CAMCON26: The 3rd International CAM Conference: modelling diseases, regeneration, molecular mechanisms and therapy
The 3rd International CAM Conference will take place in Liverpool, United Kingdom, from 30 June to 2 July 2026, bringing together experts in chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) models from around the world.
CAM models provide robust, adaptable and ethical alternative in vivo systems for a broad range of biomedical applications, from modelling cancer and other diseases, to regenerative biology, providing insights into molecular mechanisms, and acting as a platform to test therapeutic compounds and biomaterials.
Motivated by the success of the 2nd International CAM Conference in Erlangen in February 2024, which attracted with more than 100 participants from 18 countries, we are delighted to host the next conference in Liverpool.
You can expect an exciting and highly informative conference exploring diverse and innovative applications of CAM models. We are bringing together experts across disciplines to share cutting-edge research, refine molecular and analytical tools, and accelerate model development. The collaborative focus aims to expand applications, strengthen the international CAM community, and establish as mainstream this ethical platform for translational and molecular research.
We look forward to meeting you in Liverpool, an historic and vibrant city in the heart of Merseyside, United Kingdom.
Professor Judy Coulson
on behalf of the organising committee
Aims
There has been an amazing resurgence in use of avian chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) models in recent years. Emerging experimental pipelines consolidate their use as a versatile and ethically sound platform for complex disease modelling, highlighting their ability to support molecular-level and three-dimensional investigation of tissue regeneration, tumour biology, and therapeutic response.
The primary aims of the conference are to:
- Showcase CAM models as powerful tools in molecular and translational biology, capable of bridging from in vitro to in vivo systems, whilst reducing reliance on traditional and less sustainable animal models.
- Highlight cutting-edge developments in CAM models to study cancer, non oncological disease, regenerative medicine and biomaterials, underscoring how they enable real-time in vivo analysis of gene expression, signalling pathways, and cellular interactions.
- Explore recent development of complex CAM-based models using patient-derived tissue in preclinical research to evaluate precision and molecular therapies, integrating the model with emerging imaging and spatial ‘omics technologies.
- Discuss the enablers and barriers to uptake of CAM models in academia and pharma, including regulatory challenges and standardisation, reflecting our goal of enabling broader
- Foster the development of trainees and junior scientists, and collaborations across biomedical disciplines to accelerate translational research.
Themes
The conference will be opened by one of the leading researchers who re-invigorated the CAM field, Professor Domenico Ribatti, focusing on new applications in lymphangiogenesis, followed by a keynote talk from Dr Megan Davey on her work generating genetically-modified egg models that bring exciting new possibilities in understanding cellular interactions on the CAM.
The six main conference themes focus on:
- Non-oncological models
- Regenerative medicine and biomaterials
- Modelling the hallmarks of cancer
- Complex cancer models
- Pre-clinical applications
- Biomolecular imaging
Workshops will also discuss key issues: enabling of, and barriers to, uptake of CAM research; the 3Rs, and sustainability in research; and barriers to uptake of CAM models, with a focus on Pharma.
Target audience
The conference will attract scientists with a breadth of backgrounds in animal models, physiological systems, immunology, cell biology, biochemistry, molecular biology, gene expression, cell signalling, metabolism, molecular medicine, tissue engineering, bioimaging, ‘omics analysis, developmental, regenerative and cancer biology.
It is relevant to academic researchers and technical professionals across all career stages, from postgraduate students to senior professors; as well as delegates from the pharmaceutical and other industries, research funders, publishers, and organisations promoting 3Rs approaches.
Organising committee
Judy Coulson, University of Liverpool
Marta Teixeira Pinto, i3S Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde
Regine Schneider-Stock, University Hospital Erlangen
Rainer Schindl, Medical University of Graz
Sarah Barnett, University of Liverpool
Scientific committee
Ruby Huang, National Taiwan University
Nassim Ghaffari-Tabrizi-Wizsy, Medical University of Graz
Veronika Huntošová, Technology and Innovation Park at UPJŠ in Košice
Niall Kenneth, University of Liverpool
Pedro Gomes, University of Porto
Ann Hopkins, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences