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Hello everyone,
Welcome back from half-term - we hope you're doing well!
As you may be aware, we're unfortunately struggling with some IT issues on campus, so we have had to postpone tomorrow's International Seminar. Please keep an eye out for updated event dates, and join us for next Monday's PhD & Postdoc Seminar with Lori Kregar (Laurenti Group) and Aristi Damaskou (Vassiliou Group).
Starting next week, check out some excellent external event opportunities below, from Open Mic nights to 'Stembryos' event to the BBMS Conference, as well as some International Women's Day events taking place next week.
In publication news, firstly find a collaboration including Huntly Group's Tumas Beinortas in British Journal of Haematology, "Immunogenicity and clinical effectiveness of mRNA vaccine booster against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron in patients with haematological malignancies: A national prospective cohort study." Secondly, in Blood, find a Review Article with Professor George Vassiliou as the last author, "The lifelong natural history of clonal hematopoiesis and its links to myeloid neoplasia" See below for figures and comments.
If you'd like to share anything in the next bulletin, please send items to comms@stemcells.cam.ac.uk by 12pm on Monday 4 March.
All the best,
Chloe, Jacqui, & Laura
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Sponge-on-a-string paves way for quick and easy testing
Cambridge researchers have recently trialled a new test with the NHS to improve diagnoses for oesophageal cancer. Rather than using traditional methods of an invasive, often painful endoscopy, the new test involves swallowing a sponge contained in a capsule. The sponge then collects cell samples for analysis before being pulled back up with a string. This new development greatly reduces pressure on specialists, who were previously relied upon to complete endoscopies with the patient under sedation.
Read more about the trial and the project here.
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NEW - Khaled Lab members to host bake sale for Addenbrookes Charitable Trust
Anna and Austin from the CSCI Khaled Lab are holding a Bake Sale for ‘Addenbrookes Charity Trust’ on Thursday 29 February 2024 from 10:30am within the JCBC Foyer area. The Lab will be baking lots of tasty treats so please pop down and help raise funds for a great cause!
They will also be running the Cambridge Half Marathon for Addenbrookes Charity Trust too!
Donate online here.
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Cambridge Festival
The programme for the upcoming Cambridge Festival is now available! Join some of your colleagues or other amazing opportunities around Cambridge from 13-28 March. Find the programme and more info here.
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NIHR BRC Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) training sessions
The NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) is excited to announce a series of Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) training sessions tailored for researchers. Upcoming sessions:
- Monday 18 March (11:00 - 13:00) - How to Build and Maintain PPI Groups
- Tuesday 16 April (13:00 - 15:00) - Running Successful PPI Focus Groups
- Thursday 2 May (10:00 - 12:30) - Planning Inclusive PPI
- Wednesday 22 May (10:30 - 12:30) - Evaluating PPI
- Monday 10 June (11:00 - 13:00) - Using PPI to Communicate Your Research
These sessions are designed to equip you with essential skills and insights into effectively integrating patient and public involvement into your research projects.
- Registration Link: https://bit.ly/Trg4PPI
- Cost: Training is free for NIHR, NHS, academic, or charity-funded researchers, students, or staff based in the UK.
- Email Requirement: Please use your work-related email for registration.
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Wellbeing, Equity & Diversity
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Clinical Neuroscience Department: International Women's Day Talk
7 March, 12:00 - 13:00
Clifford Allbutt Lecture Theatre & online
The Clinical Neurosciences Department is pleased to invite you to join their International Women's Day (IWD) 2024 talk: The future of women's health and what it means for you in the academic health sector by Dr Michelle Griffin.
This event is open to everyone, of ALL genders, and of all professional groups. Register online here. In-person spaces are limited so sign up now to avoid disappointment!
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NEW - Clinical School International Women's Day Seminar
8 March, 10:00 - 11:00
School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge
Esteemed speaker, Ms. Dorothy Byrne, Principal of Murray Edwards College, Cambridge, will be joined by Professor Nita Forouhi, Director of Organisational Affairs at the Clinical School for this International Women's Day.
Please register your interest here.
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NEW - International Day of Happiness
20 March, 16:00
Cancer Research CI, Cambridge Biomedical Centre
Join this International Day of Happiness Event on Wednesday 20 March! The day will be focused on the importance of positivity, happiness and good mental health, sharing joy across the Campus whether you work here or are just visiting.
There is a fantastic line-up of activities planned: from Laughter Yoga to an early evening of live music featuring well-known local musician Chris Andrews and friends plus international comedian Gary Sansome. Look out for the Sing Choirs! Campus Choir with a medley of happy songs too!
Book your free tickets online here.
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Postdoc Academy Training
Check out the Postdoc Academy training courses and book online:
See the full list online here
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NEW - Meet a Mentor Sessions
Find your mentor at this event, where a selection of available mentors will introduce themselves and share a little bit about their background, knowledge, and experience. This will offer the opportunity for mentees to get to know some of the available mentors and consider whether they may be a good potential match to support your growth, learning, and career development.
Upcoming sessions, 10:00 - 11:00: Wed 6 March, Wed 5 June, Thurs 5 Sept and Thurs 5 Dec.
Find out more and sign up here
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NEW - Life Sciences Researcher Careers Appointments
Wednesday 28 February, 10.00-14.00
JCBC, booking required via Handshake
Book an appointment to discuss how to make the most of your time in Cambridge, consider career options in and out of academia, have your job and fellowship applications reviewed or advice on interview preparation.
If you haven’t signed up to Handshake yet and would like to register for the workshop/appointments, complete this short registration form on Qualtrics and you will be set up with a personal Careers Service Handshake account.
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Safety Training Courses
Places are available on the following courses:
- 26 March - Fire Safety Awareness Training
- 28 February, 7 & 14 March - Fire Safety Awareness Training for Embedded Departments at Addenbrooke’s Hospital
- 5 March - Virtual - Using Containment Facilities and Microbiological Safety Cabinets
- 7 March - Virtual - Radioactive Substances - An Introduction to Suitable and Safe Use
- 11 March - Laser Safety for Class 3B and 4 Laser Users and Research Supervisors
- 14 March - Virtual - Ultraviolet Radiation: Safe Use of Artificial Sources
- 26 March - Fire Warden Training
A full list of online safety training is available at Occupational Health and Safety Service - HSRF self-taught and online courses 2023-24 (cam.ac.uk)
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JCBC Fire Warden Training
Become a volunteer fire warden in the JCBC! Sign up for one of the sessions below as soon as possible so minimum numbers are achieved.
Thursday 7 March 2024, 10:30-13:00
Thursday 7 March 2024, 13:30-16:00
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Milner Consortium Call
Research proposals are now open! The deadline for applications is 11 March. Find out more and how to apply here
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CSCI PhD & Postdoc Seminar
4 March 12:00 - 13:00
JCBC Lecture Theatre
Speaker: Lori Kregar, PhD student, Laurenti Group
"Properties of Somatic Methylation Changes in Humans"
Speaker: Aristi Damaskou, PhD student, Vassiliou Group
“Targeting ribosome biogenesis in NPM1-mutant acute myeloid leukaemia”
Host: Feline Lindhout, Postdoc, Lancaster Group
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Research Culture & Integrity Seminar
5 March 11:00 - 12:00
JCBC Lecture Theatre
Title: Building a Culture of Research Integrity
Speaker: Dr Rhys Morgan, Head of Research Policy, Governance and Integrity, Research Strategy Office
This workshop will explore issues of research integrity, what can drive poor practice, and how we can make cultural changes to encourage best practice.
It will also cover good authorship practices and how to get help and support on research integrity matters.
REGISTER ONLINE
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Postdoc Committee Coffee Mornings
10:00 - 11:00 in front of the JCBC Lecture Theatre
Upcoming dates:
- Thursday 14/03
- Tuesday 16/04
- Thursday 16/05
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Publications - Open Access
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Wellcome Open Access Policy
The Open Access policy is now in place for articles submitted from 01/01/2021. The Institute has a dedicated web guide that describes the changes and provides links to relevant resources.
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Comments from Tumas Beinortas PhD Student (Huntly Group): At the outset of COVID-19 pandemic, together with my colleague haematologists and collaborators in Lithuania we designed a large prospective cohort study that would allow the study of COVID-19 epidemiology, immune response to infection and vaccination in patients with haematological malignancies. The study included half of all patients with haematological malignancies in the country and turned out to be the biggest prospective study of COVID-19 outcomes and immunology in haematological malignancies setting globally. The study has been running for 3 years now. The latest publication in the British Journal of Haematology establishes the efficacy of booster COVID-19 vaccination in patients with haematological malignancies in the Omicron era and establishes clinically actionable immunological marker thresholds for protection against severe form of COVID-19 in this vulnerable patient population.
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Graphical Abstract:
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SHARE YOUR RESEARCH
Contact our Data and Comms teams as soon as you have an article accepted for publication. We'll help you:
- Upload articles to the University’s repository
- Comply with funders’ Open Access policies
- Pay the charges for Open Access
- Publicise your work with a press release
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Career, Prize, & Funding Opportunities
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Participatory Research Support Fund
Following feedback from a wide range of colleagues on the need for funding upstream of major grants to support equitable participatory research, a number of Theme Leads and the Bioscience Impact Team have worked with the School to launch the Participatory Research Support Fund. This scheme is open to all PIs in the School. It aims to support Participatory Research prior to grant applications.
Find more details and how to apply online.
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Rothschild Foundation Hanadiv Europe - Jewish Heritage & Communal Life Programmes
The Rothschild Foundation Hanadiv Europe has announced their Spring 2024 application round for the following grant programmes aiming to address topics in the field of Jewish Studies:
The Foundation has introduced an eligibility restriction on simultaneous applications. This means that an institution that currently holds a grant from the Foundation in one of these two programmes cannot apply for another grant within these programmes in this funding round unless the existing grant ends by 31 August, 2024.
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Group Leader Position, Copenhagen
The reNEW stem cell centre in Copenhagen is accepting Expression of interest letters from stem cell scientists at both junior and senior levels for a group leader position at the centre.
The centre is interested in applications from scientists in any field of stem cell research, although a translational focus of the research is required.
https://renew.ku.dk/documents/Group_Leader_2024.pdf
Deadline: 28 February
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2024 BMA Foundation grants open
The BMA Foundation awards research grants each year (totalling approximately £910,000) to encourage and further medical research in a variety of areas. One of these grants is the J Moulton grant to assist research into stem cells through clinical trials. Applicants must be UK-registered medical practitioners or research scientists working in the UK. Projects must relate to the UK only. If you have any queries please contact researchgrants@bma.org.uk
This grant, and other BMA Foundation grants are open for online application via the BMA Foundation website.
Deadline: 1 March
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Head of Parasites and Microbes Programme Appointment
The Wellcome Sanger Institute is undertaking a global search to find a Head of their infectious disease genomics programme, which is one of the six faculty-led Science Programmes at Sanger.
Please find a link to the appointment brief here, which contains more detail about the Wellcome Sanger Institute and the role.
Deadline: 3 March
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UK Parliament Thematic Research Leads 2024
UK Parliament is currently recruiting for eight UKRI-funded Thematic Research Leads. Thematic Research Leads (TRLs) are mid career researchers embedded three days a week in UK Parliament. These part-time roles, funded by UKRI and supported by all of UKRI’s research councils, will be appointed to work with UK Parliament from September 2024 to summer 2026. More information here: Parliamentary Thematic Research Leads - UK Parliament
Deadline: 3 March
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NEW - STEM Study Skills Tutors
The Accessibility & Disability Resource Centre (ADRC) is currently recruiting STEM Study Skills Tutors to work with disabled students on Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths courses.
They are particularly looking for STEM Study Skills Tutors to work with students studying Medical and Veterinary Sciences, Maths, and Engineering.
Find out more and apply online here.
Deadline: 21 March
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External Events & Courses
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Theory of Living Matter: Lent Term Seminars
The Theory of Living Matter Seminar Series continues fortnightly for Lent Term - see the full list of seminars here.
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Rare Disease Day
29 February, 12:30-13:30
Online
This year, Rare Disease Day is on that rarest of days, 29 February, and to mark the occasion NIHR Cambridge BRC is hosting a free, online session on patient-centred rare disease research. It's a great opportunity to hear about rare disease research in your area, and hear from our speakers who will share their unique perspectives, knowledge and experience of rare disease patient-centred research.
Book your place: https://bit.ly/RDDbrc
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NEW - Creator Fund: Cambridge Founders Open Mic
1 March, 18:45-21:00
Downing College, Howard Assembly Room
This event will bring together founders from across the Cambridge ecosystem and top PhD talent looking to join start-ups. It is the perfect chance to meet a co-founder or learn about what founders across the university are working on.
Kicking off with short talks from successful Cambridge founders, it will then be open mic where anyone can stand up and pitch their idea or themselves in just one minute. All are also welcome to just sit, watch, and enjoy a drink. The event will bring together PhDs in Engineering, Life Science, and AI from across Cambridge.
Sign up here
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NEW - CRUK & CBC Social: Open Mic Night
1 March, 18:00-21:00
CRUK CI, Cambridge Biomedical Campus
The wonderful CRUK & CBC open mic nights are hosted by local musician Chris Andrews. Along with the entertainment, there’ll be the usual CRIses bar and HITwrap Hong Kong Street Food who will be serving up delicious food from 6pm to 8.30pm. Everyone attending, performing or not, must get their free tickets HERE.
If you play an instrument, sing, do stand-up comedy, or have any other hidden talents that you wish to share, then please book a slot by emailing candrewsmusic@hotmail.com.
All are welcome - kindly sponsored and brought to you by Cambridge Biomedical Campus Ltd!
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NEW - Ideas Incubator Finale Event
8 March, 15:45 - 18:30
Hauser Forum, 3 Charles Babbage Road, Cambridge CB3 0GT
To conclude the second edition of the CRoSS Ideas Incubator, you are invited to “Pitch In!” as part of a welcoming and constructive audience for outstanding teams.
The Ideas Incubator programme focuses on research-based social innovations from the University of Cambridge. It has been invigorating to support 13 exciting teams from across the social sciences as they ramp up their ambitions, design and refine their plans, develop entrepreneurial skills and make meaningful connections to the Cambridge ecosystem.
They are asking the audience to join in the spirit of “Pitching In” – whether through your feedback, introductions, support, mentoring, funding or encouragement.
Find out more and register here.
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NEW - Stembryos: The Future of Reproduction?
7 March, 19:00 - 20:00
Science Museum, London
At this event, Cambridge Reproduction, in collaboration with the Science Museum - as part of their Lates series - they will take a deep dive into the topic of stem cell-based embryo models, an area which saw ground breaking advances in 2023.
Panellists:
- Julian Hitchcock—Of Counsel, Biolawgy Consulting.
- Dr Naomi Moris—Group Leader, Developmental Models Laboratory, Francis Crick Institute.
- Sandy Starr—Deputy Director, Progress Educational Trust; Oversight Group member, Governance of Stem-Cell-Based Embryo Models
- Professor Emily Jackson—Professor of Law, The London School of Economics and Political Science.
- Dr Philip Ball (Chair)—Science writer who has contributed to publications including Nature, New Scientist, the Guardian and New York Times; author of numerous books including The Book of Minds (2022).
Find out more and book tickets via the Science Museum website.
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Stem Cell Symposium
13 - 15 March
IMP and IMBA institutes in Vienna, Austria
The 2024 SY-Stem symposium has been announced to take place as an in-person event in Vienna, Austria. Further details are available online and you can register here.
Deadlines:
Submission of poster abstracts until: 31 January
Final registration: 15 February
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NEW - 2024 BBMS Conference - Bridging Bench to Bedside
16 March
Robinson College, Cambridge
The Building Bridges in Medical Sciences (BBMS) society annual conference take place on Saturday 16 March 2024 at Robinson College.
Sir Gregory Winter, Nobel Laureate in Chemistry in 2018, and Tara Donnelly, founder of Digital Care and former Chief Digital Officer at NHS English, will be joining as keynote speakers.
Find more details about the conference program and the esteemed speakers here.
Sign up for your place here.
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NEW - School of Biological Sciences Bioinformatics Meetings
Starting 26 March, 14:00 - 16:00
Department of Pharmacology / MRS Toxicology Unit Seminar Room
This meeting will focus on methods and best practices in Single‐cell RNA sequencing, giving an opportunity for anyone with an interest in this space to join this informal presentation and discussion session focused around scRNA-seq tools and analysis.
- Abbi Edwards, Bioinformatics Analyst, CRUK: Best practices for scRNAseq analysis (in R)
- Jan Patrick Pett, Senior Bioinformatic Researcher, Teichmann group, Sanger Institute :Deciphering development and disease via gene regulatory networks from multimodal single cell data
The talks will be followed by an informal discussion with time to meet others working in this space. The meeting is open to all (students, postdocs, technicians, PIs).
Please register via this short form.
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CNS2024: Sleep, Consciousness and Cognition
5 April
Queens College
You are invited to attend the 34th annual Cambridge Neuroscience Seminar – CNS2024: ‘Sleep, Consciousness and Cognition’ on Friday April 5th 2024 at Queens’ College.
This year, the seminar will focus on ‘Sleep, Consciousness and Cognition’. This meeting will be open to neuroscientists of every discipline.
Find out more and register online here.
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15th ENDBC Workshop 2024 - Mammary Gland Biology & Cancer
2 - 4 May
Lake Luzern, Switzerland
Chair: Silvia Fre
Co-chair: Walid Khaled
Registration for the 15th ENBDC workshop is now open. This 2-day workshop will consist of talks from experts in various domains and techniques pertaining to breast biology. Short talks from selected abstracts and poster sessions allow for convivial exchange.
Find out more and register online here.
Deadline for Registration and abstract submission: 15 March
Registration without abstract submission: 31 March
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2024 Mammary Gland Biology Conference
2 - 7 June
Renaissance Tuscany Il Ciocco, Via Giovanni Pascoli, Lucca (Barga), LU, Italy
Chairs: Walid T. Khaled and Leonie S. Young
Vice Chairs: Traci R. Lyons and Eran R. Andrechek
The Mammary Gland Biology GRC is a premier, international scientific conference focused on advancing the frontiers of science through the presentation of cutting-edge and unpublished research, prioritizing time for discussion after each talk and fostering informal interactions among scientists of all career stages.
Find out more and register online here.
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EMBO Workshop - Limb development: Fundamental mechanisms, evolution, disease and regeneration Conference
17 - 21 June
Dresden, Germany
The major goal of this EMBO Workshop is to gather both established scientists and newcomers to represent the full diversity and all emerging research directions, stimulate discussion, catalyse collaborations and strengthen integrative research approaches.
Topics include: Cellular mechanics and dynamics, Genomic landscapes and congenital malformations, Gene and chromatin regulation, Molecular and cellular mechanisms of regeneration, Fin and limb evolution and diversification and Evolution, skeletal development and disease
Find out more and register online here
Registration deadline: 18 March
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Centre for Trophoblast Research Annual Meeting
1 - 2 July
Churchill College, Cambridge
Emerging models of human and non-human primate placental development
Registration and call for abstracts are open now for the 2024 CTR Annual Meeting!
The two-day hybrid conference will be an opportunity to discuss progress and challenges in trophoblast stem cell and placental organoid research.
Find out more and register online here.
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Milner Therapeutics Symposium
2 July
West Road Concert Hall, Cambridge & Online
Registration is now open for the Milner Therapeutics Symposium
Speakers:
Steve Jackson, Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge
Todd Golub, Broad Institute
Sarah Teichmann, Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge
Tony Wood, GSK
Simone Fishburn, BioCentury
Andrew Hopkins, Exscientia
Register at: https://www.milner.cam.ac.uk/milner-therapeutics-symposium-2024
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ISSCR 2024 Annual Meeting
10 - 13 July
CCH - Congress Center Hamburg, Germany
Explore the full program here.
There are more than 80 opportunities for abstract selected speakers to share their latest research with the international community, but to be considered you need to submit your research by 14 February 2024.
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Gordon Research Conference: Single Molecule Approaches to Biology
13 - 19 July
Newry, ME, United States
GRS: 13 - 14 July - a seminar for researchers to meet and prepare for the successful main part of the conference (GRC). Give a talk or Chair a session.
GRC: 14 - 19 July - Conference.
Deadline for presenting talks or chairing sessions: April 7.
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Building and Rebuilding Complex Tissues
18 July
Robinson College, Cambridge
The University are partnering with the British Society for Developmental Biology and the International Society for Regenerative Biology to deliver a one-day international meeting tackling the biggest questions in tissue development and regeneration through interdisciplinary collaborations. See the poster here.
For any questions, please contact research-themes@bio.cam.ac.uk
Registrations are now open – find out more on the event website!
Deadline for poster abstract submission is 11 March 2024, 5pm.
Early bird registration closes on 1 April 2024
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NEW - The Gordon Research Conference on Epithelial Stem Cells and Niches
11 - 16 August
Castelldefels, Spain
The Gordon Research Conference on Epithelial Stem Cells and Niches is excited to announce the call for applications for this year's conference.
Applications for this meeting must be submitted by July 14, 2024.
All are encouraged to apply!
Find out more and apply online here
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From Stem Cells to Human Development Meeting
16 - 19 September
Wotton House, Surrey
DEV2024 will be held from 16 - 19 September 2024.
From Stem Cells to Human Development has become the premier forum for presenting, learning about and discussing the latest advances, and remaining challenges in the field.
Early-bird deadline: 5 April 2024
Abstract deadline: 21 June 2024
Final deadline: 26 July 2024
Find out more and apply here.
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