Join a pioneering conference focused on the development of human-relevant in vitro disease models. The program brings together leading biologists, bioengineers, clinical researchers, computational researchers and industry experts to explore two key areas: in vitro engineering of human tissues and tissue-cell interaction modelling. It will address critical challenges in disease model manufacturing, characterization methods, and benchmarking protocols.

Sessions will examine how these in vitro disease models can support drug development, pre-clinical testing and inclusive biomedical research. This conference offers valuable insights for professionals across biotechnology, pharmaceutical development, and clinical research sectors, providing a platform to engage with cutting-edge innovations in disease modeling and therapeutic discovery.

Serving as a companion event, you are also invited to join the fourth version of The AI 4 Life: Biotech Future Forum on October 27th. Centered on artificial intelligence and biotechnology, this forum explores the transformative impact of these fields on future developments and scientific advancements. Led by Serbia's Government and its Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, in partnership with the World Economic Forum and UNDP, it brings together diverse stakeholders from governmental bodies, industrial sectors, academic institutions, and international participants




                                                                                                      

Event details

28 - 29 October 2025
Belgrade, Serbia
In-Person Event

Natalia Trayanova

Natalia Trayanova

Professor of Biomedical Engineering

Johns Hopkins University

Milica Radisic

Milica Radisic

Professor

University of Toronto

Dr. Milica Radisic is Professor at the University of Toronto and Canada Research Chair in Organ‑on‑a‑Chip Engineering. With a Ph.D. from MIT and postdoctoral training at Harvard‑MIT, she pioneers development of human cardiac tissues using stem cells, electrical stimulation, and microfluidics. She has published over 260 papers (16,000+ citations), co‑founded two companies, and holds numerous patents. A recipient of major honours including the NSERC Steacie Fellowship, Steacie Prize, and 2025 Governor‑General’s Innovation Award, Dr. Radisic is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and several international engineering societies. She also serves on editorial boards, funding panels, and organizes leading scientific symposia.
Margherita Turco

Margherita Turco

Group Leader

Turco Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research

Dr. Margherita Yayoi Turco is a Group Leader at the Friedrich Miescher Institute in Basel, where she leads groundbreaking research on human placental and uterine development. After studying veterinary biotechnology in Bologna and earning her PhD in Milan, she pioneered 3D organoid platforms at Cambridge to model maternal–fetal interactions. Her work addresses critical issues like trophoblast invasion, uterine regeneration, and pregnancy disorders such as pre-eclampsia. Dr. Turco holds high-profile awards (ERC Starting Grant, L’Oréal Women in Science) and continues to publish influential findings using organoid and single-cell technologies.
Gordana Vunjak-Novakovic

Gordana Vunjak-Novakovic

Professor

Columbia University

Sarah Hedtrich

Sarah Hedtrich

Associate Professor

School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia

Seung-Woo Cho

Seung-Woo Cho

Professor

Yonsei University

Christopher J Stewart

Christopher J Stewart

Chair of Human Microbiome Research

Newcastle University

Ankur Singh

Ankur Singh

Professor

Georgia Institute of Technology

Jürgen Knoblich

Jürgen Knoblich

Scientific Director

Austrian Academy of Science

Matthias Lütolf

Matthias Lütolf

Professor

IHB, Roche and EPFL

Professor Matthias Lutolf is the founding director of Roche’s Institute of Human Biology (IHB) where he leads the Translational Bioengineering department. The IHB focuses on pioneering research in organoids, human biology, and translational bioengineering, bridging the gap between academic and pharmaceutical research. Lutolf's academic journey began at ETH Zurich, where he studied materials engineering and earned a PhD in biomedical engineering. Following his postdoctoral studies at Stanford University, he established his own laboratory at EPFL in 2007. From 2014 to 2018, he served as the director of EPFL’s Institute of Bioengineering. Lutolf’s own research at IHB is dedicated to developing advanced bioengineering strategies to create next-generation organoids with enhanced reproducibility and physiological relevance, essential for early drug development. His teams' work has been published in renowned journals such as Nature and Science. Additionally, his innovations have led to the commercialization of products, including devices and assays for personalized medicine, and the co-founding of biotech startups in Lausanne.

Hans Clevers

Hans Clevers

Head of Pharma Research & Early Development Professor of Molecular Genetics,

Utrecht University

Hans Clevers has been the Head of Pharma Research and Early Development (pRED) at Roche since 2022. In this role, he is responsible for the strategy, development and management of all aspects of early research and discovery at pRED, from lead identification to target progression to late stage development. In 2023, he oversaw the successful establishment of the Institute of Human Biology, a key long-term investment to bridge the gap between academic and pharmaceutical research in Basel, Switzerland. In addition, he is a member of the expanded Corporate Executive Committee for Roche.
Hans Clevers is world-renowned for his work in the fields of cell biology, molecular signaling and stem cells. His research groups’ discoveries include the detailed characterization of the molecular effectors and integrators of the “Wnt” pathway, which play crucial roles in health and disease, including colon cancer. His group provided important insights into the roles of the LGR5 protein in stem cell regeneration. The Clevers's group pioneered “organoids”, 3-dimensional in vitro structures that behave anatomically and molecularly like the organ from which they are derived. Organoid biology has revolutionized the way we understand and approach human biology and medicine.  (https://www.hubrecht.eu/research-groups/clevers-group/)
Hans Clevers obtained his MD and PhD degrees from the University Utrecht, the Netherlands. He holds a professorship in Molecular Genetics from the University Utrecht. He previously held directorship/President positions at the Hubrecht Institute, the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences and the Princess Maxima Center for pediatric oncology.
He is the recipient of multiple international scientific awards, including the Breakthrough Prize in Life Science.

Hans Clevers is a member of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (NL), the National Academy of Sciences (USA), the Royal Society (UK) and the Academie des Sciences (France). He is also Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur and Knight in the Order of the Netherlands Lion, among many other international accolades.
Sarah Christine Heilshorn

Sarah Christine Heilshorn

Professor

Stanford University

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