UPCOMING EVENT

PACT Summer School 2018

Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine

09 – 13 July 2018 in Vienna

 

 

PACT organizes its fourth Summer School from 09-13 July 2018 in Vienna.

 

This year’s summer school will focus on cell therapy for tissue regeneration and immune modulation. The program will include class lectures and hands on courses in the lab targeting different raw materials like the cryopreserved clinical grade transplantable cells and therapeutic extracellular vesicles. Furthermore we will highlight the importance of entrepreneurial thinking, which is needed to transfer an academic result to a medical application for the benefit of patients. There will also be plenty of time for fruitful discussions with the lecturers and participants and several social events for networking.

 

 

    • Lectures:

     

    Adult and induced pluripotent stem cell therapies (Dirk Strunk, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria)

  • Regenerative Orthopedics (Tobias Winkler, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany)
  • Extracellular Vesicles: Bench to Bedside (Bernd Giebel, Universitätsklinikum Essen, Germany)
  • Thrombotic risk of cell therapies (Katharina Schallmoser, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria)
  • Hematopoietic stem cell therapies (Michael B. Fischer, Danube University Krems, Austria)
  • Cell Culture Techniques in R&D (Renate Kunert, BOKU University, Vienna, Austria)
  • Primary cells as in vitro models in biomedicine (Regina Grillari, Evercyte GmbH, Vienna, Austria)

 

 

  • Hands-on courses:

 

 

Production of Recombinant Proteins – Bioprocessing in the Single Use Reactor

Patrick Mayrhofer, BOKU University, Vienna, Austria

 

Bioprocessing of mammalian cells in bioreactors ensures a controlled growth in a defined culture environment. During the summer school we set up a single-use bioreactor for monoclonal antibody production of recombinant Chinese Hamster Ovary cells grown in suspension. After calibration and installation of pH and dissolved oxygen sensors the reactor was filled with a serum-free chemically defined medium and after equilibration the reactor was inoculated with cells. On day three, samples were drawn followed by initiation of a fed-batch process.

 

 

Clinical Stem Cell Therapy – Cell Product Handling
Dirk Strunk and Martin Wolf, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria,

Tobias Winkler, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany

 

Traditionally cell and organ transplantation required major histocompatibility complex (MHC) testing to match donor and recipient and a peculiar regimen of immune suppression to support long-term engraftment and functional regeneration whenever autologous transplantation could not be realized. A preferred strategy in contemporary cell therapy and regenerative medicine favours off-the-shelf products that allow for immediate and, ideally, universal MHC-independent application. Highly standardized safe and reproducible protocols for cell/product cryopreservation and bedside thawing prior to transplantation are prerequisite for testing the efficiency of these novel strategies.

The training session will offer hands-on experience with clinical grade off-the-shelf cell therapy products and will mimic the delivery of cell therapeutics. Semi-automated hands-on thawing procedures and viability/quality control scenarios will be practiced using state-of-the-art controlled thawing devices.

 

 

Rotational Thrombelastometry (ROTEM) of Therapeutic Cells
Katharina Schallmoser and Michaela Öller, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria

 

Human stromal cells derived from bone marrow, umbilical cord and white adipose tissue as well as endothelial progenitor cells will be tested for their pro-coagulant activity in an in vitro coagulation assay (rotational thrombelastometry, ROTEM) to determine hemocompatibility. Frozen samples will be thawed, counted and exact cell numbers will be analyzed in plasma or citrated whole blood. Coagulation parameters will be analyzed and compared. Previous flow cytometry analyses of tissue factor expression will be presented and discussed with respect to the results of ROTEM.

 

 

EV Preparation and Evaluation
Bernd Giebel and Verena Börger, Universitätsklinikum Essen, Germany

 

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) may be new tools in stem cell therapy as they seem to be responsible for therapeutic effects of mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSC) in many cases. During the practical part, we will isolate EVs from supernatants of a cell line expressing  the CD63-eGFP fusion protein. Isolation will be done by PEG-precipitation and ultracentrifugation and distribution of the fusion protein will be evaluated in cells and EV preparations. Furthermore size distribution of EVs will be analysed by Nano tracking analysis (NTA).

 

 

Site Visit of a Transplant Center
Michael B. Fischer, Danube University Krems, Austria

 

a.) Clinic of Transfusion Medicine and Blood Group Serology,

b.) Stem Cell Transplant Unit – (‚KMT Station‘)

 

Medical University of Vienna – AKH Station 21 I/J

 

 

Telomerized Cells for the Estabishment of Relevant Potency Assays
Regina Grillari, Evercyte GmbH, Vienna, Austria

 

Human telomerized cells will be used to set up an in vitro bioassay for testing the angiogenic properties of novel substances or cell culture supernatants.

Therefore, the cells will be induced to differentiate on Matrigel matrix and form neoangiogenic webs. Additionally, we will establish 3D spheroid cultures, embed these spheroids into a collagen matrix followed by treatment with drugs or cell culture supernatants.

The extent of neoangiogenic web as well as sprout formation will be evaluated by microscopy.

 

 

Updated time schedule 

 

School credits: 2 ECTS

Please note: If you intend to receive an official report for this course, you have to co-registrate at the BOKU until 30 April 2018.

 

Fee: 250 €

The fee includes tuition, and social events during the course. Accommodation and meals must be organized individually.

 

Course prerequisites:

Qualified master students as well as MScs, PhD/doctoral students and human or veterinarian medical doctors are invited to apply. We accept the application of postdocs.

 

Application:

Please complete the Application Form and send it to office@pact.ac.at.

 

Application deadline: 18 May 2018

Applications will undergo a selection procedure and applicants will be notified on or before the 28 May 2018 about their resulting admission to the Summer School.

 

The fee has to be transferred until 11 June 2018. Your registration will be confirmed as soon as we receive the payment.

 

Organizers: Dirk Strunk, Michael B. Fischer

 

Course language: English

 

Venue:

University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU)

Muthgasse 11, 1190 Vienna, Austria

 

Supported by:

Hochschulraumstrukturmittel Project: „Development of Further Synergies Between Medical Biotechnology, Molecular Cell Biology and Cellular Therapies“ with financial contribution from the Austrian Federal Ministry of Science, Research and Economy, the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences,Vienna, the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna and the Institute of Science and Technology, Austria.

 

 

If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact us at office@pact.ac.at.

 

REGISTER NOW

EACTS – PACT Joint Symposium

„Regenerative Medicine: Taking the Science to the Patient“

30th November and 1st December 2017

Vienna, Austria

 

The Steering Group for the Platform for Advanced Cellular Therapies PACT and the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery EACTS cordially invites you to a Joint-Symposium entitled „Regenerative Medicine: Taking the Science to the Patient“. To reflect on the efforts of the researchers in the field of regenerative medicine and cell based therapies the PACT-Steering Group decided for a Joint Symposium together with EACTS focusing on advances in research and on regulatory issues in respect of Biologicals and ATMPs. Leading authorities in the following areas will deliver keynote lectures, presentations and posters on the subject:

 

– Infarct Healing as a Therapeutic Target
– Secretome and Regeneration: New Kid on the Block
– ATMPs versus Biologicals
– Regulatory Affairs, GMP-Production and Clinical Trials
– Adipose-derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Ischemic Heart Disease

– Human Trials with ATMP-Secretome – from Trachea, Skin and Valve Tissue

– Cellular Plasticity and Tissue Regener
– Inflammation & Immunology
– Micro RNAs as Important Regulators
– Cell and Gene Therapy
– Mechano-Biological Aspects of Cell Behavior

 

 

Scientific Programme:

www.pact.ac.at/programme2017

 

Abstract Submission:

We offer all researchers the opportunity to submit an abstract for the EACTS-PACT Joint Symposium in Vienna. All abstracts will undergo a review process and the best 4 will merit a Young Investigator Nominee Presentation in the official programme.

 

Please follow all instructions at www.eacts.org, as abstracts will not be accepted unless they are submitted according to the format and instructions described there, and submit your abstract by 1st November 2017 to Registration@Eacts.co.uk.

 

Poster format: must be A0 portrait

 

Abstract Book: available here

 

Registration:

colada-go.com

 

Registration Fee:

Company Representative     250 €
University Representative    150 €
Students                                  30 € (Student’s ID mandatory)

 

Fee includes lunch and refreshments on 30 November and 1st December.

 

Sponsors/Exhibitors:

Companies interested in collaborating, please contact here. You can present your company during the symposium by exhibiting your products or services.

 

Location:

Marriott – Courtyard Vienna Prater/Messe, Trabrennstraße 4, 1020 Vienna, Austria

 

WLAN access at the venue

 

Transport:

CAT- City Airport Train , Public transport in Vienna

 

Public Transport
Vienna International Airport – Venue
– Train: Bahnhof Flughafen Wien – Wien Praterstern Bahnhof – then a 20 minute walk to venue

– 1 hour journey

Vienna Central Station – Venue
– Subway U1 + U2 – then a 5 minute walk to venue

– 35 minute journey

 

Taxi
Vienna International Airport – Venue
– We encourage you to book a taxi prior to arrival

– 20 minute drive

Vienna Central Station – Venue
– We encourage you to book a taxi prior to arrival
– 15 minute drive


Click here for map

 

Accommodation:

Registration does not include accommodation so please arrange it by yourself.
Hotels in Vienna
Youth Hostels

 

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us.

Recap – PACT Summer School 2017

„Primary Cells for Tissue Engineering“

 

Have you ever isolated stem cells from human fat tissue or the amniotic membrane? Both are human waste materials and are just two topics of this year’s PACT Summer School program. It focused on preparation and propagation of primary cells for tissue engineering purposes, which will lead to applications that hold the potential to bring human and animal therapies from the lab to the clinic.

 

5 teams of excellent young scientists prepared a challenging program:  In addition to exceptional presentations on the scientific background of cellular development, differentiation and functionality of the envisaged tissue in the body, the appropriate methods and techniques were demonstrated and could be applied in the hands-on courses:

 

Susanne Wolbank and Eleni Priglinger together with Carolin Steffenhagen, Karin Strohmeier, Julia Maier and Christoph Wurzer isolated stem cells from human adipose tissue.

 

Asmita Banerjee and Adelheid Weidinger prepared stem cells from the human amniotic membrane and analyzed their mitochondrial activity.

 

Sylvia Nürnberger and Marian Fürsatz worked on 3D -Pellet culture and biomaterial seeding with cartilage cells.

 

Wolfgang Holnthoner and Christoph Kaun prepared human endothelial cells from the umbilical cord, performed Matrigel assays and analyzed them by flow cytometry.

 

Philipp Heher and Janine Tomasch demonstrated the induction of mechanical stimulation of muscle cells-hydrogel constructs.

 

They all made the program an extraordinary example for perfect transfer of knowledge spanning the broad spectrum from basic science and clinical background to practical skills in the lab.

 

22 enthusiastic participants from 13 academic institutions of 5 European countries turned out to be hard workers and always followed the lectures and instructions in the lab with dedication. Although the program was rather dense and challenging, they all kept their level of attention until the end of the week and contributed actively to the hands-on sessions.

 

Despite this dense schedule, the syllabus left enough time for discussions and networking during and between the sessions and at the social events: we had a wonderful dinner at a Viennese Heurigen and had a closing party at the end of our last day with cocktails, cake and cookies!

 

We would like to thank the teaching teams and all participants for having made this week such a special event!

 

Here are some of the many positive responses:
“Very valuable experience”

“The course was perfectly organized!”

“Enjoyed it a lot to be a part of it and would like to come back next year”

“This was the best summer school I ever attended and I’m looking forward to coming here again soon, hopefully next year!”

“All instructors were awesome and really at the top of their game!”

“Great topics, great organization … really, really fun and perfect week!”

 

We would like to thank you for participating in our

PACT Symposium 2016: Designer Cells Go Clinic

  1. We often measure the success of events in terms of “greater than expectations” and at PACT, in spite of the fact that our “expectations” are inevitably high, it is extremely pleasing to be positively surprised. From the Organisers part and due to the excellent support of our sponsors, the very high quality of the speakers and chairs but also the enthusiastic participation and discussions by the delegates, we believe that this has made the recent “Designer Cells Go Clinic” in our view a vast achievement. Furthermore success, not only in terms of the Symposium but also in terms of the results presented that has been derived from your research efforts.

 

  1. When one considers where “molecular and cellular” biotechnology was at the time of the Asilomar Conference in 1975 it is amazing that the efforts of scientific endeavour in medicine and biology have made a multi-billion dollar industry that treats enormous numbers of patients for the relief and cure of many human and animal diseases. Of course a very positive ‘side effect’ of this has been the considerable increase in our knowledge of genetics and the cell and the translation of this wisdom into advanced cellular therapies is expected to revolutionise our approach to healthcare. Indeed, if we dare to extrapolate into the future the just over forty years of the past, we can expect huge successes in the treatment of animal and human conditions, hopefully to the eradication of many genetic, cellular and also including the curing of other disorders caused by injury or even mal- or false- nutrition etc.

 

  1. We are proud to provide this your Platform for the exchange of ideas and results and we would like to encourage you to use it constantly and wisely. The Steering Group and Organising Committee wish you continuing success in your research and the will of governments to fund it appropriately, which can also be too often quite a daunting challenge!

 

  1. Finally, thank you again for helping to make this Symposium not only possible but also the success that you deserve.
 

Inivitation to the

TissueGnostics Symposium „Optics, Algos & Ice“

TissueGnostics is organizing the Optics, Algos and Ice Symposium from 17th to 20th November 2016 in Obergurgl, Tyrol, Austria.

 

For further information please go to the TissueGnostics website.

 

 

 

Recap – PACT Summer School 2016

4 – 8 July 2016

 

During the first week of the summer break, 20 talented and highly motivated students from different academic institutions joined this year’s PACT Summer School at the BOKU University (VIBT Imaging Center and Department of Biotechnology) and took advantage of the unique opportunity to become more familiar with “Advanced Microscopy Techniques” in particular STED (Stimulated Emission Depletion) Microscopy, Raman Spectrometry and SOFI (Super-Resolution Optical Fluctuation Imaging) as well as Deconvolution and Image Processing.

 

Excellent instructors led the participants through a busy week: they gave lectures, guided them through preparation of their own biological samples, which they then analyzed with the students throughout the week on the different microscopy systems. Students learned about the different fields of application of the respective systems and to choose the right techniques for the various questions. They also experienced the importance of selecting and developing the appropriate protocol for sample preparation (and of wearing warm clothes in the chilly surrounding where those highly sensitive instruments are operated).

 

But there was also enough time for extensive discussions and talks in between the sessions and also at the welcome cocktail, a wonderful evening at a Viennese Heurigen and the farewell party on Friday.

 

Here are a few examples of the many positive responses from our participants:

 

“It was well structured and organized. I could deepen my knowledge in advanced microscopy!”

“Very well organized, very nice people, very interesting”

“Very nice course on very novel techniques (STED, Raman especially)”

“Well organized and friendly atmosphere”

“Very good diverse group composition, generally very pleasant and productive atmosphere”

“Thank you!”

 

Recap – PACT Summer School 2015

6 -10 July 2015

 

Our objective:

The aim of the PACT Summer School Initiative is to furnish a new generation of stem cell scientists with a holistic view needed to work successfully in emerging and diverging fields of various medical research areas and illustrate their potential applications in clinical scenarios. Therefore we had designed the program of this year’s summer school on “Advanced Cellular Therapies” with lectures in the morning and practical courses in the afternoon to provide background and tools for the experimental design of different cell based applications.

 

Speakers and topics:

Highly renowned scientists engaged, challenged and equipped the 17 selected participants with the latest knowledge and skills by giving ambitious lectures in the morning and introducing various cell biological, biochemical, analytical and even preparative methods in the lab in the afternoon.

 

Prof. Dr. Heike Walles and Dr. Freia Schmid

  • Lecture: Tissue Engineering
  • Lab: Skin models as an alternative to animal testing, reconstructed human epidermis was used for the assessment of skin corrosion

Prof. Dr. Dirk Strunk and Dr. Cornelia Schuh

  • Lecture: Multipotent stem cells: from bench to bedside
  • Lab: Colony-forming efficiency of MSCs and ECs

Prof. Dr. Florien Jenner and Dr.vet.med. Iris Ribitsch

  • Lecture: Veterinary regenerative medicine – from animal models to animal patients
  • Lab: Equine bone marrow aspiration and preparation of MSCs for reimplantation

Prof. Dr. Regina Grillari and Dr. Markus Schosserer

  • Lecture: Generation of pluripotent stem cells and clinical applications
  • Lab: Immunocytochemistry and immunofluorescence staining of iPSCs for pluripotent stem cell markers

Prof. Dr. Michael B. Fischer

  • Lecture: Stem Cells and their Clinical Application
  • Insights into the clinic: Visiting the department of transfusion medicine and the transplant unit of the University Hospital (AKH), Vienna

 

Participants:

Our participants were highly motivated, talented students and academics from diverse organizations, which made all discussions, the work in the lab and the talks in between a lively experience for everyone.

 

Outcome/feedback:

All students highly appreciated this year’s summer school and supported the continuation of the summer school next year.

 

Here are some of their remarks:

„Great talks!“

„I really liked the practical course!

„.. course material was clearly understandable, topics were very interesting and relevant…“

„.. an excellent opportunity for discussion and to make new contacts..“

“ .. the heterogeneity of participants enabled us also to learn from each other.“

„It was awesome!“

„I would be happy to join you again for the next summer school!“

 

Thank you for participating at our

PACT Symposium „The Fountain of Youth“

 

Dear Members, Speakers and Delegates,

 

It is always very gratifying for the organizers of an event when the effort input is rewarded with positive resonance. We would like to report that the feedback we have received to date would suggest that the recent PACT-Symposium “The Fountain of Youth” falls into that category of “hugely successful” .

 

The PACT Organizing Committee  and Steering Group however, would like to thank you the speakers for the excellent and innovative presentations and all participants for the rewarding discussions in plenary and otherwise that make our subject, advanced cellular therapies, push forward the frontiers of medical science for the ultimate use in patient benefit for the relief of human and animal suffering. We would extend also a special thanks to our sponsors without whose help  this meeting of minds and effort could not take place specially in the ambience we have endeavoured to create.

 

We look forward to meeting you again in our more internationally flavoured PACT-Symposium in April 2016!

 

The Steering Group and Organizing Committee

 

PACT Symposium 2015

Abstract Book

Abstract Book – online Version

 

Invitation

TERMIS/Expertissues/Biodesign Winterschool 2015

The Austrian Cluster for Tissue Regeneration would like to invite you to the TERMIS/Expertissues/Biodesign Winterschool 2015 in Radstadt, Salzburg, Austria from January 18-21, 2015.

 

Details for your registration

Provisional Program

 

Scale-Up and Manufacturing of Cell-Based Therapies IV – ECI, January 2015

Registration is Now Open! 

Scale-Up and Manufacturing of Cell-Based Therapies IV
An ECI Conference Series

January 18-22, 2015 
 &
Pre-Conference Workshop:
Translating Cell Therapies from Lab Bench to Clinic
Sunday, January 18, 2015

San Diego, CA USA

 

The 1st Meeting of the Core Group “Tissue and Organ Replacement”

took place on September 23, 2014 at the General Hospital under the initiative of Prof. Dr. Michael B. Fischer and Prof. Dr. Jan Ankersmit with more than 20 scientists participating.

 

  • First, Dr. Fischer reported on the implementation of various cell therapy approaches at the Clinic of Blood Group Serology and Transfusion Medicine, including stem cell transplants, donor lymphocyte therapy, MSC therapy, and dendritic cell therapy in osteo- and chondrosarcoma (the DC-therapy in cooperation with Prof. Dr. Felzmann of St. Anna Kinderspital).

 

  • Next, DI Beatrix Mayer-Reinprecht gave a short introduction to PACT, presenting the Memorandum of Understanding and introduced the members of the Steering Group.

 

  • Dr. Jan Ankersmit gave an overview of his APOSEC – trial, a PBMC secretome-based biological for the regeneration of skin/heart/stroke and spinal cord tissue. He showed the production modality and his endeavor to the clinic.

 

For more information:

https://www.cdg.ac.at/suche/?tx_reposearch_repositorysearch[searchWord]=ankersmit

http://www.aposcience.at/

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=ankersmit+aposec

 

  • Eventually, Dr. Fischer called upon the participants to collaborate in a planned COMET 1 project, a call of the FFG with the deadline in March 2015 with the focus on Regenerative Medicine.

 

The first meeting focusing on a joined initiative on initiating a K-Centre (competence centres) took place on October 14, 2014.

The next joint project meeting will take place on Tuesday, November 11, 2014, at 15:00.
Place: AKH, Gefäßchirurgie Ebene 7C , Seminarraum

 

 

 

Invitation

1st Stem Cell Symposium Krems

Vita 34 and the Donau University Krems cordially invite you to participate in this advanced training. Participants will receive 2 DFP-Credits after the meeting.

Nature Biotechnology

Regenerative medicine

The current issue of Nature Biotechnology focuses on research in regenerative medicine.

 

Kick-off of the Musculoskeletal Core Group

Hot Grill, Warm Sun and Cool Science!

The “first“ PACT Core Group (Musculoskeletal Regeneration) meeting took place on Thursday 21st August 2014. Nearly a score of 20 people turned out to put some food onto a hot grill and some equally ’hot’ food for thought into advanced cellular therapies with relevance to musculoskeletal conditions. So, the “subject“ washed down with a few cool drinks and lively discussions on a “get to know you and your work better basis“ renewed many old and established some new acquaintances. The meeting took place at the initiative/invitation of Dr. Iris Ribitsch (VetMed Uni) and Dr. Susanne Wolbank (LBI) and both welcomed all the guests with a view to having regular get-togethers to discuss work in progress and formulate potential new projects and collaborations or indeed simply to see where one can help the work of the other.

 

We would like to congratulate both young ladies for setting this example in a very successful (and very enjoyable) meeting, on a beautiful August day in a perfect ambience, if not exactly the typical encounter for the first time it was certainly scientifically satisfying and very digestible!

 

This initiative was as a result of the Steering Group’s decision at the last meeting in June to form a number of five Core Groups (see below) where more specific discussions can or would take place on a regular basis with people involved in very similar work or interests. We think everyone had a good time (see pictures!) and if you are interested in joining any of the Core Groups for future meetings, please contact the PACT-Office, Dr. Christine Prenner or Mag. Senta Movssissian. This opportunity is your Platform for Advanced Cellular Therapies!

 

I          Musculoskeletal Regeneration

II        Tissue and Organ Replacement

III       Cancer- and Immunotherapy

IV       Heart and Cardiovascular Repair

V         Technology and Regulatory Affairs

 

Invitation

Formation of the Musculoskeletal Group

The PACT Steering Committee decided to form small thematic sub-groups within which common interests for potential future collaborations can be brought together. As regards the subject matter, the sub-groups are organized roughly according to the sessions at the PACT Symposium.

 

Together with the LBI the Vetmed has – for the time being – taken on the lead of the Musculoskeletal Group and they are happy to invite all those who are interested in musculoskeletal matters to the first meeting. This meeting of the Musculoskeletal Group will take place within the framework of a nice barbecue in the afternoon at the Vetmed in order to get to know each other. (The barbecue will take place on Thursday, August 21 starting at 15:00).
To receive further information on the event, we kindly ask you to contact Iris Ribitsch.

 

We are looking forward to seeing you there!

 

Announcement

VIBT/ÖGMBT impromptu seminar

at the Department of Biotechnology, BOKU
Muthgasse 18, 1190 Vienna

Faculty Club, Intermediate floor

 

Wednesday, 18.6.2014, 2 pm

 

Univ.-Prof. Dr. Dirk Strunk
“HuNiche: A novel humanized bone/marrow niche mouse model”

Experimental & Clinical Cell Therapy Institute
Paracelsus Medizinische Privatuniversität,
Salzburg, Austria

 

Host: Regina Grillari

 

Foundation Symposium of PACT

Abstract Book

Abstract Book – online version

Abstract Book – print version

 

Foundation Symposium of PACT

Scientific Programme

programme2014

 

Thank you for your participation at our

Foundation Symposium of PACT

3rd and 4th April 2014 in Vienna, Austria

 

Dear Friends and Colleagues

 

It is only a relatively short time ago that we all met at the Foundation Symposium of PACT, Austria. We consider it to have been a huge success and this is entirely due to your support, participation and the contribution of your thoughts, presentations and discussions. Again we would like to thank our Sponsors, Speakers and the “ladies of the BOKU” for making this a truly exhilarating experience that we hope will be a memorable landmark in the use of “Advanced Cellular Therapies” for current and future generations of scientists and research practitioners in medicine and veterinary, as well as clinicians and their patients. We are convinced that this “The Cell: the Genesis of a Therapeutic Agent is no longer a question mark but the natural progression of the profound knowledge we are gaining through research into the secrets of its function and unfolding the intricacies of life itself by the search for cures and treatments to adverse conditions and diseases. We will continue enthusiastically with your help and support!

 

Please watch this space and indeed, you may even see a ‘snapshot’ of yourself and your participation in the battle against human and animal suffering. We uploaded some of the photos taken by our excellent amateur photographer Siegfried Huss and presented by our outstanding Graphic Designer, Mario Buda.

 

On behalf of the Members, Steering Group and Organising Committee, we thank you again for being with us,

 

Michael Comer

Chair: PACT

 

Foundation Symposium of PACT

3rd and 4th April 2014

Vienna, Austria

 

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) established PACT (Platform for Advanced Cellular Therapies) in December 2012 in agreement between the Medical University of Vienna, The Veterinary Medical University, The Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Experimental and Clinical Traumatology and The University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (The Founding Members). Since then the Austrian Red Cross, Linz has become an Associate Member and a number of other distinguished Universities and Institutions have expressed an interest to join or support this initiative. Indeed, the concept has been introduced to a number of other Universities and Institutions throughout Europe and has received an overall positive response.

 

The PACT is therefore, an alliance amongst several key players in research, medicine, veterinary medicine and the life sciences. The objectives of the PACT association are to harvest the benefits of the potential synergies anticipated from creating an infrastructure (platform) that will accommodate a larger critical mass of interest, expertise and endeavour. It will be active in promoting or enabling meaningful collaborations and communications in the area leading to the establishment of advanced cellular therapies. It will operate in an environment of focused dialogue and consultation with those responsible for establishing standards of safety and efficacy in regulatory or ethical affairs and also attempt to address any socio-economic implications. It is expected that this approach can offer a model to accelerate the concept, development and application of cell based therapies or treatments with significantly positive outcomes to patients for the relief or even cure of diseases, conditions, the severe pain or suffering of animals and/or human beings.

 

To this end and to formalize the establishment of the Platform for Advanced Cellular Therapies (PACT) we are launching the Foundation Symposium with the theme:

 

“The Cell, the Genesis of a Therapeutic Agent?”

 

We would like to inform you personally of some of the results of the endeavours so far and furthermore, to gain your support to proceed together more successfully. We are presenting an exciting and exhilarating programme of talks given from many eminent researchers and opinion makers, drawn from medicine, science and regulatory affairs. Please take a moment to browse the programme we believe that the im-PACT will be worth your time.

 

We look forward to welcoming you personally! 

 

The Steering Group & Scientific Organizing Committee of PACT