Conference report: current advances in embryo model research at the International Dutch Embryo Model Meeting 2025

Abstract

The International Dutch Embryo Model Meeting took place at Radboud University in Nijmegen, the Netherlands, on March 27 and 28, 2025. This year's meeting, which was previously held twice as a Dutch event, served as a platform to discuss the progress made in studying embryonic development using in vitro embryo-like structures. Organised into sessions on pluripotency, blastoids, gastruloids, and gametes, the meeting featured presentations by invited (inter)national speakers. These talks were complemented by shorter presentations from academics and industry professionals, as well as poster presentations interspersed between sessions. The meeting included an interactive ethics session that explored the opportunities and risks of researching embryos and embryo-like structures. This Meeting Review aims to provide an overview of the first International Dutch Embryo Model Meeting by highlighting the topics discussed by leading experts in embryo modelling.