Now in its fourth year, the Lund Stem Cell Center Annual Image Competition has become a valued platform for sharing the visual stories behind our science. It offers a glimpse into the research being conducted at our Center and its potential to have a positive impact on society.
Open to all members of the Center, from researchers to students, technical experts, and administrative staff, the competition welcomes participants to share everything from scientific imagery to photos and illustrations that are connected to their research or lab environment. Submissions are judged across three categories: Visual Impact, Scientific Contribution, and Originality & Story.
This year's evaluation panel included a mix of perspectives and areas of expertise. Robert Wiliam, an associate professor in digital art from the Faculty of Social Sciences at Lund University; Mattias Magnusson, an associate professor and executive coordinator of our Research School in Stem Cell Biology; and Marie Jönsson, a grant specialist at the Lund Stem Cell Center, were among the evaluators. Their combined experience in art, science, and communication ensured that the winning images were recognized for their scientific merit, visual storytelling, and ability to inspire a wide audience.
"It was an inspiring set of images this year, each with its own unique story. I’m so glad we had three distinct nomination categories, which allowed submissions with different strengths to shine in their own way," says Marie Jönsson, grant specialist and evaluator in this year's image competition.
After careful evaluation, we are pleased to present this year’s top images:
- Best Image – 'Yin Yang Salamander Embryo: Balanced from the Beginning' by Ameneh Ghaffarinia, postdoctoral researcher in the Regenerative Immunology Research Group
- Best Scientific Contribution – 'Reprogramming the Enemy: Tumor-to-Astrocyte Conversion as Glioblastoma Treatment' by Enrico Pracucci, postdoctoral researcher in the Stem Cells, Aging and Neurodegeneration Research Group
- Best Public Science Description – 'Cosmic tissues: A universe within us!' by Jasmeet Kaur Virdi, postdoctoral researcher in the Extracellular Signalling and Cell Fate Laboratory
Once again this year, every submission was impressive, reflecting the creativity and skill of our community. The winning images, in particular, stood out for their ability to captivate, educate, and connect science to a broader audience.
"There was an impressive variety among the submitted images, both in terms of research fields and aesthetics. It’s wonderful to see the beauty within our laboratories reaching beyond their walls and into the wider world," highlights Marie Jönsson.
We would like to thank everyone who took part in this year’s competition, from those who submitted entries to our judges who generously gave their time to review each image, and invite you to explore the full gallery of this year’s entries.
Explore the 2025 Digital Image Gallery
Best Image
'Yin Yang Salamander Embryo: Balanced from the Beginning' by Ameneh Ghaffarinia, postdoctoral researcher in the Regenerative Immunology Research Group
Description: This unhatched wild-type salamander embryo, seen under microscope, curls into a perfect Yin Yang shape. At stage 32 (8 days post-fertilization), it is already showing the early form of its body, eyes, skin pigmentation and gills. Living in our animal facility, this tiny creature gives us a window into how life takes shape, balanced, beautiful, and full of potential.
Best Scientific Contribution
'Reprogramming the Enemy: Tumor-to-Astrocyte Conversion as Glioblastoma Treatment' by Enrico Pracucci, postdoctoral researcher in the Stem Cells, Aging and Neurodegeneration Research Group
Description: Did you know that when a brain tumor is removed, pieces of it can be grown in the lab as “organoids”? These organoids help researchers study how cancer grows and test new therapies. In this image, green, red, and gray show different cell types within a glioblastoma organoid. The green cells highlight tumor cells treated with our experimental therapy: a virus delivering two genes that reprogram them into less harmful glial-like cells. This strategy aims to transform cancer cells from within, offering an alternative approach to treating one of the deadliest brain cancers.
Best Public Science Description
'Cosmic tissues: A universe within us!' by Jasmeet Kaur Virdi, postdoctoral researcher in the Extracellular Signalling and Cell Fate Laboratory
Description: Galaxies, nebulas, stars, and planets have always fascinated me. So, imagine my surprise when I saw these beautiful spheres under microscope! At first glance, these glowing spheres might look like galaxies floating in the vastness of space, but these 'mini galaxies' are tiny 3D clusters of mammary cells grown in our lab. Using fluorescent markers, we highlight key proteins that help cells adhere, migrate, and shape tissues. These 3D clusters allow us to explore the interaction between cells, offering clues about development, healing, and even cancer.
'Astroid City' by Alicja Krawczun-Rygmaczewska, postdoctoral researcher in the Stem Cells, Aging and Neurodegeneration Research Group
Description: In our search for the perfect brain model, we ventured into the cosmic-like world of the astrocytes. By using a combination of genetic manipulation and external factors we can convert skin cells into different brain cell types on demand. In this case we assembled our cells into spherical cultures, commonly known as spheroids. By snuggling up together they mature and convert in a more efficient way. As they change into astrocytes, they take up the characteristic star-like shape making us think of faraway galaxies rather than our own brains.
'Living River: Nucleated Red Blood Cells in a Salamander Spleen' by Ameneh Ghaffarinia, postdoctoral researcher in the Regenerative Immunology Research Group
Description: This colourful snapshot of a salamander spleen reveals a striking flow of nucleated red blood cells within a spleen blood vessel, a key difference from human red blood cells, which lose their nuclei. The orange-red cells form a "river" winding through the purple-stained immune tissue, highlighting the spleen’s dual role in both blood cell production and immune defense. In amphibians like this wild-type salamander, the spleen remains an active site of blood cell formation even after metamorphosis (transition to adulthood), providing a rare view into vertebrate diversity in blood biology.
'MacGyver-on-a-chip' by Camille Sauter, postdoctoral researcher in the Bone Organ Modelling and Regeneration Research Group
Description: Testing perfusion for leaks using cut pipet tips and food coloring on a microfluidic device. Because sometimes, even the best scientists need to fiddle with whatever they can find around to get the solution!
'Unity in Cellular Diversity' by Camille Sauter, postdoctoral researcher in the Bone Organ Modelling and Regeneration Research Group
Description: What if we could illustrate diversity within our European project using cells? In the 'BuonMarrow' consortium, we aim at creating a bone marrow on a microfluidic chip to detect early lung cancer relapse. In this image, you can observe hematopoietic (red/green/blue) and stromal (white/yellow) cells forming three 'flags' associated with each partner of this project: Sweden (Lund University), Italy (Politecnico di Milano and Istituto Nationale dei Tumori in Milan), and Spain (Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia in Barcelona). The fourth flag reflects my own nationality - have you guessed which one?
'We found love in a hopeless plate' by Claudia de Guidi, Cell and Gene Technologies Core Facility
Description: This image is a microscope picture of an ongoing reprogramming of human testicular fibroblasts to induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). At the Cell and Gene Technologies Core, we use this technique to generate new iPSCs lines from both healthy donors and patients, providing powerful tools for disease modelling. After a challenging round of reprogramming - and several trial-and-error attempts- we succeeded. Here, two iPSCs colonies are merging and creating an heart-shaped cluster, beautifully symbolizing how patience and hard work can lead to exciting outcomes.
'Building a Tumor in a Dish: Modeling a Childhood Brain Cancer' by Enrico Pracucci, postdoctoral researcher in the Stem Cells, Aging and Neurodegeneration Research Group
Description: What if we could grow tiny replicas of the brain in the lab to study childhood brain cancer? This image shows two organoids, miniature brain pieces grown from stem cells. The one on the right carries a mutation commonly found in a tumor called pilocytic astrocytoma, which mostly affects children. The bright magenta signal shows high levels of a protein called GFAP, similar to what doctors see in actual tumors. This lab-grown model helps researchers understand how these tumors form and could lead to new treatments.
'Neuron Supernova: the making of a human brain cell' by Edoardo Sozzi, doctoral student, Alessandro Fiorenzano, postdoctoral researcher in the Developmental and Regenerative Neurobiology Research Group
Description: What looks like cosmic starburst is actually a single human neuron captured during its development. This colorful cell—with its yellow nucleus and its projections in red—is a medium spiny neuron grown in a striatal organoid, a miniature brain-like structure derived from human embryonic stem cells. These organoids replicate key aspects of the brain's striatum, a region crucial for movement and decision-making. By exploring how these human neurons grow, connect, and communicate, we hope to understand the roots of neurodegenerative diseases - and, one day, develop new treatments. It's the universe of the mind, under the microscope.
'The Tree of Life' by Linda Jansson, research engineer in the Laboratory of Stem Cells and Restorative Neurology
Description: The image shows the middle cerebral artery that runs along the surface of the rat brain. By occluding this artery, we can deplete part of the brain of its blood supply, which will lead to a stroke. The stroke is very similar to strokes seen in humans, and this is a good model to study new, needed potential therapies, such as cell transplantation to replace dead or damaged cells or treatments to modulate brain damage induced inflammation.
'Battlefield!' by Sara Gonzalez Anton, postdoctoral researcher in the Bone Organ Modelling and Regeneration Research Group
Description: In this image, you can see a snapshot of the battle between leukaemia cells (blue) and Chimeric Antigen Receptor T cells (CAR Tc) (magenta) in an in vitro culture. In patients this fight takes place inside the bones, in the bone marrow, where al blood cells are formed. In the bone marrow we also fird other cell types like mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) (green) which are reprogrammed by the disease to help cancer cells grow and escape from therapy. With this work we are trying to understand better the role of MSCs in CAR Tc therapy dysfunction.
'Nighttime satellite image of mini-Copenhagen?' by Yu-Ping Shen, PhD student in the Laboratory of Stem Cells and Restorative Neurology
Description: The image shows glowing street grids (green fluorescent protein positive neuronal fibers) of the greater Copenhagen area (based on the land of a human cortical slice) in a dish. A vast roads network (neuronal fibers) radiates outward from the urban core (cortical organoid) to the surrounding suburbs (human cortical tissue).
'Failure in the Lab, Magic on the Canvas' by Jasmeet Kaur Virdi, postdoctoral researcher in the Extracellular Signalling and Cell Fate Laboratory
Description: When I first tried making 3D spheroids with mammalian cells, I was hoping for perfect little spheres. Instead, I got half-spheroids; definitely not what I expected! It was a bit disappointing at first, but as scientists, we are used to things not working out on the first try. Even though the experiment did not go as planned, the broken spheroids had this unexpected beauty to them. The colours and shapes reminded me of something out of space. So, I played around with the images by mirroring them to create what looked like a 'butterfly nebula.' Sometimes, even in failure, we find something magical.
