The EU-funded PREMSTEM project will be holding its final conference in Barcelona in May, and will include presentations on the latest research into neonatal brain repair, as well as future steps towards clinical applications.
Since 2020, Iconeus has been a member of PREMSTEM – a project funded by the EU’s Horizon 2020 programme focused on “investigating human mesenchymal stem cells from donated umbilical cord tissue as a potential therapy to treat brain injury related to preterm birth”.
The project is now drawing to a close, and to mark this, PREMSTEM will be holding its final conference from 13–15 May 2025 in Barcelona, Spain.
As well as inviting researchers to present their latest research related to improving outcomes for children and families affected by brain injury, the conference will present perspectives on the project, including the exploitation of scientific results and steps towards clinical trial.
Research on stem-cell therapies for preterm infants
PREMSTEM has invited Associate Professor Atul Malhotra from Melbourne, Australia, to speak at the conference. Professor Malhotra is a senior neonatologist at Monash Children’s Hospital, a researcher in the Department of Paediatrics at Monash University, and the Principal Investigator for three ongoing umbilical cord blood-derived cell therapy trials.
In his keynote address, Professor Malhotra will talk about his experience of bringing a stem cell-based therapy to the clinic, including the pitfalls, the lessons learned, and the successes.
Other topics to be covered at the conference include:
- Novel and innovative approaches to screening
- Using large animal translational models and how to do it better
- In vitro studies of stem cell activities
- Cell based therapies in animal studies
- Imaging modalities
- Alternatives and adjuncts to stem cells (extracellular vesicles)
- From preclinical work to an approved therapy
- Learnings from co-creation: involving external stakeholders in research.
As members of PREMSTEM, Iconeus will be attending this conference – and we look forward to meeting other members of the project and the wider neuroscience community, and reviewing the learnings that have come from this five-year project. If you’re attending, we’ll see you there!
Visit the conference website for more information: https://www.premstem.eu/premstem-conference-2025/
Register to attend in person or online via Eventbrite: https://premstem-conference.eventbrite.es/
