A scientific seminar entitled “Stem cells as basis for development of regenerative medicine” was organized by the Institute of Biology and Immunology of Reproduction (IBIR), Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS) and took place at July, 21^st 2010. It was held in implementation of ReProForce programme, financed by 7th Framework programme of European Committee.

The meeting started with an opening speech of ReProForce project coordinator Prof. Margarita Mollova. She delineated the partnerships, tasks and goals of the project. Professor Mollova introduced the intensively developing research field of stem cells and focused on stem cells physiology, their potential for functional differentiation and the promising scientific contribution for development of new therapeutic approaches for treatment of patients suffering from degenerative diseases. She summarized as well the current state of scientific investigations that are carried out in the Institute of Biology and Immunology of Reproduction.

Five interesting talks showing contemporary data and outlining future perspectives for stem cells research have been presented within the seminar day and provoked interesting discussions among the participants. The program included presentation of theoretical and experimental scientific information related to:

Revealing of developmental pathways of hematopoietic stem cells presented by the internationally known Japanese scientist Prof. Sh.Nishigawa (RIKEN Center for Biology of Development, Kobe, Japan);

Reprogramming of genome on model system of partenogenic mice presented by Assoc. Prof. Leonid Penkov (Institute of Genetics, BAS);

Adipose tissue-derived human mesenchymal stem cells maintain the plasticity of human embryonic stem cells presented by Tsvetelina Oreshkova, PhD (IBIR, BAS);

Investigations for obtaining and characterization of human pluripotent stem cells presented by Prof. Stanimir Kyurkchiev (IBIR, BAS);

Isolation and characterization of human skin stem cells: in search for new targets for treatment of skin cancer presented by Assoc. Prof. Milena Mourdjeva (IBIR, BAS).

Summarizing the topics from the presentations, Professor Kyurkchiev underlined the importance of working in a network of laboratory collaborations and the necessity of establishing of new partnerships.

The scientific seminar was well organized. More than 52 scientists and specialists from IBIR participating in ReProForce project as well as scientists from other institutes of BAS attended the seminar. There was a big interest from the youngest colleagues from the Institutes of Molecular Biology, Experimental Morphology and Anthropology, Experimental Pathology and Parasitology, Genetics and Microbiology. This meeting provided opportunities for exchange of ideas and establishing of new scientific partnerships and collaborations.