Last week, the VANGUARD consortium gathered for the final time in person before the conclusion of the project in June 2025. The two-day face-to-face meeting took place on 28-29 April at Lyon University in France and was hosted by the team from Lyon University Hospital. The event brought together 20 participants from across the consortium for two days of collaborative reflection and strategic discussion.
Representatives from the University of Geneva (UNIGE), University of Eastern Piedmont (UNIUPO), Lyon University Hospital (CHU-LYON), San Raffaele Hospital (OSR), Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMUM), Kugelmeiers Ltd. (KGM), and accelopment Switzerland (accelCH) took part in the meeting.
From Updates to Reflections
Unlike previous meetings, this final General Assembly focused not only on project progress but also on what lies beyond. After the scientific presentations, partners engaged in open and thoughtful discussions about the project’s legacy – what has been accomplished, what can be built upon, and how the work might continue.
The coordinator, Ekaterine Berishvili, opened the meeting by highlighting the importance of each partner’s contributions and encouraged everyone to reflect on three questions: What do we keep? What do we change? And how do we proceed?
Both days were filled with active exchanges as partners explored the future of VANGUARD’s key innovations and collaborations. The atmosphere was both proud and forward-looking.
Celebrating Achievements
The meeting closed with an inspiring message from Patrick Kugelmeier (KGM), who reminded the consortium that “we can be proud of what we achieved.” He praised the vision and leadership of Ekaterine, who initiated the project and united the team behind its mission.
Among the major accomplishments of the VANGUARD project, the following were celebrated:
- Porcine islets: developed thanks to the expertise of the LMUM team
- Amniogel: now functional and GMP-compliant
- Sphericalplate 5D: the KUG platform has proven successful
- Task Force Integration: the clinical task force has become part of ESOT (European Society for Organ Transplantation), continuing to work towards equitable access to bioartificial pancreas therapies
The Final Event: VANGUARD Symposium in London
While the consortium meeting in Lyon marked the final internal gathering, the VANGUARD project will formally conclude with a public-facing event: the VANGUARD Symposium, taking place on Monday, 30 June 2025, at ExCel London, as part of the ESOT Congress 2025.
We are grateful to our partners at ESOT for enabling this important final milestone.
The symposium will feature:
- VANGUARD Presentation: “Bioartificial Pancreas to Cure T1D” by Ekaterine Berishvili, during the ESOT session “Innovations in Tissue Engineering: Lessons and Advances”
- VANGUARD Workshop
- VANGUARD Booth
Stay tuned as we publish the final programme and more details about the event.
A Project’s Legacy
As the VANGUARD project enters its final two months, the outcomes speak for themselves – innovative science, clinical milestones, and a vision for the future of type 1 diabetes treatment. The Lyon meeting served not only as a wrap-up, but as a launchpad for what comes next.
We thank all our partners for their exceptional dedication and collaboration throughout this journey.
