“From research to therapy for the treatment and prevention of diabetes" is the title of the seminar which was held at Maffei Hall (Cremona Chamber of Commerce) on 31st of October. The event was organized by the Avantea Foundation within the European project Xenoislet (Macroencapsulated Porcine Pancreatic Islets to cure Diabetes Mellitus type ½). Xenoislet is a research program founded under the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) and it involves five partners: Avantea (Italy), Catholic University of Louvain (Belgium), Glasgow Caledonia University (United Kingdom), Biotalentum Tudasfejleszto and Avidin Kutato (Hungary).
This conference aimed to bring closer the public and especially students to scientific research in the biomedical field and to disseminate existing knowledge related to diabetes treatments. The event was open to the public and it was attended by a large number of secondary school students from Cremona and it was also live broadcasted.
During the first session of the conference the current state of research for the treatment of diabetes both in the field of stem cells and in the transplantation of pancreatic islets was illustrated. The first aspect has been addressed by prof. Henrik Semb from University of Copenaghen and director of the Danish Stem Cell Center, while the session on transplantation of pancreatic islets was presented by the Prof. Pierre Gianello from the Chatolic University of Louvain (Belgium) and coordinator of Xenoislet project.
The second session had as its theme the immunosuppression and complications related to organ transplants and the prevention. The speakers were Dr. Angelo Pan, director of the Unit of Infectious and Tropical Diseases of the Cremona’s Hospital”Istituti Ospitalieri” and Dr. Patrizia Ruggeri responsible for the Diabetes Center of the same Hospital. The Diabetics Association of Cremona took also part to the event with the talks of its president Mrs Alida Maestri Madini and of one of its member who described the experience with the disease and expressed his point of view with regard to scientific research in the field of diabetes.
The conference ended with a panel discussion which was attended by all the speakers.
The recordings of the speeches are now availabe (click here).
