Pushing research towards translation
The fifth reNEW Annual Scientific Meeting took place 8-12 June in Copenhagen, Denmark, facilitating valuable knowledge sharing and promoting collaboration among our researchers across all three reNEW nodes.
The week kicked off with a showcase day at the University of Copenhagen. The Copenhagen node hosted more than 100 reNEW members and staff from Leiden, Melbourne, and Copenhagen. Everyone was welcomed by moderator and Principal Investigator Mariaceleste Aragona, Copenhagen Node Director Professor Kim Bak Jensen, Dean of the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences Bente Stallknecht and reNEW CEO Professor Melissa Little.
The program was followed by a lab tour showcasing the ongoing stem cell research and an inspirational talk from Jens Nielsen, CEO at BioInnovation Institute (BII) focused on how to bring research from the lab to the clinic.
A highlight of the showcase was a special performance by the reNEW Copenhagen choir, which is led by Postdoc Alberto Dinarello.
The Annual Scientific Meeting then continued at a nearby conference centre, where our scientists’ shared updates on their progress towards targeted stem cell-based therapies. Marking five years of reNEW in 2026, the meeting highlighted the program’s transformative impact, with researchers reflecting on how reNEW has accelerated discovery, strengthened collaboration and driven tangible progress towards improved outcomes for patients.
Professor Kim Jensen, reNEW Copenhagen node director, said “I never could have imagined we’d have gotten this far with our research [in five years] – that’s the power of reNEW”.
reNEW was joined by Novo Nordisk Foundation CEO Dr Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen, who emphasised the program’s unique global position and celebrated its success and impact over its first five years. Dr Krogsgaard Thomsen said that the Foundation was proud of all that reNEW had achieved in its first five years of funding.
We also heard about Ibnova Therapeutics, reNEW’s first spin-out company, from reNEW Melbourne node director Professor Enzo Porrello. Through the support of Bioinnovation Institute and Nove Nordisk Foundation Cellerator, Ibnova Therapeutics aims to deliver stem cell-derived heart tissue into clinical trials as a treatment for heart failure.
Patient stories were also shared throughout the meeting, serving as a powerful reminder of the people at the heart of reNEW’s mission.
“This Annual Scientific Meeting was a joyful celebration of everything we have created as a global community. In a short space of time, reNEW has leveraged our excellent stem cell science to genuinely deliver potential stem cell therapies” said CEO Professor Melissa Little. “I cannot wait to see where we will be in another 5 years”.
