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On June 30th, the halls of TivoliVredenburg in Utrecht were buzzing with energy. Researchers, students, partners, healthcare professionals and curious minds came together to celebrate a special milestone: 10 years of Regenerative Medicine in the Regenerative Medicine Center Utrecht (RMCU).

The day was filled with inspiring talks, interactive sessions, and meaningful conversations. At the heart of the symposium was one theme: learning from others. And that’s exactly what we did. Let’s take a moment to relive the day of an unforgettable RMU Symposium.

A Journey from paper to progress

The day opened with a warm welcome from host and moderator of the day, Jan Scheele, and Jeffrey Beekman, chair of the Regenerative Medicine & Stem Cells (RM&SC) strategic program. Jeffrey recounts: “It was amazing to see a room packed with a whole community of committed RM enthusiasts.” Joost Fledderus, managing director of the RMCU, then took the audience on a journey through time. With old photos, memories and facts & figures he showed how the RMCU grew from a bold vision into a leading hotspot of regenerative medicine. It was a moment that gave context to how far the community has come.

We’re not fundamental scientist, but discovery scientists

That sense of progress deepened during the panel interview with the RMU pioneers: Marianne Verhaar, Wouter Dhert, and Paul Coffer. They shared how they experienced the early days, when RMU was still just an idea on paper, and how they collaborated to build the now largest cluster of people working together on regenerative medicine in Europe. Paul Coffer gave us a fresh outlook on fundamental science: “We’re not fundamental scientist, but discovery scientists. Because that’s what we do: we discover the tiniest details about life to tomorrow’s therapies.”

We couldn't do it without each other

Cool fossils and team science

After reminiscing about the first hour, the audience got to meet the self-proclaimed ‘cool RM fossils’: Debby Gawlitta, Koen Braat, and Joost Fledderus. As young scientists, they helped shape RMU from the very beginning. This ultimate trio quizzed the audience on the intricate, funny and most surprising details. Who knew the RMCU was almost called ‘Holland House of Regenerative Medicine’?

Just before the first break, Jos Malda, vice chair of the strategic program, took the audience into a captivating story on team science, reminding us that high performance in science is only possible because of strong collaboration and a culture that supports it. “We couldn’t do it without each other.”

Mimicking life, learning from nature

Later in the program, Jan van Hest from TU Eindhoven showed how artificial tissues can be designed to mimic the natural behavior of cells. A beautiful example of how smart materials and engineering can support the field of regenerative medicine.

Bart Spee then shared how animal patients, especially dogs, offer a unique opportunity for clinical research. Some conditions occur more frequently in certain breeds, making them a valuable model for developing and testing new regenerative treatments for both animals and humans. A strong case for learning from nature, in practice.  After some powerful pitches of the winners of the PhD poster competition, it was time for the second half.

New perspectives

The afternoon brought hands-on inspiration. Visitors explored an art gallery composed out of research artwork from our very own RMU members, interacted with our partners ICAT, CPBT, UPORT and our colleagues who study RM in society at their respective booths, after which they joined workshops that challenged their thinking.  

One workshop invited participants to rethink failure. Could failing be a good thing? (Spoiler: yes.) A fun, yoga-inspired session on failure with failure artist, Remko van der Drift, had people laughing, clapping, and rethinking mistakes as just normal events rather than setbacks.

Another workshop explored how organs are built from scratch. Young ambitious researchers talked through the whole process from the very start of the clinical need, choosing and using the right cells, bioprinting, getting your findings to the market, to the ethical questions that arise during the process.

In a third workshop, Anke de Vries guided participants through unusual collaborations. By asking questions and sharing perspectives in small groups, they built mutual understanding, found common ground, and explored how this can help clarify ambitions and reach goals in a multidisciplinary team.

Learning from nature & leadership

As the day continued, Leo Otsuki captivated the attendees with his impeccable talk on the incredible regenerative powers of the axolotl, inspiring everyone to learn from nature’s own healers. Later, Teun Bastings from the Royal Dutch Marechaussee shared lessons on leadership from his military experience, and the important role leaders play in creating team safety and effectiveness. Teun described leadership as if you’re “leading at your family table,” where sometimes you take charge, and other times you step back and follow. This balance, he explained, is key to building resilient, high-performing teams.

A community of people sharing the same enthusiasm across generations. It’s truly a unified force, and that’s really amazing

A celebration of community

More than anything, the day was a celebration of the RMU community: people from all walks of life who care deeply about science, patients, and progress. There were experienced professors, early-career researchers, colleagues from partner organizations, students, and even future students exploring their path. Throughout the day people asked the speakers interesting questions. Connections were made and even collaborations formed right before your eyes. “Regenerative medicine started as a little-known, almost empty concept, and now it’s a whole field—a community of people sharing the same enthusiasm across generations. It’s truly a unified force, and that’s really amazing”, Jos Malda shares in refection.

As the event came to a close, warm thank-you speeches honored Marianne Verhaar, former chair of the strategic program and Ria Matthijssen who made significant progress as program manager. This was followed by a joyful rendition of ‘Celebration’ (“we shape the future, cell by cell!”) and some final moments of socializing. Reflecting on the day, Jeffrey said, “This event showed us how sharing simple, tangible moments and enjoying laughs together truly brings people closer”. Filled with new energy, inspiration and connections, everyone left ready for the next decade of discovery.