In a bid to educate and inform about the potential and challenges that Induced pluripotent human stem cells (iPSCs) bring, MORGI hosted a one-day conference at Domus Bibliotheca in downtown Oslo on October 2nd, 2023.
iPSCs can be derived from adult donors, whether healthy or patients, and differentiated into select mini-organs (organoids). These organoids present significant opportunities in experimental science and medicine.
MORGI leaders, Tor Erik Rusten and Gareth Sullivan, as well as invited speakers Tilo Kunath (Univ. of Edinburgh) and Prof. Severine Le Gac (Univ. of Twente), discussed the current technologies and prospects of stem cells and organoids in research and medicine. The latter half of the conference delved into how new care standards can be incorporated into the Norwegian hospital system, presented by Gro Live Fagereng and Guro Bøhm. The ethical and legal framework, as well as associated challenges, were elucidated by Anders Strand and PhD candidate Ole Boye. The conference culminated in an engaging public panel debate on the "Challenges of Regulating Stem Cell and Organoid Technology" with all speakers, moderated by Katharina Vestre.
