The program includes the latest advances in understanding the mechanisms underlying cardiac repair in naturally regenerating organisms and how can these be stimulated in non-regenerating mammals. The conference will also review the current translational regenerative strategies, including gene therapy, modified nucleic acid administration, tissue engineering and cell reprogramming.

The forum will be an ideal setting for critically addressing the recent controversies in the field of cardiac stem cells and the failure so far in successful translation of experimental therapies into a clinical benefit.