Conference: The Stem Cell Niche

The aim of the meeting is to provide a forum for presentations and discussions of basic research in stem cell and developmental biology, centered on the concept of the niche, encompassing all sources of inputs stem and progenitor cells receive from their environment to expand or differentiate. This is particularly important in light of the increasing demands by the society to quickly deliver new therapies to cure devastating diseases, such as diabetes, cancer, neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases. Although discoveries in basic research have paved the way towards new drugs and therapies, it is basically impossible to predict which basic research will lead to major medical breakthroughs. Therefore, future applications in medicine will rely on continued strong basic research.