Success at the CITER Annual Scientific Meeting 2020

The Cardiff Institute for Tissue Engineering and Repair Annual Scientific Meeting (CITER ASM) took place virtually via Zoom video conferencing between 14-15^th September.

The meeting is held for our members including academics, early career researchers, MSc students, PhD students and undergraduates as an opportunity for researchers and clinicians from across the network to discuss the latest research findings in the broad research areas of Stem Cell Science, Tissue Engineering and Repair and Disease Translation.

"Brilliantly organised, fascinating speakers and excellent chairs. An excellent meeting altogether showing the way forward for other high calibre CITER meetings." - Professor Jean-Yves Maillard, Professor of Pharmaceutical Microbiology

The online programme for the two-day science event included talks delivered by our key note speakers Professor Yamni Nigam (Swansea University), Professor Philip Rowe (University of Strathclyde), Dr Zameel Cader (University of Oxford) and Professor Xin Lu (University of Oxford); early career researchers, bursary awardees, invited colleagues from supporting Schools in Cardiff University including Dr Emma Tallantyre (School of Medicine), Dr Malik Zaben (Neuroscience & Mental Health Research Institute), Professor Monica Busse (School of Medicine), Dr Philippa Morgan-Jones (School of Engineering), Professor Derek Jones (School of Psychology), Professor Lawrence Wilkinson (School of Medicine), Dr David Petrik (School of Biosciences), Professor Matt Smalley (School of Biosciences), Professor Oliver Ottmann (School of Medicine), Carl Smith (ISSF Wellcome Trust Engagement Officer), as well as a sponsored talk from Jellagen Ltd. There was also a session dedicated to CITER that included talks from Dr Andrew Staphnill (Research Development Officer), Dr Siân Morgan (CITER Engagement Committee Chair) and Andrew Robertson (CITER Soc Committee Chair).

"The format of the CITER MSc posters this year was very different due to the global pandemic, however it was a great success overall. The poster session using the pre-recorded fire talks went smoothly and I was particularly impressed by the quality of the talks. It was also great to see such a variety of topics, representing the wide remit of CITER. The most encouraging part of the session was the amount of interest and number of questions the MSc students were asked, which they all handled extremely well. It was a shame to not be able to talk to them about their research face to face, but I have no doubts that I will someday bump into some of them at future international conferences!" - Dr Wayne Nishio Ayre, Lecturer in Biomaterials

During the meeting there was a fire talk session, which included 2-minute fire talks from MSc students and selected poster abstracts. This new format for CITER provided an invaluable opportunity for younger scientists to present their research findings and discuss with delegates. As part of the Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine MSc course, students attend the meeting and present the research following their five-month research project within the CITER network.

"I think it is fair to conclude that the CITER ASM 2020 was a great success, although it was thrust upon us by circumstances! Thank you so much for all the colleagues who contributed in many ways to help make this meeting run smoothly, which turned out to be a successful and stimulating scientific meeting." - Dr Mohammad Al-Amri, Senior Research Fellow & CITER Research Committee Chair

At the end of the two-day programme a virtual prize presentation took place for the best poster presentations. The prize for the best poster presentation was awarded to Ronak Ved and the best MSc poster presentation was awarded to Arthur Pasanen-Zentz.

"I was pleased to return to the CITER ASM for a second year, both as a delegate and a speaker. I found the diversity of content and speakers excellent. The management of the programme was impressive with seamless transition for online delivery which allowed time for questions from delegates." Carl Smith (ISSF Wellcome Trust Engagement Officer)

CITER would like to thank the keynote speakers for their time and delivering informative and excellent presentations on their research during testing times. Also, to our invited speakers for sharing their research and to our sponsor Jellagen Ltd for attending the webinar and providing funding support.