Workshops At Dubai Stem Cell Congress 2026

In 2026, the Dubai Stem Cell Congress (DSCC) is set to host its 4th Edition, bringing together the top clinicians, eminent scientists, and industry leaders in stem cell science and regenerative medicine to the megacity.

The Dubai Stem Cell Congress Workshop stream offers small-group, skill-focused sessions, exclusively curated and designed to strengthen scientific understanding and provide hands-on training for researchers, clinicians, and biotech innovators. 

If this interests you, we’ve collated a detailed list of workshops and speakers for DSCC 2026, including speaker information, what you can expect to learn at each workshop, and the practical skills, career insights, and translational knowledge.

Workshop 1: How to Establish a Scientific Career?

Speaker: Prof. Dr. Kurt Pfannkuche

Prof. Kurt Pfannkuche is a physician–scientist at the Marga-and-Walter Boll Laboratory for Cardiac Tissue Engineering, University of Cologne. His work focuses on human-induced pluripotent stem cells–derived cardiomyocytes, cardiac organoids, and engineered cardiac tissues for regenerative therapies. Dr Pfannkuche has led several projects on stem cell–based cardiac microtissues and cell-based therapies, which have given him a deep, real-world perspective on how academic laboratories operate and evolve.

The “How to Establish a Scientific Career” workshop truly decodes and demystifies what building a university-based career in life sciences will entail – from being a student to postdoc, and what it truly means to build a university-based career in life sciences, from student and postdoc to principal investigator and professor. 

Participants will be offered the chance to explore how academic labs are structured, how research projects are conceived and funded, and what it takes to secure grants and build a productive lab in fields such as stem cells, cardiology, and regenerative medicine. 

By the end of this workshop, you will recognise the realities, pressures, and rewards of academic life in Europe. Participants will also receive personalised, practical guidance on choosing the right research topics and planning their own academic trajectory.

Ideal for:

This workshop at DSCC 2026 is recommended for:

• Researchers and postgraduates in the early stages of their careers in life sciences 
• Students considering a research or academic career
• Postdocs aiming for Principal Investigator or professorship roles
• Professionals comparing academic versus industry research paths

Tentative date/time: 07 February 2026, 15:15 – 16:30

Workshop 2: Decoding Stem Cell Biology with scverse Tools

Speaker: Ms. Sara Jimenez

Ms Sara Jimenez is a computational biologist. She is an expert in several widely used tools for single-cell and spatial omics analysis, including scverse tools. Her work spans AI-driven modelling, deep generative methods, and scalable pipelines for integrating large single-cell and spatial datasets to decode complex tissue organisation and disease biology.

The “Decoding Stem Cell Biology with scverse Tools” workshop focuses on how next-generation spatial and single-cell omics are transforming stem cell and regenerative medicine research. Participants of the workshop will be introduced to the scverse ecosystem and related tools used to integrate multimodal datasets, model cellular neighbourhoods, and interpret high-dimensional spatial biology data. 

The workshop also gives participants a chance to observe practical demonstrations and case studies, and to see how AI and probabilistic modelling can reveal disease-associated microenvironments, molecular interactions, and lineage relationships that would be impossible to see with bulk methods. 

Attendees gain conceptual clarity plus workflow-level understanding of how to build robust, reproducible spatial omics analyses.

Ideal for:

This exciting workshop is recommended for:

• Researchers in single-cell, spatial omics, genomics, or computational biology
• Clinicians and clinician–scientists applying spatial biology to disease research
• Bioinformaticians and data scientists expanding into spatial/multimodal omics
• Biotech R&D teams exploring advanced spatial biology platforms
• Graduate students, postdocs, and early-career professionals seeking AI-enabled data analysis skills

Tentative date/time: 07 February 2026, 16:30 – 17:45

Workshop 3: Harvesting Hope : Science and Skills for Optimal Cord Blood Collections

Speaker: Mrs. Kim Petrella

Mrs Kim Petrella is an experienced cord blood banking and collection trainer with extensive experience in clinical workflows, regulatory standards, and quality systems for cord blood and cellular therapy protocols. She has been conducting training programmes, which particularly emphasise safe technique, aseptic practice, and maximising stem cell yield to support successful cord blood banking and transplant outcomes.

The “Harvesting Hope : Science and Skills for Optimal Cord Blood Collections” is a Clinical Stem Cell Skills Training that focuses on the end-to-end cord blood collection process during vaginal and cesarean deliveries. Participants of this workshop will review the scientific rationale for cord blood banking, indications and criteria for storage, and the factors that influence cell yield and sample integrity. 

The session blends theory with step-by-step practical guidance on:

• Collection technique
• Infection control
• Timing
• Troubleshooting real-life delivery-room challenges

On completing the workshop, attendees will be more confident in performing or supervising high-quality cord blood collections that meet clinical and regulatory expectations.

Ideal for:

This workshop is a must for:

• Midwives, obstetricians, and gynaecologists
• Labour and delivery nurses and clinical support staff
• Teams involved in cord blood banking programs
• Technicians and coordinators in stem cell or regenerative medicine labs

Tentative date/time: 08 February 2026, 09:30 – 10:45

Workshop 4: Unlocking Immune Power : Why PBMCs Matter

Speaker: Dr. Sarkawt Hamad

Dr Sarkawt Hamad is a scientist specialising in stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes and cell-based therapies. With a strong track record in developing scalable cell production and characterisation workflows, his work also extensively covers basic immunobiology and applied cell therapy development.

This “Unlocking Immune Power : Why PBMCs Matter” workshop introduces participants to Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs):

• What they are and their biology
• Their central role in immunology, vaccine development, and cellular therapy

The session takes participants through the entire workflow  – from blood draw and PBMC isolation to handling, cryopreservation, and quality control – highlighting how each step affects viability, purity, and downstream data. 

The participants will also have the opportunity to study real-world examples of how PBMCs are used in immunotherapy research, stem cell-immune co-culture systems, diagnostic assays, and translational research programs. They will also learn best practices and common pitfalls to implement robust PBMC protocols in their own labs.

Ideal for:

This innovative and unique workshop by the Dubai Stem Cell Congress is best suited for:

• Healthcare professionals and clinical researchers
• Laboratory scientists in immunology, stem cell, or translational research
• Biotech and diagnostic industry teams using PBMC-based assays
• Students and early-career professionals entering immune or cellular technologies

Tentative date/time: 08 February 2026, 11:15 – 12:30

Workshop 5: Exploring the Value of MSCs Derived from Adipose, Cord and Placental Sources

Speakers:

• Mr. Mustafa Tareq, Clinical Laboratory Supervisor (DHA License No: 09941720-001
• Dr. Shadab Anjum, Senior Research Associate (License No: 25465800-001)

The First Stem Cell and Genomics Laboratory team brings a combined background in clinical laboratory supervision, stem cell processing, and translational regenerative medicine. Mr Mustafa and Dr Shadab also have extensive hands-on experience in Mesenchymal Stem Cell (MSC) culture, characterisation, and quality systems, GMP considerations, assay standardisation, and understand the realities of translating MSC research into clinical pipelines.

This Mesenchymal Stem Cell (MSC) Workshop offers a comparative overview of MSCs derived from adipose tissue, umbilical cord, and placenta, focusing on how each source differs in yield, morphology, growth behaviour, immunophenotype, and clinical potential. 

Participants will review core concepts, including differentiation capacity, molecular markers, and GMP-grade manufacturing requirements. They will also have the opportunity to assess current regulatory and translational trends in MSC-based therapies. The session includes practical guidance on evaluating MSC quality in vitro and understanding how source-dependent properties influence study design, clinical trial readiness, and long-term therapeutic strategies.

Ideal for:

This one-of-a-kind workshop is recommended for:

• Clinicians and translational researchers in regenerative medicine and therapy 
• Laboratory scientists and cell culture specialists
• Biotech and GMP manufacturing professionals
• Graduate and postgraduate students in life sciences, biotechnology, or regenerative medicine

Tentative date/time: 08 February 2026, 15:30 – 16:45

Why are DSCC Workshops a Must-Attend for Every Stem Cell Professional?

If you are a stem cell professional – new or seasoned, the Dubai Stem Cell Congress 2026 (DSCC) Workshops are a must-attend for you. All our workshops are built around real-world skill development and are structured to meet current global industry and academic needs in stem cells, regenerative medicine, and advanced omics. 

In addition to theory, workshop attendees also get hands-on insights into workflows, data analysis, and clinical implementation, accelerating both research output and clinical impact. 

Meet international faculty and participants from over 30 countries at DSCC workshops, making these sessions powerful networking opportunities for collaboration, mentorship, and career growth in cell therapy, immunotherapy, and translational research.

Tips for Attendees Before Attending the Workshop

To get the most from each Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Workshop, it is essential to plan your schedule by noting:

• Session timings
• Location and 
• Overlaps with talks or poster presentations

Bring workshop must-haves such as a book/notepad, pen, and a fully charged laptop or tablet, especially for computational or data-analysis sessions. Ensure your DSCC badge is visible at all times for seamless entry and networking. If a workshop provides pre-reads or software instructions, review and install them before arriving so you can focus on hands-on learning rather than setup.

How to Register for DSCC 2026?

Excited to attend the workshops? Here’s how to register for DSCC 2026!

• To join the Stem Cell Workshops and the main congress, attendees need to register via the official DSCC 2026 website. 
• Registration for the 4th edition is open for the congress dates 7 – 8 February 2026 at Mövenpick Grand Al Bustan, Dubai.
• There are dedicated categories for students, early-bird, and regular delegates. 
• Visit the registration page, choose your delegate type, complete the online form, select relevant workshops if listed separately, and confirm payment to secure your seat.
• For questions or group bookings, contact the DSCC team via the official email address on the site.

Get Ready to Learn, Connect and Innovate with DSCC 2026

The Dubai Stem Cell Congress Workshop series offers a rare chance to combine advanced stem cell research training with practical clinical skills, from cord blood collection training to PBMC workflows and AI-enabled spatial omics analysis. Whether your goal is Professional Development in Cell Therapy, Biotechnology Career Development, or advancing your own clinical or laboratory programs, these focused sessions can significantly accelerate your progress. Secure your place, come prepared to engage, and make the most of the opportunities to learn, collaborate, and shape the future of stem cell and regenerative medicine at Dubai Stem Cell Congress 2026.