Welcome to the City of Groningen, the center of the North of the Netherlands. Groningen is proud of the long lasting tradition of scientific symposia organised by the Sanquin Blood Bank. These Sanquin International Symposia on Blood Transfusion have become a true traditional event in Groningen, marking the early academic year and have contributed to the specific reputation of Groningen and its University in the scientific field of Transfusion Medicine. The growing tradition has also contributed to initiatives of both University, Province and the City of Groningen to bring science and industry together - BioMedCity Groningen. Such repu- tion does not just happen, but is the result of creative and scientific leadership, of vision and an open mind, to explore in a team spirit horizons. Groningen is particularly proud of this reputation thanks to its leadership, the Sanquin Blood Bank North-East. This year in particular the theme chosen some two years ago is extremely timely as it illustrates the activities and scientific interest of an integrated team which includes our regional Sanquin Blood Bank North-East and fits in the City initiatives within the concept of BioMedCity, Groningen.

Inhalt
Cellular Engineering and Cellular Therapies an Overview.- Gene Therapy 2002: A New Start.- Stem Cells: Potential, Selection and Plasticity.- The Potential of Stem Cell Transplantation to Rescue the Failing Liver.- The New Regulatory Environment for Cellular Therapy Products: Challenges for Academic-Based Manufacturing Facilities.- Biological Modification of Lymphocytes on Auto- and Allo-Immune Diseases.- Cell Harvest and Purification Technology State of the Art and Future Development.- Cell Manipulation and Engineering State of the Art and Future Developments.- Cellular Immunotherapy Towards Direct DC Activation for Licence to Kill.- From Research to Clinical Application the Quality Concept.- Factors Controlling Expansion and Maturation of Haematopoietic Progenitor Cells.- Cell Processing for Gene and Cell Therapy Protocols: Limitations and Opportunities!.- State of the Art in Dendritic Cell Vaccination.- Reconstituting T Cell Immunity Following Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation.- State of the Art in Gene Therapy.- New Horizons in Cellular Therapies.- Cellular Engineering and Cellular Therapies Transfusion Medicine and the Academic World.