28 November 2024

The Wallenberg Center for Molecular Medicine (WCMM) Symposium was held on November 14–15 in the Hugo Theorell lecture hall at Campus US, Linköping, bringing together leading researchers to discuss advances in molecular medicine.

Participants in the 2024 WCMM Symposium.

The event featured a two-day program of keynote presentations, research talks, poster sessions that highlighted global challenges and innovations in areas such as antimicrobial resistance, advanced wound care and cell-based therapies.

Poster session.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) took center stage on the first day of the symposium, featuring an engaging panel discussion with globally renowned researchers, including Prof. John Rex (USA), Prof. Markus Zeitlinger (Austria), and Prof. Christian Giske (Sweden). The panel offered diverse perspectives from clinical practice, pharmacology, clinical trials, antibiotic development, and current policies, fostering a dynamic exchange of insights and strategies to tackle the pressing AMR crisis.

The first day concluded with presentations on genome regulators, nanoparticles in cancer therapy, and genome-edited species, offering a glimpse into the potential of future molecular medicine.

Day two included sessions with Rolf Saager and Ahmed Elserafy presenting advancements in cell-based therapies for skin wounds and Jörg Schilcher and Anton Wiberg showcasing 3D printing techniques for hip replacement surgery.

Huvudtalare Natascha Mesinkovska.

A key highlight of the symposium was the keynote address by Natasha Mesinkovska, Director of clinical research and Assistant Professor at the University of California, Irvine, Department of Dermatology. The 2023 igNobel Prize winner who has developed unconventional investigational methods that has received international recognition, held her talk titled: "The Joy of Science: From counting nose hairs to novel medications".

The event closed with remarks from David Engblom, WCMM Director at Linköping University.

The symposium is part of WCMM’s focus on the medicine-technology interface and build upon our existing strengths in research within molecular medicine, medical technology and bioengineering.

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