The following testimonial has been translated from its original version in French.

Testimonial from Laurence Banville, DMV-MSc student in Guillaume St-Jean's lab :

At the American College of Veterinary Pathologists (ACVP) Veterinary Pathology Congress, a particularly striking innovation caught my attention: Optiscan's ViewnVivo®. This revolutionary device allows real-time imaging at the single-cell level. Thanks to its patented confocal microscopy technology, the ViewnVivo® offers 3D imaging of living cells, miniaturized and portable, bringing advanced visualization capabilities in a device that literally fits in the palm of your hand!

With this cutting-edge technology, research possibilities are multiplied, paving the way for major advances in fields as diverse as veterinary pathology, surgery, or biomedical research. The ViewnVivo® allows for in vivo tissue analysis during surgical interventions, non-invasive diagnostics, and even real-time evaluation of tumor resection margins.

By enabling real-time and 3D observation of living cellular dynamics, the ViewnVivo® preserves cellular structures, biological interactions, and connections between cells. This technology thus allows for more precise and comprehensive tissue exploration, with direct implications for clinical and research practices.

Whether for exploratory surgeries, oncological diagnostics, or in vivo biopsy evaluations, the ViewnVivo® represents a unique advancement to improve the diagnostic process and optimize clinical outcomes. This device transforms the way veterinary pathologists intervene in real-time, while bringing considerable benefits for patient well-being and treatment precision.

Testimonial from Xiaoyi Lan, postdoctoral fellow in the laboratories of Lisbet Haglund and Jianyu Li (co-supervision):

The ORS PSRS 7th International Spine Research Symposium (November 10–14, 2024) offered a premier platform for clinicians, researchers, and industry representatives to exchange the latest insights in spine research. Held at the scenic Skytop Lodge in Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains, the meeting showcased state-of-the-art advancements in areas such as degenerative disc disease, biomechanics, tissue engineering, and imaging. It also provided valuable opportunities for emerging scientists to present their work and network with leading experts.

One of the innovations that impressed me at this year’s congress was the “Disc-on-a-Chip,” a novel microfluidic platform meticulously engineered to replicate the intricate biomechanical and biochemical microenvironment of the intervertebral disc. By integrating living disc cells into a uniquely designed chip, this system accurately mirrors native disc structure and function—enabling more precise modeling of both healthy and diseased states compared to traditional 2D cultures or animal models. Notably, the platform allows for controlled communication with dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and spinal cord cells, offering deeper insights into the neurobiological aspects of disc health and pain transmission. As ongoing refinements enhance scalability and throughput, Disc-on-a-Chip is poised to significantly accelerate drug discovery and pave the way for personalized therapeutic strategies aimed at intervertebral disc pathologies.

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The following testimonial has been translated from its original version in French.

Testimonial from Laura Bouret, PhD student in Derek Rosenzweig's lab:

At the ORS PSRS 2024 congress, advances were presented in the use of complex biomimetic models, such as ex vivo models to reproduce disc degeneration and "disc-on-a-chip" platforms simulating the mechanical and biological interactions of intervertebral discs. These innovations highlight tools that allow precise modeling and study of tissue environments, inspiring similar approaches for localized and personalized treatments. These innovations enriched my reflection on integrating biomimetic models into my own research project on cold plasmas for localized treatment of bone metastases.

Testimonial from Dania Shaban, PhD student in Anastasia Nijnik's lab:

The 2024 Till and McCulloch Meetings were an inspirational event where I had the opportunity to connect with brilliant minds and experts in the field. The talks presented were inspiring and highlighted exceptional projects and advances in the field of regenerative medicine. Michael Garton’s lab in Toronto has been working on using machine intelligence for protein design to aid in developing new viral vectors for genome editing. This cross section between artificial intelligence and regenerative biology opens exciting possibilities for more precise and personalized gene therapies. I am very grateful for the opportunity to attend thanks to the Travel award from TheCell.

The following testimonial has been translated from its original version in French.

Testimonial from Saleth Sidhartan Dharamaraj, MSc student in Corinne Hoesli's lab:

The 5th IPITA/HSCI/Breakthrough T1D Summit on stem cell-derived islets was a remarkable gathering bringing together many leading experts and industry professionals in diabetes research. Several presentations highlighted innovative approaches to protect transplanted islets, including engineering immune-privileged cell types and developing advanced devices for islet encapsulation. Additionally, significant advances in protocols for differentiating stem cells into beta cells, presented by various groups, show great potential for future clinical applications.

I am deeply grateful to the ThéCell network for awarding me a travel grant, which allowed me to attend this landmark conference and share my research with field experts.

The following testimonial has been translated from its original version in French.

Testimonial from David Brownell, PhD student in Stéphane Bolduc's lab:

The BMES 2024 congress took place from October 23-26 in Baltimore, Maryland, and brought together researchers from the biomedical engineering field in its greatest diversity. With over 5000 participants, this event is a must-attend for innovations in biomedical engineering. My research topic being centered on vaginal tissue engineering, I mainly attended sessions dedicated to tissue engineering and women's health.

This was my third participation in this congress, and I was particularly impressed this year by the volume and quality of work focused on women's health. Even at the plenary sessions, I noticed a significant emphasis on integrating sex as an essential factor in biomedical research. For example, a team studied the impact of estrogen present in fetal bovine serum (FBS) on in vitro angiogenesis models. Their results show a significant effect in female cells, but not in male cells, highlighting the importance of differentiating biological responses based on sex.

Another captivating trend I observed concerns the use of multi-organ-on-chip models, integrated into microfluidic systems. For example, a team managed to model breast cancer metastasis to a bone model, mimicking the processes that often occur in humans. These complex models allow for increased precision in evaluations and studying inter-organ interactions, which I find fascinating and promising for the future of in vitro models.

Overall, the quality of presentations at BMES was remarkable. I am very grateful to the ThéCell Network for the grant they awarded me, which allowed me to benefit from this international exposure and to nurture my reflection on advancing my own research project.