Professor Gerald Brandacher is the Co-Director and Executive Vice Chair of Research at the Department of Visceral, Transplant, and Thoracic Surgery at Innsbruck Medical University. A globally recognized expert in transplantation immunology and reconstructive transplantation, Professor Brandacher has played a pioneering role in advancing vascularized composite allotransplantation (VCA), including face and hand transplants.
His research focuses on immune modulation, transplant tolerance, and biomarker development for graft monitoring, contributing to groundbreaking improvements in both patient outcomes and ethical transplantation practices.
Formerly based at Johns Hopkins University, where he served as Scientific Director of the VCA Program, Professor Brandacher has led numerous interdisciplinary clinical and pre-clinical studies supported by major research grants. He has published extensively in top-tier scientific journals and continues to mentor the next generation of transplant surgeons and scientists. His work bridges the gap between laboratory innovation and clinical translation, with a strong commitment to improving quality of life through advanced surgical science and regenerative medicine.
Professor Camillo Ricordi is a leading global authority in cellular therapies and regenerative medicine, serving as Professor of Surgery and Medicine and Chief of the Division of Cellular Transplantation at the University of Miami. He is best known for developing the Ricordi Chamber, a revolutionary system for isolating insulin-producing islet cells, which has become the worldwide standard in islet transplantation for diabetes treatment.
As Director Emeritus of the Diabetes Research Institute (DRI) and the Cell Transplant Center, Professor Ricordi has devoted his career to developing a cure for Type 1 diabetes and advancing cellular therapies for chronic diseases. His research integrates stem cell science, immune tolerance, and bioengineering, with a focus on patient-centered innovation.
With over 700 scientific publications and multiple international honors, Professor Ricordi is also an influential advocate for open science and global collaboration in medical research. He has served on advisory boards and global initiatives focused on accelerating cures for autoimmune and degenerative diseases. His passion lies in bridging science and society to improve human health and longevity, guided by a vision of equitable access to transformative therapies.
