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IPA 2025

The International Photodynamic Association (IPA) was founded in 1986 to support and endorse the scientific advancement and clinical development of photomedicine, in particular in the areas of photodynamic disinfection, photodynamic therapy (PDT), photoimmunotherapy (PIT), and photodiagnosis (PD).

The IPA organizes a Biennial World Congress, providing members and non-members a unique opportunity to share and learn more about global developments and research in photodynamic therapy, photoimmunotherapy and photodiagnosis. The 19th IPA World Congress will be held at the Shanghai International Convention Center in Shanghai, China , June 10-16, 2025.

IPA 2025 Info

Conference Chair: Xiuli Wang, MD, PhD

Venue: Shanghai International Convention Center

Speakers

Keynote Speakers

Prof. Tayyaba Hasan, Ph.D.

Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School;
Division of Health Sciences and Technology, joint program of Harvard University - Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Photodynamic Activation in addressing barriers in the development of therapeutics

The impact of Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) in changing medical practice has been low and slow. This is the situation despite PDT having been approved for the treatment of cancer and non-cancer diseases for almost 3 decades and proven to be a minimally invasive and effective modality, sometimes when all else has failed. Perhaps we, the photodynamic community, need to think of photodynamics as a process that not only can be used for therapy as we know it, but as a much more powerful tool to overcome barriers with conventional therapeutics.
I hope to make this an analysis presentation of the promise and disappointment of PDT technology with audience participation.

Prof. Colin Hopper, M.D., FRCS(Ed), FDSRCS

University College Hospital

Global opportunities for PDT application

Adoption of PDT in the western world has been slow to gain widespread adoption. Things are however changing with the advent of antimicrobial PDT with the prospect of it having an important role in surgical site infection reduction. A natural extension of this application is in the treatment/prevention of other fungal and viral infections.
Aggressive marketing of immunotherapy has made it difficult to establish anti cancer PDT, although photoimmunotherapy might well be an exception in this regard. The exception is in dermatology where PDT is an accepted standard treatment for basal cell cancer, especially in South America.
Global health inequalities present an opportunity for PDT as a simple inexpensive treatment as shown by studies in India, Indonesia and Bolivia. Given that 100 million people worldwide do not have access to radiotherapy, there are clear opportunities for PDT application.

Prof. Luis G. Arnaut, Ph.D., Habilitation

University of Coimbra

Adventures while Attempting Clinical Translation of Photodynamic Therapy

Research in Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) generated exciting preclinical data in laboratories around the world. The high expectations raised concerning selectivity, tolerance, affordability, efficacy and synergies with immunological responses have not yet been accompanied by traction in the medical field. We report our own efforts to make PDT applications available for oncology and infectious diseases. Our approach begins with the design of photosensitizers and/or medical devices, and extends to exploratory clinical trials [1-3]. New developments making use of new illumination methods and innovative medical devices are discussed in detail.
References
[1] A. S. Amorim, Z. A. Arnaut, A. I. Mata, B. Pucelik, A. Barzowska, G. J. da Silva, M. M. Pereira, J. M. Dabrowski, L.G. Arnaut. ACS Infect. Dis., 10 (2024) 3368-3377
[2] L. G. Arnaut, M. M. Pereira. Chem. Commun., 59 (2023) 9457-9468
[3] A. C. Zangirolami, L. D. Dias, K. C. Blanco, C. S. Vinagreiro, N. M. Inada, L. G. Arnaut, M. M. Pereira, V. S. Bagnato, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 117 (2020) 22967-22973

Prof. Luis G. Arnaut Introduction:
Prof. Luis G. Arnaut was educated as photochemist and cultivates scientific interests related to photodynamic therapy, to photoacoustics and to chemical reactivity.
Professor at the University of Coimbra, Past-President of the International Photodynamic Association, founder and member of the Board of Directors of Luzitin SA. Founder and Chairman of LaserLeap Technologies SA. Founding Director of the Coimbra LaserLab, a member of the European research infrastructure LaserLab Europe. Founder and former Director of the BSc and MSc in Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Coimbra, and of the Portuguese Science Foundation PhD program on Medicinal Chemistry.
Inventor of 10 patent families granted and in force as more than 100 patents in all major markets, and licenced to Pharma/Biotech. Principal investigator of more than 30 research projects approved in competitive calls opened by the Portuguese Science Foundation, European Union, Horizon 2020, European Research Area – Chemistry, and European Science Foundation. These projects placed more than 10 million dollars under his management of research activities.

Prof. Xiuli Wang, M.D., Ph.D.

Shanghai Skin Disease Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University;
Institute of photomedicine affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine

Photodynamic therapy in dermatology

Photodynamic therapy（PDT）has been applied in dermatology for more than 30 years. The widely accepted mechanisms of PDT are primarily classified into three aspects: 1) Direct cytotoxicity to target cells through the generation of ROS. 2) Destruction of the tissue microvascular system. 3) Induction of an inflammatory response and further activating the immune system. Topical 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA)-PDT have been approved in Europe and the United States for actinic keratosis (precancerous lesions), Bowen’s disease (squamous cell carcinoma in situ) and certain types of basal cell carcinoma. In addition, ALA-PDT is widely applied in HPV related diseases in China, especially genital warts developed in meatal regions including the urethra, cervix and vagina. Currently, genital wart is the only indication of ALA-PDT approved in China. It can not only remove visible lesions, but also clean subclinical HPV infection through field treatment, and consequently reduce the recurrence. In recent years, the application of ALA-PDT in pilosebaceous unit diseases, including acne, rosacea and hidradenitis suppurativa, has also attracted high attention. The potential mechanisms probably include the suppression of sebaceous glands in proliferation and sebum production, the bacteriostatic effect on follicular bacteria, and the modulation of inflammation and immune responses.

Prof. Xiuli Wang Introduction:
Professor Xiuli Wang is the chief physician of Shanghai Skin Disease Hospital, the doctoral tutor of Dermatology and Venereology of Tongji University. She is also the Board of Director of International Photodynamic Association (IPA), Chief Expert for Photodynamic Therapy Research Center of the Chinese Medical Association, and the Director of Institute of Photomedicine of Tongji University School of Medicine. She is honored with the State Council special allowance. Prof. Wang works in photodynamic therapy (PDT) for skin diseases for more than 30 years. She focuses on the expansion of indications, optimization of parameters, exploration of mechanisms, and the generalization of the PDT technology into the dermatology in China. By now, she had published more than 338 papers including 200 peer-reviewed English articles and led the development of 7 guidelines for skin diseases and PDT, formulating standard protocols and quality control scoring system of ALA-PDT for various skin diseases. As a principal investigator, Prof. Wang has held 23 grants including 5 Natural Science Foundation programs (NSFC). She won 10 national or provincial rewards in China and hosted 8 Shanghai International Photodynamic and Photomedicine Forum.

Prof. Jiro Akimoto, D.M.Sci., Ph.D.

Kohsei Chuo General Hospital and Tokyo Medical University

Photodynamic Therapy for primary malignant brain tumors: 10 years' experience after insurance approval in Japan

In January 2014, photodynamic therapy (PDT) with talaporfin sodium for primary malignant brain tumors was approved by the Japanese Government as a healthcare treatment. Since then, we have developed guidelines, held hands-on workshops, produced promotional videos, presented at conferences and published papers in order to promote this safe and highly effective treatment. Ten years later, PDT is now routinely performed for malignant brain tumors at more than 30 facilities in Japan in around 200 cases per year, but it still cannot be said to have become an intra-operative adjuvant therapy with a high level of evidence.
In recent years, a number of facilities in Japan have reported on the efficacy of PDT. While each of these demonstrates the clinical efficacy of PDT, there have been reports of depression due to light shielding, transient post-operative brain edema, which were not anticipated at the time of development. The characteristics of recurrence patterns after PDT, specific pseudo-progression, and resistance mechanisms and their overcoming are also being elucidated, and some of the new knowledge on PDT has been obtained in the last decade.
In this presentation, I would like to summarize our 10 years of experience in our activities and demonstrate the current status of PDT in Japan and its future prospects.

Prof. Jiro Akimoto Introduction:
Academic Appointments:
Professor, Department of Neurosurgery, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan; Vice President and Director, Department of Neurosurgery, Kohsei Chuo General Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
Editorial Boards:
Reviewer, Brain Tumor Pathology
Reviewer, The Journal of Tokyo Medical University
Reviewer, Photodiagnosis and Photodynamic Therapy
Editor, Case Studies of Brain Tumor Treatment Vol.1
Editor, Case Studies of Brain Tumor Treatment Vol.2
Editor, Translational Neuro Oncology
Guest Editor, Journal of Clinical Medicine
Guest Editor, Cancers
Awards and Honors:
1993 Sasa Scholar, Tokyo Medical University
1993 School Foundation Scholarship, Tokyo Medical University
2012 Best Research Award, Japan Society of Laser Surgery and Medicine
2014 Best Research Award, Department of Neurosurgery, Tokyo Medical University
2014 Best Research Award, Tokyo Medical Association
2017 Pfizer Award, The Japanese Society of Toxicoogy
2021 Pfizer Award, The Japanese Society of Toxicology
2021 Best Research Award, Japan Society of Laser Surgery and Medicine
2024 Best Researcher Award, 3rd Edition of WORLD BIOPHOTONICS RESEARCH AWARDS

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