Shaping the path to the patient: young scientists accelerating ATMP therapies
At the event “Finding the Path to the Patient - ATMP Development in Skåne and Beyond”, hosted on March 19 at Medicon Village, early-career researchers from Lund University demonstrated how cutting-edge science is increasingly aligned with clinical and manufacturing realities.
The conference program featured a pitching session dedicated to PhD and postdoctoral researchers pitching their work in advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs). The pitching competition aimed at projects with strong translational and commercial impact. Each five-minute presentation was evaluated based on scientific rigor, innovation, clinical relevance, and clarity in communication by a mix committee of industry, innovation, and academia experts.
The session highlighted a notable shift: young scientists are not only advancing fundamental research but are also designing solutions with a clear pathway toward clinical application, regulatory approval, and scalable manufacturing.
This translational focus was evident across the presentations. In spinal cord injury research, cell therapy strategies are being developed to restore function, challenging the long-standing view that paralysis is irreversible (Filippa Hjort, PhD Student, Group leader: Anna Falk). Work in Parkinson’s disease showcased efforts to significantly shorten development timelines for cell-based therapies, bringing treatments closer to patients more efficiently (Jana Bonsberger, PhD Student, Group leader: Malin Parmar).
Other pitches focused on the development of scalable platforms for generating rare immune cells on demand, supporting future immunotherapy applications (Ilia Kurochkin, Postdoc, Group leader: Filipe Pereira), as well as AI-driven methods to improve the detection and classification of cell differentiation in GMP-compatible settings (Maria Tsalkitzidou, PhD Student, Group leader: Anna Falk).
Across all projects, a common theme emerged: a strong understanding of the full innovation pipeline -from laboratory discovery to clinical and commercial implementation. This includes considerations around GMP, regulatory frameworks, and real-world applicability.
The pitching session concluded with an award celebration during the afternoon Science After Work. Filippa Hjort, PhD Student, under Anna Falk’s group, was awarded in recognition of her outstanding presentation. The prize was a place at the MACS Cell Separation Hero Days hosted by Miltenyi Biotec in Bergisch Gladbach- an exciting opportunity to engage with cutting-edge technologies and connect with international experts in the field.
With young researchers leading the way, the future of ATMP development promises transformative therapies that bring hope and real impact to patients. We are already looking forward to what comes next.
Pictured in the photo: Sarah Lide, Deputy CEO of Medicon Village Innovation; Malin Samuelsson, Product Manager (Field-Based) at Miltenyi Biotec; Filippa Hjort, PhD Student; Jana Bonsberger, PhD Student; Ilia Kurochkin, Postdoc; and Maria Tsalkitzidou, PhD Student.
The event was co-funded by the EU as part of the ATMP Path2Patient project.