3rd Workshop “Advanced Cell Culture Technologies”

The third “Advanced Cell Culture Technologies” workshop, organized by the ÖGMBT (Austrian Association of Molecular Life Sciences and Biotechnology) working group “Cell-Based Assays, Therapies and Products”, took place at BOKU during the first week of July.

Compared to its previous editions in 2018 and 2023, this year’s workshop saw a notable increase in both participant numbers and the diversity of presentations. For the first time, it was held as a 2-day event, spanning July 3rd to 4th. The overarching theme, “The Evolving Landscape of Cell Culture: Advancing Technologies and Future Prospects”, reflected the dynamic developments in the field and set the stage for a comprehensive and interdisciplinary program.

Three renowned experts provided stimulating keynote lectures, each followed by in-depth discussions:

• Prof. Dr. Michael Außerlechner (Medical University of Innsbruck) explored the topic of “Vascularized, 3D-bioprinted tissue-on-chip models for precision medicine drug testing”, highlighting the clinical potential of engineered microenvironments.

• Prof. Dr. Dominik Egger (Leibniz University Hannover) presented on “Hypoxia in physiologic 3D stem cell culture systems”, emphasizing the importance of mimicking in vivo-like conditions in stem cell research.

• Dr. Heidrun Holland (University of Leipzig) addressed “Genetic integrity in basic and applied cell-based products and therapies”, underlining a crucial aspect for ensuring safety and efficacy in cell-based innovations.

In the “Company Sessions”, eight exhibiting companies showcased their latest innovations in cell culture technologies. Participants had the opportunity to learn about new laboratory tools and approaches, engage directly with company representatives, and explore these offerings in more detail at the exhibition booths.

Eighteen researchers took part in the poster flash talks, providing concise summaries of their scientific findings. These were followed by a poster walk, during which attendees could discuss the work in more detail with the presenters. This year´s poster prize was awarded to Marina Rodríguez Harzi for her outstanding contribution titled “Characterization of hydrogel-based and scaffold-free 3D in vitro constructs using genetically encoded biosensors for hypoxia and reactive oxygen species detection”.  Congratulations on this achievement!

Despite a packed program and exceptionally hot weather, many participants joined the optional networking dinner on the evening of the first day. The informal setting encouraged further professional exchange and helped strengthen ties within the scientific community.

The second day featured additional presentations and discussions, rounding off a highly successful event. The organizing committee was pleased with the positive feedback from both participants and exhibitors. “It is inspiring to see how great the interest in innovative cell culture technologies is and how engaged the community is in the discussion”, said Prof. Cornelia Kasper, expressing gratitude on behalf of the organizing team and thanking participants, ÖGMBT office Team and exhibitors for making the working a great success.

For anyone interested in contributing to or benefiting from the exchange within this vibrant field, membership and active participation in the ÖGMBT working group “Cell-Based Assays, Therapies and Products” is warmly encouraged. You can join anytime via the following link:

https://oegmbt.at/ueber-uns/working-groups/cbatp