Conference homepage: www.conventus.de/gsz2010

The TRM Leipzig is calling for applications for awards to pursue novel research concepts in regenerative medicine. Full PDF in Downloads

A science delegation of the Regenerative Medicine Initiative Germany has broadened the way for collaboration with selected partners from the Indian subcontinent. In the first week of February, a group of 15 scientists visited a range of scientific institutions, clinics and companies in the cities of Bangalore and Hyderabad. Promising contacts have been established and there is great interest from both sides to establish collaborative projects, to foster exchange of young researchers and to explore technology transfer between the two countries.

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The next International Summer School on Innovative Approaches will take place from 14 to 28 August 2010. 15 Travel grants are available for international students and 3 travel grants for women studying material and engineering sciences. The deadline for application will be the 15 May 2010. Please distribute the attached poster to any students who might be interested to apply.

A science delegation of the Regenerative Medicine Initiative Germany has broadened the way for collaboration with selected partners from the Indian subcontinent. In the first week of February, a group of 15 scientists visited a range of scientific institutions, clinics and companies in the cities of Bangalore and Hyderabad. Promising contacts have been established and there is great interest from both sides to establish collaborative projects, to foster exchange of young researchers and to explore technology transfer between the two countries.

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On the occasion of the BioAsia which takes place on 3-6th February 2010, the RMIG in cooperation with its partners in India organises the first Meeting of the Indo-German Forum on Regenerative Medicine on 5th February. The workshop focuses on the topic of “Translation” – discussing regulations & procedures in Germany and India, presenting the unique expertise of Germanys Technologies needed in the field of stem cell therapies, and to discuss latest clinical trials in Germany & India on cardiac diseases.

Interested in attending the Workshop or joining the IGF on RegMed – Contact: tanja.klett@charite.de

In February 2010 the RMIG-2-India-Project, which is funded by the BMBF invites German scientists in the field of RegMed with a special focus on stem cell research to a trip to three of the most important research clusters of stem cell research in India. Pune, Bangalore and Hyderabad with their excellent institutes in stem cell biology are on the agenda of this journey to provide first hand information on the research, infrastructure and finally to discuss/focus areas of joint research projects.

XVIIth Annual Congress of the European Society of Gene and Cell Therapy (ESGCT)

4th Annual Congress of the German Society for Stem Cell Research (GSZ)

16th Annual meeting of the German Society for Gene Therapy (DG-GT)

2nd Meeting of the European branch of the International Society for Cellular Therapy (ISCT)

5th Stem Cell Clonality and Genotoxicity Retreat (SCCGR)

Dr. Pawan Kumar Gupta, Dean of Manipal Institute of Regenerative Medicine Bangalore gave a presentation of new therapeutic approaches by using human mesenchymal stem cells in the area of neurological diseases at the World Congress on Regenerative Medicine – WCRM – in Leipzig.

The WCRM took place for the fourth time from October 29th to October 31st, 2009. and is organized by the TRM/University of Leipzig and the Fraunhofer IZI.

On invitation of Prof. Tarnok (TRM/Univ of Leipzig) and Joeri Borstlap (Cooridnator/BCRT@Charité), Dr. Gupta visited both research clusters. MIRM is looking for a location to open a branch in Europe.

Besides Dr. Gupta had the opportunity to learn about ongoing research projects, facilities and collaboration interests in Leipzig and Berlin. At the BCRT he gave a lecture on the latest clinical applications of stem cell therapies conducted by MIRM and stempeutics.

Meet RMIG at the World Health Summit: RMIG Partner Symposium

How to reimburse innovations in Regenerative Medicine?
- German Centers of Regenerative Medicine -
15.10.2009, 11.00 - 12.30 Uhr
Charité Campus Mitte, Langenbeck-Virchow-Haus, Raum „Koch“, 10115 Berlin

Abstract
Regenerative Medicine explores new therapeutic options aiming at a causal approach to diseases and has an impact on current healthcare systems. The aim of this workshop is to indicate new possibilities for the efficient translation of innovations into clinical daily routine in the field of Regenerative Medicine. More

To warrant the cost effectiveness of advanced therapies it is important to evaluate the whole pathway of treatment incl. long term outcome. Results of health economic analyses can support strategy-setting about further development including go/no go decisions and clinical trial design.
It is therefore necessary to timely analyze these effects including reimbursement issues in order to assess the cost effectiveness starting at an early phase of time and cost intensive development.
The following questions will be discussed at the workshop:

1. How to reasonably define cost effectiveness and potency of regenerative therapies? Are there therapy specific regulations?
2. In which ways are innovative therapies reimbursed in other countries? What can we learn from them?
3. How far will our aging society go to pay for regeneration or healing and what are we “able” to pay?

• Establishment of a stable Indo - German Network in regene­rative medicine with partners in science and business to initiate and facilitate new projects in research and translation
• Standardisation of cell banking and stem cell research at the whole
• Technical and scientific steering of clinical trials and translation from bench to bedside
• Collaboration in training and exchange programmes for young scientists

On invitation of the BMBF the RMIG attended the Bangalore Bio 2009 at the German Pavilion between 18.-20. June 2009. Beside the participation at the biotechnology fair the RMIG delegation took the opportunity to follow up meetings of contacts and to explore opportunities regarding future collaborations in the field of research and development – with a focus on Bangalore and Hyderabad. Due to the excellent scientific infrastructure – IISc, NCBS; JNCASR etc. – in Bangalore as well as in Hyderabad first ideas of joint research projects.

The participation at one of Indias´ biggest Biotech-Fairs had been a good choice to meet representatives of science and industry to discuss the potential of projects in research as well as translation of new therapeutics approaches. Bangalore with its outstanding and internationally recognized research institutions and promising companies in the field of cell therapies, biotech and bioinformatics is beside Hyderabad one of the most vibrant spots for RegMed in India.

Prof. Attila Tárnok, from the Translational Centre for Regenerative Medicine (TRM), Leipzig, who followed the invitation of the RMIG-office, is convinced regarding the potential of Indo-German collaborations:
“As our individual meetings made clear, there is a distinct interest in bilateral cooperation in the field of basic research as well as in the area of product development. For several years I have followed the developments in India with as specific focus on cytometry and those areas are emerging.”

And Joeri Borstlap, Co-ordinator of the RMIG and BCRT, Berlin, adds: „We are convinced that at the end of this project some collaboration projects will be set into motion. We also see the need to be present regularly to follow up contacts, to provide assistance in funding and preparation of proposals and project as well as knowledge management.“

In May 2009 the RMIG-2-India-marketing Campaign which is funded by the German Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) started with the preparations of the first activity scheduled in June. The RMIG project is part of the official campaign 'Research in Germany – Land of Ideas' with a specific focus on cooperation between India and Germany. In this context the RMIG co-ordination office will build a sustainable bilateral Indo-German network in this field. Through targeted marketing measures the aim of this network is to prepare the ground for joint research projects, the acquisition of human resources and the joint development of therapies for India’s emerging market.

BILD: Bild von Harald Stachelscheid/Junge Wissenschaftlerin vor Mikroskop/Monitor