Annual Scientific Meeting 2018

This years Cardiff Institute for Tissue Engineering and Repair Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) took place between 17 - 18 September at the Vale Resort, Hensol. The meeting was open to all Cardiff University members including academics, early career researchers, MSc students, PhD students and undergraduates as well as delegates from external Universities including Southampton, Bath, Bristol and Swansea.

This two day meeting is an opportunity for researchers to learn about and discuss latest research findings across all areas of regenerative medicine including tissue engineering and repair, rehabilitation, microbiology, drug delivery, imaging and modelling with plenty of opportunities to network with other researchers.

The meeting was twofold in that there were oral presentations delivered together with a poster exhibition. Alongside the poster exhibition we were fortunate to have a large presence from our sponsors. Delegates were encouraged to communicate with our sponsors by completing a "delegate passport" which was entered into a raffle prize donated by the sponsors.

The programme included talks delivered by our keynote speakers Professor Christine le Maitre, Sheffield Hallam University and Professor Paul Sharpe, Kings College London; early career researchers, CITER bursary awardees, the Chair of each of the respective CITER committees and a short presentation from the sponsors who had a gold sponsorship package. The poster exhibition gave the MSc, PhD and CITER undergraduate students an invaluable opportunity to showcase their research and to network and talk with delegates about their findings during the designated poster sessions over the two days.

The evening began with a canapé and wine networking session prior to the evening meal which took place alongside the final designated poster session. This gave delegates the opportunity to informally engage with professionals within their field, network with colleagues and to increase their awareness of research within the network in a relaxed environment.

Students were recognised during the prize presentation for the best poster and talk over the two days. Many thanks to members of the Executive Committee and Research Committee for judging the entries. Congratulations to Dr Sally Hayes in the school of Optometry and Vision Sciences who was awarded the best poster. The best oral presentation was awarded jointly to Hannah Boostrom, school of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Ben Egan in the school of Biosciences who both delivered an excellent presentation.

Also the CITER 2018 awardees for the Young Investigator Award and Contribution and Engagement Award were given their well deserved prize.

CITER would like to thank the keynote speakers for their time and delivering informative and excellent presentations on their respective research. Also to the many sponsors for attending and providing sponsorship for this meeting including ReNeuron Ltd, LI-COR Biosciences UK, Neem Biotech Ltd, Carl Zeiss Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific (laboratories division and life technologies division), Cambridge Bioscience and Kirkstall Ltd. Furthermore to The Company of Biologists Ltd and Life Sciences Research Network Wales for providing a grant.

We look forward to the next CITER event! Please keep checking our events page.