After four years of scientific exchange, training and international cooperation, the HAPLO-iPS COST Action CA21151 concluded on 10 October 2026. For the Bulgarian team connected through Sofia University, INFRAACT and EATRIS Bulgaria, this marks the completion of a rewarding shared journey – and an opportunity to build on the knowledge, experience and relationships developed along the way.
Connecting expertise in stem-cell research
Launched in October 2022, HAPLO-iPS – Generation of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells from Haplo-Selected Cord Blood Samples – brought together expertise spanning cord blood banking, cellular reprogramming, quality control, ethics, regulation and clinical translation. Its shared ambition was to support the development of HLA-homozygous induced pluripotent stem-cell resources with the potential to improve donor-recipient matching for future cell therapies.
Among the Action’s key outputs were shared approaches to cord blood sample selection, a documented protocol for reprogramming cord blood-derived CD34+ cells under GMP-compliant conditions, a regulatory roadmap from donor material to iPSC production, and donor information and consent documents for HLA-haplotyped iPSC biobanks. Work on clinical translation also reviewed the landscape of iPSC-derived therapies and the safety, quality and regulatory requirements surrounding their development. Together, these resources provide a practical foundation for further research and harmonisation across institutions.
Bulgaria’s contribution: training, communication and scientific exchange
The Bulgarian team played an active role in the network. Prof. Rossitza Konakchieva led Working Group 6 – Training and Dissemination – with Georgi Nikolaev serving as Science Communication Coordinator. Their contributions supported the Action’s training programme, scientific communication and visibility, helping connect researchers with opportunities, resources and one another.
Bulgaria also provided a meeting place for the wider community. In September 2023, Sofia hosted 62 participants from nearly 30 countries for the second Working Group and Management Committee meetings. In November 2024, HAPLO-iPS members contributed to the INFRAACT-supported “Advances in Translational Medicine” conference, bringing the network into dialogue with Bulgarian researchers and the EATRIS Bulgaria community.
For INFRAACT, participation offered valuable opportunities to exchange expertise with European partners, engage with evolving approaches to stem-cell manufacturing and biobanking, and connect national research priorities with a broader translational agenda.
Investing in the next generation
Training schools, Short-Term Scientific Missions and dedicated Young Researchers meetings were an important part of the Action’s legacy. They enabled participants to gain practical experience, present their work and develop international connections. The Lisbon Young Researchers meeting in May 2026 included reports on research exchanges involving iPSC generation, cultivation and characterisation, while the final training school in Oslo addressed data protection, ethics and iPSC haplobanking.
These opportunities demonstrate the value of a research network beyond its formal outputs: people return to their institutions with new perspectives, stronger professional connections and ideas for what comes next.
Thank you – and onwards
We warmly thank Action Chair Dr Anna Veiga, the leadership team, Working Group members, hosts, trainers and young researchers for four years of generous exchange and shared commitment.
HAPLO-iPS leaves behind useful resources, a connected scientific community and a stronger foundation for future cooperation. For INFRAACT and the Bulgarian participants, its conclusion is not simply a farewell, but an invitation to carry these connections forward.
The Action has ended; the knowledge, friendships and possibilities it created remain.
