ITC Conference Grant
Conference title: International Conference on Engineering Synthetic Cells (SynCell2026)
Conference web-page: https://iop.eventsair.com/syncell26/
Title of the presentation: Exploring the therapeutic potential of synthetic cells for diabetes management
Co-authors: Sónia Siquenique; Nayere Taebnia; Aikaterini Motso; Shanny Ackerman; Shane C. Wright; Volker Lauschke; Avi Schroeder; Bruno Sarmento
The presentation focused on the development of synthetic cell-based platforms for therapeutic peptide production and
their evaluation using advanced human in vitro models. This participation in the International Conference on Engineering Synthetic Cells (SynCell2026) provided an excellent opportunity to present my research to an international community working on synthetic cell engineering and bottom-up synthetic biology. The oral presentation of my work, focused on the development of synthetic cell-based platforms for the production of therapeutic peptides for diabetes management and their evaluation using human in vitro models (Figure 1).
Figure 1. Picture of the applicant presenting her work focused on synthetic cell-based platforms (SCs) for the production of therapeutic peptides for diabetes management and their evaluation using human in vitro models.
The presentation contributed to increasing the visibility of my research, particularly by highlighting the integration of synthetic cell technologies with human-relevant in vitro models, including human pancreatic islets and intestinal epithelial systems. This application-oriented perspective complemented the predominantly engineering-focused approaches presented at the conference and facilitated constructive exchanges with researchers interested in translational applications.
Importantly, the presentation generated valuable feedback regarding the translational potential of the proposed platform. Discussions addressed key challenges in translating results obtained in human in vitro models to in vivo systems, including differences in biological complexity, immune interactions, and delivery efficiency. Suggestions were also made to explore stimuli-responsive synthetic cell systems to enhance therapeutic performance and enable controlled protein release. In addition, the use of E. coli-derived cell free lysates, although not associated with toxicity in the tested human models, was identified as a potential
regulatory challenge for future clinical applications, highlighting the need for further optimization and standardization.
Participation in the conference also enabled the establishment of new contacts with researchers in the field, including German Rivas (CSIC, Spain), Moe Tayuba and Nastasja Kaletta (Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Germany, Petra Schwille group), Yael Fink (Technion Israel Institute of Technology, Israel, Avi Schroeder group), among others (Figure 2). These interactions focused on synthetic cell design, compartmentalization strategies, and therapeutic applications, and may contribute to future collaborations
at the interface between synthetic biology and advanced in vitro models.
Figure 2. Networking during SynCell2026. (a) Participant with Yael Fink (Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, Israel, Avi Schroeder group); (b) Participant with Moe Tayuba (Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Germany, Petra Schwille group); (c) Contact from German Rivas (CSIC, Spain); (d) Participant with Yael Fink and Nastasja Kaletta (Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Germany, Petra Schwille group) during the social event.
The conference had a significant impact on my future career development. In particular, discussions with German Rivas and members of the Petra Schwille group highlighted potential opportunities to apply for Marie Skłodowska-Curie postdoctoral fellowships in the field of synthetic cell research. These exchanges provided valuable guidance on possible research directions and host institutions, reinforcing the relevance of my work and supporting the planning of my postdoctoral trajectory.
The COST Action IMPROVE was acknowledged during the presentation through the inclusion of the COST and European Union logos and a dedicated acknowledgement statement and oral acknowledgement during the presentation. This statement recognized the support received through the COST Action IMPROVE Conference Grant, which enabled my participation in the conference and the dissemination of the presented research (Figure 3).
Figure 3. Acknowledgement of COST Action IMPROVE and European Union support during the presentation.
Overall, participation in this conference significantly enhanced the visibility of my research, expanded my professional network, and supported my scientific and career development (Figure 4). The support from the COST Action IMPROVE was fundamental in enabling the dissemination of my work within this specialized research community.
Figure 4. Examples of scientific presentations attended during SynCell2026. These presentations provided valuable insights into emerging approaches in synthetic cell research and contributed to broadening my knowledge of the field, supporting the future development of my PhD research.