Scientific Program
Wednesday, October 7, 2026
ICRS Next Gen Retreat (Douro V)
Consensus Meeting (Douro VIII)
Day 1 – Thursday, October 8, 2026
08.30-08.50 GmbH Partners’ Assembly 2026 (Douro VIII)
09.00-10.00 ICRS Executive Board Meeting (Douro VIII)
10.15-11.45: ICRS General Board Meeting (Douro VIII)
11.00-12:30 Meniscal Transplant Study Group (Douro V)
13:00 – 13:15 Summit Welcome – Daniel Grande (US)
13:15 – 14:15 Session 1.1 Joint Preservation Updates
Moderators: Daniel Grande (US), Chris Lattermann (US)
13:15-13:35
1.1.1 Moonshot Cartilage Repair / ARPA-H Contract
Nadeen Chahine (US) & Clark Hung (US)
13:35-13:45
1.1.2 First Presentation of Data from the Richardson / Keele Trial
Martyn Snow (UK)
13:45-13:55
1.1.3 IMPACT Study
Daniel Saris (US)
13:55-14:05
1.1.4 What Can we Learn from Biotribology for Cartilage Research
Rosa Maria Nothnagel (AT)
14:05-14:15
1.1.5 Discussion / Q&A
14:15 – 14:30: Session 1.2 Special Session
Moderator: Kenneth Zaslav (US)
14:15-14:30
1.2.1 Orthobiologics – Regulatory Updates
Scott Bruder (US)
14:30 – 15:30 Session 1.3 Meniscus Preservation Strategies: the Translational Frontier
Moderators: Jos Malda (NL) , Kazunori Shimomura (JP)
14:30-14:40
1.3.1 Meniscal Tissue Engineering: From Present Reality to Future Opportunities
Fabio Sciarretta (IT)
14:40-14:50
1.3.2 The Degenerative Meniscus: A Challenging Environment
Christopher Nagelli (US)
14:50-15:00
1.3.3 When Meniscus Repair is Not an Option: Alternative Solutions from Meniscal Substitution to Compartment Unloading
David Flanigan (US)
15:00-15:10
1.3.4 Meniscus Discovery Channel
Giuseppe Anzillotti (IT)
15:10-15:30
1.3.5 Discussion / Q&A
15:30 – 16:30 Session 1.4 From Bench to Business: Startup Spotlight
Moderators: Craig Wallace (US), TBC
15:30-15:40
1.4.1 A Novel 3D Hydrogel Chitosan Matrix for Regeneration of Articular Cartilage Damage
Pacale Hazot (FR)
15:40-15:50
1.4.2 A Microfluidic Platform for 3D Microtissue Culturing of Next-gen Pre-clinical Models
Erika Ferrari (IT)
15:50-16:00
1.4.3 A Sustainable Coral Technology to Regenerate Hyaline-like Cartilage
Ohad Schwartz (IL)
16:00-16:10
1.4.4 A Hydrogel Implant for Enabling Cartilage Recovery
Leo Smit (NL)
16:10-16:20
1.4.5 A Novel Technology to Harvest Bone Marrow from the Iliac Crest
Christof Pabinger (AT)
16:20-16:30
1.4.6 Physics-driven Artificial Intelligence for Drug Discovery
Emil Sobol (CH)
16:30 – 17:20 Coffee Break in Exhibition
17:20 – 18:10 Session 1.5 Meniscus Preservation Strategies: The Clinical Challenge
Moderators: Simon Goertz (US), Luca Andriolo (US)
17:20-17:30
1.5.1 The Delphi Consensus
Aaron Krych (US)
17:30-17:40
1.5.2 Medial and Lateral Meniscus Root Repair – When?
Emmanuel Papacostas (QA)
17:40-17:50
1.5.3 Orthobiologic Injectables and Meniscus
Kristof Sas (BE)
17:50-18:00
1.5.4 Meniscus: The Challenging Management in Athletes
Francesco della Villa (IT)
18:00-18:10
1.5.5 Discussion / Q&A
18:10 – 19:10 Session 1.6 Next Gen Session – Career Mentoring
Moderators: Francesca de Caro (IT), Jasmijn Korpershoek (NL)
Panel discussion: Daniel Grande (US), Christian Lattermann (US), Tom Minas (US), Susan Chubinskaya (US), Luis Tirico (BR), Keng Lin Francis Wong (HK)
19:15 – 20:15 Welcome Reception
Day 2 – Friday, October 9, 2026
08:00 – 09:00 Session 2.1 Portugal Meets ICRS Joint Session
Moderators: Daniel Grande (US), Christian Lattermann (US)
08:00-08:10
2.1.1 Osteochondral Tissue Engineering and Biofabricated in vitro 3D Models
J. Miguel Oliveira (PT)
08:10-08:20
2.1.2 Mosaicplasty. Is This Still an Option in 2026?
João Espregueira-Mendes (PT)
08:20-08:30
2.1.3 Biomaterials / Tissue Engineering
Rui Reis (PT)
08:30-08:40
2.1.4 Experimental Background on Minced Cartilage
Stefan Nehrer (AT)
08:40-08:50
2.1.5 Steering of the Collagen Network
Jos Malda (NL)
08:50-09:00
2.1.6 Discussion / Q&A
09:00 – 10:00 Session 2.2 Novel Therapeutics for Joint Regeneration
Moderators: Ilona Uziliene (LV) & Ramon Cugat (ES)
09:00-09:10
2.2.1 Biomaterial Cell Therapeutics
Marcel Karperien (NL)
09:10-09:20
2.2.2 Allogenic Therapy
Dennis Evseenko (US)
09:20-09:30
2.2.3 Skeletal Stem Cells
Ting Cong (US)
09:30-09:40
2.2.4 IPSC Cells
Ingrid Meulenbelt (NL)
09:40-09:50
2.2.5 Matching Technology to Patient in the 2026 Patient Landscape
David Shepard (US)
09:50-10:00
2.2.6 Discussion / Q&A
10:00 – 10.45 Coffee Break / Exhibition
10:00 – 10:45 2.3 Poster Session with Coffee
Poster Walk: Lucienne Vonk (SE), Luis Tirico, Tiago Lazzaretti
10:45 – 11:45 Session 2.4 Orthobiologics – The Best Injectable
Moderators: Scott Bruder (US), Markus Neubauer (AT)
10:45-10:55
2.4.1 HA – Eurovisco
Yves Henrotin (BE)
10:55-11:05
2.4.2 Polynucleotides
Kristof Sas (BE)
11:05-11:15
2.4.3 PRP
Giuseppe Filardo (CH)
11:15-11:25
2.4.4 Point of Care: Bone Marrow vs Adipose Tissue
Elizaveta Kon (IT)
11:25-11:35
2.4.5 Relevance of EVs in OA
Andrea De Luna (AT)
11:35-11:45
2.4.6 What is the Consensus? The ESSKA-ICRS Consensus Results
Giuseppe Filardo (CH)
11:45 – 12:35 Session 2.5 Orthotinder: Osteochondral Lesions
Moderator: Daniel Saris (US)
11:45-11:50
2.5.1 Orthopaedic Surgeon Looking for a Complex Osteochondral Lesion Repair
Deepak Goyal (IN)
11:50-12:00
2.5.2 Osteochondral Scaffolds: Aragonite-based
Kenneth Zaslav (US)
12:00-12:10
2.5.3 Osteochondral Scaffolds: Collagen-based
Luca Andriolo (IT)
12:10-12:20
2.5.4 Allografts
William Bugbee (US)
12:20-12:30
2.5.5 Personalized Metal Implants
Francesca de Caro (IT)
12:30-12:40
2.5.6 Paste Grafting Update
Kevin Stone (US)
12:40-12.45
2.5.7 Winner Selection
13:00 – 13:30
Industry Satellite Symposium Geistlich (Douro V)
One Membrane, Multiple Strategies: From One- to Two-Step Cartilage Therapy
Moderator: Philip Roessler (DE)
Chondro-Gide® in the Knee: Versatility in Action
PD Dr. med. Philip Roessler, MHBA, Koblenz (DE)
HD-ACI Approach for Treating Chondral Defects: my Rationale and Clinical Results
Isabel Guillén Vicente, MD, PhD, Madrid (ES)
13:00 – 13:30
Industry Satellite Symposium Fidia (Douro II)
13:40– 14:10
Industry Satellite Symposium Smith & Nephew (Douro V)
13:40– 14:10
Industry Satellite Symposium Arthrex (Douro II)
14:15 – 15:15 Session 2.6 Orthotinder: Cartilage Regeneration
Moderator: Francesca Vannini (IT)
14:15-14:20
2.6.1 Physicians Needing the Best Cartilage Regeneration Solution
Cassandra Lee (US)
14:20-14:30
2.6.2 MACT
Mats Brittberg (SE)
14:30-14:40
2.6.3 Minced Cartilage
Mike McNicholas (UK)
14:40-14:50
2.6.4 Umbilical Cord Stem Cells
Wayne McIlwraith (US)
14:50-15:00
2.6.5 Hydrogels
Stephanie Bryant (US)
15:00-15:10
2.6.6 Harnessing Endogenous Bone Marrow Stem Cells to Augment Articular Cartilage Regeneration – Preclinical and in vivo Assessment
Mani Vessal (US)
15:10-15:15
2.6.7 Winner Selection
15:15 – 16:15 Session 2.7 NextGen Injectables: Should We Abandon Cells and Go with Vesicles or Mitochondria?
Moderators: Michelle Delco (US) & Daniel Grande (US)
15:15-15:25
2.7.1 Rationale for Mitochondrial TTX
Michelle Delco (US)
15:25-15:35
2.7.2 Mitochondria TTX for OA
Ambika Bajpayee (US)
15:35-15:45
2.7.3 Mitochondria for Cartilage Repair
Michelle Delco (US)
15:45-15:55
2.7.4 EV’s for Joint Homeostasis
Lucienne Vonk (SE)
15:55-16:05
2.7.5 The Era of Exosomes
Lisa Fortier (US)
16:05- 16:15
2.7.6 Discussion
16:15 – 16:45 Coffee Break in Exhibition
16:45 – 17:45 Session 2.8 Cartilage Repair in Other Parts of the World
Moderators: Emmanuel Papacostas (QA), Steve Abelow (US)
16:30-16:40
2.8.1 Asia
Keng Lin Francis Wong (SG)
16:40-16:50
2.8.2 Europe
Philipp Niemeyer (DE)
16:50-17:00
2.8.3 USA
Kenneth Zaslav (US)
17:00-17:10
2.8.4 South America
Camila Cohen Kaleka (BR)
17:10-17:20
2.8.5 India
Deepak Goyal (IN)
17:20-17:30
2.8.6 Discussion / Q&A
17:45 – 18:00 Session 2.9 Updates from the ICRS Patient Registry
Theodorakis Marin Fermin (VZ)
18:00 – 18:45 Session 2.10 ICRS and Friends
Moderators: Aaron Krych (US), Elizaveta Kon (IT)
18:00-18:10
2.10.1 AtiO Meets ICRS – Clinically Relevant Biomechanical Parameters for Cartilage Repair
Tobias Winkler (DE)
18:10-18:20
2.10.2 BA Meets ICRS – BARB Updates
Bert Mandelbaum (US) (pre-recorded)
18:20-18:30
2.10.3 ISAKOS Meets ICRS – Joint Consensus Projects
Norimasa Nakamura (JP)
18:30-18:40
2.10.4 ON – Developing Connections for Research and Education in Joint Preservation
Daniel Saris (US)
18:40-18:45
MSc Regenerative Medicine
Stefan Nehrer (AT)
19:30-23:00 Faculty Dinner at Casa Ferreirinha (ticket required)
Day 3 – Saturday, October 10, 2026
08:00 – 09:00 Session 3.1 Beyond the Knee: Cartilage Preservation in Other Joints
Moderators: Mike McNicholas (UK), Ozgur Basal (TR)
08:00-08:10
3.1.1 IVD
Nadeen Chahine (US)
08:10-08:20
3.1.2 Ankle Joint
Jari Dahmen (NL)
08:20-08:30
3.1.3 Shoulder
Nicholas Sgaglione (US)
08:30-08:40
3.1.4 Hip
Srino Bharam (US)
08:40-09:00
3.1.5 Discussion / Q&A
09:00 – 10:00 Session 3.2 Gene Therapy: Bench to Bedside
Moderators: Laurie Goodrich (US), Lisa Fortier (US)
09:00-09:10
3.2.1 TBC
TBC
09:10-09:20
3.2.2 Gene Therapy for OA and Cartilage Repair
Henning Madry (DE)
09:20-09:30
3.2.3 Gene Therapy Clinical Trial
Christopher Evans (US)
09:30-09:40
3.2.4 Gene Therapy for OA: How the Horse is Leading us to Water….and Allowing us to Drink
Laurie Goodrich (US)
09:40-09:50
3.2.5 Discussion / Q&A
09:50-10:00 Fellowship Presentations
10:00 – 10:45 Coffee Break in Exhibition
10:45 – 12:00 Session 3.3 Joint Preservation: Beyond Cartilage
Moderators: Theodorakys Marin Fermin (VZ), Tom Minas (US)
10:45-10:55
3.3.1 How Much Can we Push Surgical Indications? My Most Complex Cases
Tom Minas (US)
10:55-11:00
3.3.2 Joint Regeneration and its Role in Overall Health and Related to Inflammation
Christian Lattermann (US)
11:00-11:10
3.3.3 Optimizing Outcomes: The Role of Concomitant Surgeries in Cartilage Repair
Philipp Niemeyer (DE)
11:10-11:20
3.3.4 Personalizing Cartilage Repair: Factors Beyond Defect Dimensions
Martyn Snow (UK)
11:20-11:30
3.3.5 COST NetwOArk
Sylvia Nürnberger (AT)
11:30-11:40
3.3.6 Joint Unloading
John Lane (US)
11:40-12:00
3.3.7 Discussion / Q&A
12:00 – 13:00 3.4 Selected Podium Presentations Awards
Moderators: Simon Goertz (US), Susan Chubinskaya (US)
12:00-12:05
3.4.1 Introduction to the Award Competition
Simon Goertz (US)
12:05-12:10
3.4.2 Presentation Basic and Translational Science Finalist 1
12:10-12:15
3.4.3 Presentation Basic and Translational Science Finalist 2
12:15-12:20
3.4.4 Presentation Basic and Translational Science Finalist 3
12:20-12:25
3.4.5 Presentation Basic and Translational Science Finalist 4
12:25-12:30
3.4.6 Voting for the Basic and Translational Science Final
12:30-12:35
3.4.7 Presentation Clinical Research Finalist 1
12:35-12:40
3.4.8 Presentation Clinical Research Finalist 2
12:45-12:50
3.4.9 Presentation Clinical Research Finalist 3
12:50-12:55
3.4.10 Presentation Clinical Research Finalist 4
12:55-13:00
3.4.11 Voting for the Clinical Research Final
13:00 Congress Closing Remarks: Daniel Grande (US)