WORD+2027 is our 5th anniversary!
'Global Innovation & Standardisation in Action'
#Bettertogether I 23-26 February 2027 I Cambridge, UK
>50 Presentations from leading Organoid, Organ-on-a-chip and NAM researchers
>30 Innovative Technologies to discover from design to analysis I Spotlight Theatre
>100 Scientific Posters with Selected Podium Presentations I Research Awards
Speakers below I Scroll down to read past speaker & attendee kind comments too!
All welcome, join: Researchers I Societies I Technologies & Partners I Institutions I Bodies
Companies speaking include below as well as leading academic researchers:
AstraZeneca, GSK, Institute of Human Biology (IHB) Roche, Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Medicine (reNEW).
Highlighted 🌎 WORD+2027 Speakers & Chairs include:
Professor
Peter Loskill
University of Tübingen &
3R-Center Tübingen
Peter has successfully engineered multiple organ-on-a-chip platforms, including retina, pancreas, white adipose tissue, heart muscle, heart valves, neural networks (brain), and breast tumor models.
Professor
Shafagh Waters
University New South Wales & NAT Network
Head of the Regeneration and Stem Cell Translational Research Laboratory. Research program focuses on developing human stem cell and organoid systems that allow direct investigation of disease biology and therapeutic response in human tissue.
Professor
Hans Clevers
Keynote & Lifetime Achievement Award
24th Feb
“Organoids of individual patients are like avatars: they predict which drug will work best for the patient from which they derive.”
Professor
Dasja Pajkrt
UMC Amsterdam
& OrganoVir
Dasja leads OrganoVIR Labs, where clinicians, virologists and tissue engineers work together to culture viruses and develop innovative animal-free models (including organ-on-a-chips & organoids) for virus research.
Professor
Thomas Hartung
CAAT &
Johns Hopkins
Steers the revolution in toxicology to move away from 50+ year-old animal tests to organoid cultures and the use of artificial intelligence.
Organising Committee of the Exposome Moonshot Project.
Associate Professor
Antonella Dost
University of Copenhagen, Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Medicine.
Professor
Alejandro Frangi
Bicentenary Turing Chair in Computational Medicine, UK CEiRS Executive Director. The University of Manchester.
Medical image analysis & modelling with an emphasis on machine learning and computational physiology.
In silico clinical trials.
Assistant Professor
Sarah Spitz
University of Wien
Professor
Krzysztof
Pyrć
Jagiellonian University
Virogenetics, 3D human tissue models, Organ-on-a-chips for mechanisms of infection and the development of new therapeutic strategies.
Associate
Professor
Livia Santos
University of Nottingham
Innovative muscle, heart tissue and bone models (tissue on a chip & organ-on-a-chip) to better understand tissue regeneration, ageing and exercise
Assistant
Professor
Riccardo Barrile
University of Cincinnati
Modeling Glioblastoma Niche-by-Niche: Recent Advancements in Bioengineering of Organotypic Models of Glioblastoma for Precision Medicine. Employs Microfluidics and 3D bioprinting.
Associate
Professor
Fiona Freeman
University College Dublin
Mechanobiology, biomaterial design, 3D printing and developing in vitro and in vivo disease models for
paediatric bone cancer.
Professor
Marianna
Kruithof-de Julio
University Bern &
OnconiX AG
Focus on personalized medicine with particular interest in GU cancers, organoid generation from patient specimen.
Developed a translational Bladder-on-a-Chip model and her platforms increasingly merge functional chip data with multi-omics and Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Dr
Lei Huan
Dr
Emily Tubbs
University Grenoble Alpes, CEA, INSERM
Her work addresses one of the biggest current bottlenecks in tissue engineering: how to supply blood and nutrients to lab-grown organs. Emily will share more on how human assembloids of human blood vessel organoids and vascularized organoids-on-chip for assessing systemic drug delivery.
Dr
Louis
Bastien Weiswald
Comprehensive Cancer Center François Baclesse
French Research
Session Chair.
Scientist in the laboratory Inserm Interdisciplinary Research Unit for the Prevention and Treatment of Cancers. Co-head of ORGAPRED
Dr
Rhiannon
David
AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca
Partnerships in action
Senior Director, Head of Advanced Cell Models, Safety Sciences.
Professor
Maurice Whelan
European Commission
Joint Research Centre
Researchers addressing
EU Roadmap challenges
Deputy Director for Health & Food. Head of Systems Toxicology Unit and the EU Reference Lab for alternatives to animal testing (EURL ECVAM)
Dr
Lisa
Mohamet
GSK
GSK
Partnerships in action
Global head of translational in vitro models and GSK Fellow. Focussed on the application of stem cells, primary cells and organoids for CRISPR screening to identify novel targets for drug discovery
Professor
Katja
Gehmlich
University of Birmingham
Molecular Cardiology.
Generation of a human iPSC-derived cardiomyocyte & fibroblast engineered heart tissue models.
Dr
Cathy Vickers
NC3RS
UK Researchers addressing
UK Roadmap challenges
Cathy leads the CRACK IT Challenges programme and is Head of Innovation
Dr Jenny Sandström
Swiss researchers addressing replacement challenges.
Dr
Margaret Ochocinska
Program Director
NIH, USA
NIH Researchers
Addressing
Roadmap challenges
Dr
Pelin
Candarlioglu
EUROoCS
EURoOCS Showcase
Three of the regions leading researchers share their latest innovative work.
LUSH Prize Winner
Dr
Adam
Fellows
Royal Veterinary College
Engineered Pulmonary Artery Tissues. Lab-grown replicas of human blood vessels that can mimic how real arteries behave & pulmonary hypertension
LUSH Prize Winner
»Early
Career
Professional
Roche
High-throughput histopathology for complex in vitro models & Organoids as models of immune-organ interaction.
»Early
Career
Professional
XiangLu Xiao
Imperial London
AI-Empowered Organoid Platforms and computational approaches.
WORD+2027
Co-Host
Dr
Stefaan
Verbruggen
Queen Mary University London
Pioneers innovative computational and experimental techniques to tackle medical challenges, focusing on bone biomechanics, and metastatic cancer. cancer metastasis.
WORD+2027
Co-Host
Dr
Mhairi
Morris
Loughborough
University
Understanding the interactions between cancer cells and stromal cells in the tumour microenvironment, and how exercise may impinge on these interactions.
WORD+2027
Co-Host
Dr
Tamas
Korcmaros
Imperial Organoid
Facility
Director of Organoid Facility and systems biologist working with both computational and experimental approaches to study signalling networks in the gut.
Your Options to Join WORD+2027
WORD+
Training & Tools
23rd February
10am-4pm
For all bench scientists &
Early career researchers.
Techniques, technologies,
writing & analysis skills.
In association with leading
researchers & technologies.
Onsite
workflow laboratory.
Refresh & boost your knowledge.
#bettertogether
Tickets coming soon
including poster submissions.
Main WORD+ 2027
Innovation & standardisation in action
24th, 25th & 26th February
🌎 Global Researchers share their latest research, application & outcome.
Join in both the main auditorium & breaktime poster podium presentations.
Experience innovation in discovery across multiple disease & organ types.
Meaningful and inspiring discussion.
New Technology Zone & Theatre.
Discover new and key technologies helping research
& where they are addressing the challenges ahead.
🌎 Special extended session: Roadmaps in action for NAM adoption.
Country bodies share where their researchers are already addressing challenges.
Build new lasting connections & be inspired.
#bettertogether
NEW for WORD+2027
Poster Podium Talks in two dedicated areas every break and lunch.
FREE to enter 'Fluorescent Friday Gallery'
Launching September 2026. Your chance to showcase your images.
Displayed in full colour at WORD+2027. £500 prize for winner.
»Just some of the kind WORDS from WORD+2026!
International MPS Society Key Note Speaker
Assistant Professor Lena Smirnova.
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, USA.
'Excellent event and I had an excellent time!'
Session Chair and Speaker
Dr Rhiannon David.
Senior Director, Head of Advanced Cell Models, Safety Sciences. AstraZeneca, UK
'I echo everyone’s sentiments about the wonderful, friendly atmosphere that defines WORD conferences.
You did a fantastic job as always, and it was a pleasure to be part of it!'
Scandinavian Showcase Chair and Speaker:
Professor Steven Ray Wilson. University of Oslo.
Showcase Speaker.
Dr Helena Rannikmae.
Complex In Vitro Models, GSK. UK
'Thank you so much for another wonderful conference – it is truly one that feels most connected out of many other conferences. Thank you again for the opportunity to present GSK’s work'.
Showcase Speaker.
Dr. Benjamin P. Sharpe
Southampton University. U.K
'It was an absolute pleasure to be invited and I'm really glad I could connect with researchers involved in tackling so many issues in medicine, from across the world. The friendliness and weIcome was second-to-none and I hope I see many of you back here next year to catch up!'
Germany Showcase Speaker
Jun Professor Hannes Beyer.
University of Düsseldorf. Germany.
'Thank you again for the wonderful meeting. I really enjoyed it'.
Germany Showcase Speaker
Dr Julia Hesse.
University of Düsseldorf. Germany.
'Thank you again for this wonderful and inspiring meeting'.
Attendee.
Dr Jonathan Sheard
'WORD+2026 provided a powerful platform for a community of researchers to see the true value of their work and the impact it is having on research. This conference has also brought together a whole range of fantastic technology and service providers. I think we all agree that it was a very successful event and we look forward to joining again in 2027!'
Showcase Speaker
Dr Adriana Buskin.
Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University Centre for Cancer. U.K
'Thank you for the opportunity to present our research! It was a pleasure and great to meet you in person'.
'WORD+26has been incredible—an inspiring platform filled with innovative ideas,
impactful discussions and insights driving the future of exploratory toxicology'.
International MPS Society Chair and Speaker
Dr Magdalena Kasendra
Center for Stem Cell and Organoid Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.
'Reconnecting with friends, meeting new collaborators, and exchanging ideas that push our field forward.
It was an absolute pleasure - and great fun -to be part of it.
Thank you so much for the invitation and for pulling together such a fantastic meeting.
The energy, openness, and science really did make it special'.
Sponsor and Attendee
Dr Miriam Foster.
Sartorius, Germany.
'I’m really looking forward to being back at WORD+2027 and connecting with customers.
Events like this are such a powerful space for collaboration.
I’m keen to hear how everyone is using advanced models in real projects, as well as the latest in NAM research!'
Italy Showcase Speaker
Professor Giovanni Tonon.
San Raffaele Scientific Institute in Milan, Italy
Netherlands Showcase Speaker
Dr Petra de Graaf
UMC Utrecht.Netherlands.
Showcase Speaker
Dr. Pablo F. Céspedes.
University of Oxford. U.K
Showcase Speaker and Award Winner
Dr Mhairi Morris.
Loughborough University. U.K
Showcase Speaker
Dr. Louis-Bastien Weiswald.
Comprehensive Cancer Center François Baclesse, France
'Many thanks to you for the warm welcome and for the outstanding organization of this conference.
It was truly a great meeting, stimulating science and open discussions'.
Attendee
Stella Priyanka
Elasmogen, UK.
'It's been fantastic attending WORD+ 2026 conference in Cambridge.
>50 Presentations from leading Organoid, Organ-on-a-chip and NAM researchers
| >100 Scientific Posters | Interactive Technologies | Funding Awards
Free local travel to and from WORD+2027
MORE buses, more local stations, more choice and FREE!
Free return journeys from the following:
NEW Cambridge South Train station at the Cambridge Biomedical Campus.
NEW Babraham Research Campus & Great Chesterford Train Station, Main road by Duxford Lodge Hotel
Holiday Inn Express Cambridge Duxford (B & B Hotel Cambridge South) Red Lion Hotel side Whittlesford train station (connect to Cambridge). Red Lion Hotel side Whittlesford train station (connect to Cambridge). Hinxton Hall Conference centre (the venue).
Special WORD+ Evenings and WORD+ Awards (lunch time 26th)
24th February
5th Anniversary Party!
Special guest joins us
Fizz, Food & Fun
Included in your ticket.
6:30pm-8.30pm
Bar open thereafter
Exhibition Arena
Take the Technology Challenge
& Win the SMART LAB award.
25th February
Key Note Posters &
Fluorescence Friday Awards
Drinks and Nibbles
Included in your ticket.
6:00pm-8.00pm
Bar open thereafter
Exhibition Arena
Gallery winners revealed
Presentations made
26th February
Award Ceremony
Most Innovative: Speaker,
Poster, Technology.
Lunch and drinks
Included in your ticket.
1:30pm-2:30pm
Free Coaches leave 2:30pm
Exhibition Arena
Exhibition closes 2:30pm
Giving back!
We will once again making donations live to special researchers &
WORD+ Attendees vote for the following awards:
Most Inspirational Speaker & Research.
Best Poster & Presentation.
Most innovative Technology.
2026's winners were:
Did you know?...
Since our first event in 2022:
Welcomed over 100 speakers.
Donated £20,000 into research.
Many WORD+ made connections
now publish and partner together!
← Look back at WORD+
Event venue, travel and accomodation
Venue
Hinxton Hall
Conference Centre
Wellcome Genome Campus,
Cambridge, CB10 1RQ.
+44 (0)1223 495000 or
WORD+
Running Club
2.5k or 5k (you choose)
Start the day with
Prof Johanna Bolander
7am outside conference entrance.
24th, 25th & 26th February
Use code: WORD2027
or contact venue directly.
+44 (0)1223 495000 or email conference.reception@hinxtonhall.org.
More about WORC.Community!
Established in 2022 our mission is bring Organoid, Organ-on-a-chip & NAM researchers together to advance discovery. Our free to join network has a global reach of >10,000 researchers and those interested in next generation techniques. With leading researcher talks, innovative technologies in an open community atmosphere, all are welcome. It's where great ideas are shared and new ones are born.