Faculty, trainees & local high school students to learn from experts.
Vermont Business Magazine Globally recognized as a premier gathering of the world’s best regenerative medicine researchers, the 10th biennial Stem Cells, Cell Therapies, and Bioengineering in Lung Biology and Diseases Conference at the University of Vermont will take place from July 17-20, 2023. This year, several exceptional high school students will have the unique opportunity to participate in laboratory technique sessions alongside UVM Larner College of Medicine post-doctoral researchers, scientists and other worldwide experts.
This exclusive conference, which takes place every other summer at UVM, serves as a catalyst for advancing scientific knowledge about lung biology and diseases. Experts from academic research institutions across the U.S. and throughout the world attend, along with junior investigators, fellows, and graduate students. By inviting high school students to participate, the meeting’s organizers hope to create a pipeline for young people pursuing careers in cell therapy research and bioengineering.
The hands-on lab component will take place Monday, July 17, from 9:00 a.m.-4:15 p.m., in UVM’s Stafford building. During these sessions, the high school students will work alongside expert researchers, junior faculty, and graduate students exploring state-of-the-art techniques in the field of stem cell research and bioengineering. Workshops include a “Precision Cut Lung Slices (PCLS)” session with researchers from the Lung Bioengineering and Regeneration Lab at Lund University in Sweden. Another session, facilitated by researchers from the University of Colorado, will explore three-dimensional tissue culture systems and techniques used to study lung biology and disease called "Organoids and Hydrogels." Additional sessions will focus on analyzing biological data and developing research proposals. The students will also participate in a discussion on “Careers in Translational Science,” led by Daniel Weiss, M.D., Ph.D., professor of medicine and conference chair.
“By immersing themselves in these hands-on experiences, the participating high school students will gain practical skills, insights, and knowledge that will shape their understanding of regenerative medicine research and its applications in lung biology. This unique opportunity aims to inspire and cultivate their interest in the field, encouraging them to pursue careers in scientific research and innovation,” said Weiss, who has developed and published seminal work in developing stem cell-based therapies for lung diseases including chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, cystic fibrosis, and asthma.
Other highlights of the four-day conference include presentations by stem cell research scholars from universities throughout the U.S. and Canada, Germany, Brazil, England, and the Netherlands. Panel sessions will explore careers in stem cell therapies, gender and racial diversity in stem cell research and bioengineering, and compassionate use of gene therapies. Attendees will have opportunities to meet with faculty, receive research mentoring, and learn about career opportunities. Activities also include several research poster sessions and a “Minute to Win It” research pitch competition for junior investigators.
See the full pre-conference agenda. | See the full conference agenda here.
About the University of Vermont
Since 1791, the University of Vermont has worked to move humankind forward. UVM’s strengths align with the most pressing needs of our time: the health of our societies and the health of our environment. Our size—large enough to offer a breadth of ideas, resources, and opportunities, yet intimate enough to enable close faculty-student mentorship across all levels of study—allows us to pursue these interconnected issues through cross-disciplinary research and collaboration. Providing an unparalleled educational experience for our students, and ensuring their success, are at the core of what we do. As one of the nation’s first land grant universities, UVM advances Vermont and the broader society through the discovery and application of new knowledge.
UVM is derived from the Latin Universitas Viridis Montis (in English, University of the Green Mountains).
Learn more at med.uvm.edu
Source: UVM. BURLINGTON, Vt.
