalim
15:35
The Saudi Bank of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (SBiPSCs)
Dr. Khaled Alsayegh
The Saudi Bank of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (SBiPSCs)
Dr. Khaled Alsayegh
16:00 – 17:25
Session 3: Global Regeneration
A Dubai-Germany Alliance In Stem Cell Innovation
16:00
Introduction remarks German Stem Cell Network
Dr. Daniel Besser
Introduction remarks German Stem Cell Network
Dr. Daniel Besser
16:10
Infection, Innate immunity and cancer in the gut - Organoids as model
Dr. Sina Bartfeld
Infection, Innate immunity and cancer in the gut - Organoids as model
Dr. Sina Bartfeld
16:35
Malignant stem cells
Prof. Andreas Trumpp
Malignant stem cells
Prof. Andreas Trumpp
17:00
Cell based therapy against liver diseases
Prof. Ludovic Vallier
Cell based therapy against liver diseases
Prof. Ludovic Vallier
17:25 – 17:50
Session 4: Cardiac Regeneration
New Frontiers In Heart Repair
17:25
UCB-MSCs tissue engineering and cardiac repair
Prof. Antoni Bayes Genis
UCB-MSCs tissue engineering and cardiac repair
Prof. Antoni Bayes Genis
17:50 – 18:35
Innovation Exchange
Exhibitor Sessions, Poster Presentations & Coffee Connect
How to establish a scientific career?
Prof. Dr. Kurt Pfannkuche
Workshop Instructor
Decoding Stem Cell Biology with scverse Tools
Dr. Sara Jimenez
Workshop Instructor
7:30 – 8:30
Registration
9:00 – 9:50
Session 5: Stem Cell Regulation
Current Concepts and Future Directions
9:00
DHA Standards for Stem Cell Services
Dr. Khulood Mohamed Alsayegh
DHA Standards for Stem Cell Services
Dr. Khulood Mohamed Alsayegh
9:25
From Bench to Policy: Navigating Regulation
Dr. Haythem Bin Hashr
From Bench to Policy: Navigating Regulation
Dr. Haythem Bin Hashr
9:50 – 10:40
Session 6: From Source to Solution
Harnessing Perinatal Stem Cells for Therapeutics
9:50
Production of Clinical Grade MSCs
Prof. Dr. Emad Mahmoud Ibrahim Elzayat
Production of Clinical Grade MSCs
Prof. Dr. Emad Mahmoud Ibrahim Elzayat
10:15
Cord Blood Banking and Clinical Application
Dr. Ayman Hendy
Cord Blood Banking and Clinical Application
Dr. Ayman Hendy
10:40 – 11:25
Innovation Exchange
Exhibitor Sessions, Poster Presentations & Coffee
11:25 – 12:40
Session 7: Novel Approaches
Innovations in Organoids, Cell Therapeutics & Processing
11:25
How Transcription Factors Control Stem Cells
Prof. Ralf Jauch
How Transcription Factors Control Stem Cells
Prof. Ralf Jauch
11:50
Organoid Applications to Address Unmet Clinical Need
Dr. Vincent Knight-Schrijver
Organoid Applications to Address Unmet Clinical Need
Dr. Vincent Knight-Schrijver
12:15
GMP-Manufacturing of Advanced Cell Therapies
Dr. Clemens Dannheim
GMP-Manufacturing of Advanced Cell Therapies
Dr. Clemens Dannheim
12:40 – 13:40
Lunch Break
13:40 – 15:20
Session 7 Continued: Novel Approaches
13:40
Cell Manufacturing and Quality Control
Dr. Ulf Gunnar Meißner
Cell Manufacturing and Quality Control
Dr. Ulf Gunnar Meißner
14:05
Automation in iPSC Cell Line Development
Dr. Riikka Martikainen
Automation in iPSC Cell Line Development
Dr. Riikka Martikainen
14:30
Epigenetic Reprogramming with Physical Energies
Prof. Margherita Maioli
Epigenetic Reprogramming with Physical Energies
Prof. Margherita Maioli
14:55
Engineering iPSC-based Vascular Organoids
Prof. Mingxia Gu
Engineering iPSC-based Vascular Organoids
Prof. Mingxia Gu
15:20 – 16:05
Innovation Exchange
Networking & Poster Sessions
16:05 – 16:45
Awards & Closing Ceremony
Poster Awards, Best Presentations & Closing Remarks
Stem Cell Harvesting from Bone Marrow & Adipose Tissue
Mrs. Kim Petrella
Workshop Instructor
Unleashing Immune Cell Power: Expansion and Characterization
Dr. Sarkawt Hamad
Workshop Instructor
Exploring the Value of MSCs from Adipose, Cord and Placental Sources
Mr. Mustafa Tareq & Dr. Shadab Anjum
Workshop Instructors