Sweden’s first national EV meeting showcases momentum in the field
On 26–27 March, Sweden hosted its first national meeting on extracellular vesicles (EVs) in Stockholm supported by KI Network and Conference Funding. The event gathered 171 researchers, young scientists, and industry experts from across the country — and beyond — to share the latest discoveries in this fast-growing field.
EVs are tiny particles released by cells. They carry proteins and genetic material — cargo — that reflect the cell they came from. By delivering this cargo to other cells, EVs can influence many biological processes, both in health and disease. Once overlooked, EVs are now being explored for their medical potential, and interest in the field is rapidly growing.
The meeting opened with a keynote by Professor David Lyden (Cornell University), who showed how cancer cells release EVs that travel through the body to prepare new sites for tumor spread. Clotilde Théry (Institut Curie) added that not all cancer-related EVs are harmful — some may help the immune system fight disease.
EVs are emerging as powerful tools for diagnosis. Unlike traditional biopsies, liquid biopsies can use EVs from blood or urine to reveal what’s happening inside the body. These tiny messengers carry valuable information from tumor cells — but scientists are still working out which parts of that information are most useful. New tools that combine insights from different cargo types could help make these tests more accurate.
EVs are also being explored as therapy. Some have natural effects that calm immune responses and repair tissue. Others are being engineered to deliver drugs or gene therapies. Because they protect their cargo, do not trigger the immune system, and may travel to specific sites in the body, EVs are well suited for the job. Still, challenges remain in ensuring they are consistent and effective.
The meeting also highlighted new tools to better understand EVs: What guides them to certain cells? How they behave in the bloodstream? How can we isolate and characterize them fast and accurately? Unlocking these mysteries could be the key to future therapies.
Overall, the meeting reflected a growing community of scientists in Sweden working to unlock the full potential of EVs in both diagnostics and therapy. Though clinical use is still in early stages, the future looks bright for this exciting field.
Article written by Lovisa Blix