Schedule
Session Schedule
We’re pleased to share the program with final list of allocated sessions for the workshop. The detailed schedule is provided below.
Each talk is planned for 12 minutes plus 3 minutes for Q&A but the goal is to keep a relaxed pace and foster constructive discussion, so we won’t be overly strict with timing.
A PC is available in the room. Presenters can either send the presentation to the session chair (to be announced) or save their slides on a USB stick which will be provided in the room.
Wi-Fi is available via eduroam for all participants with valid credentials.
Session 1: Fundamentals of MC I
Session chair: Massimiliano Pierobon
M. Rezaei, M. Chappell, A. Noel
General Molecular Communication Model in Multi-Layered Spherical Channels
B. Heinlein, S. Yilmaz, K. Zhu, S. Lotter, H. M. Loos, A. Buettner, R. Schober, V. Jamali
Symbol Detection and Molecule Mixture Design for Non-linear Receiver Arrays in MC
M. Gattringer, S. Angerbauer, A. Springer, W. Haselmayr
A Distributed Scheduling Algorithm for TDMA in Diffusion-Based Molecular Communication
M. Lekic, I. Balasingham, M. Veletic
On Semantic Information in Drug Delivery Systems
H. Tran
Calcium signaling in tissues at criticality: from mathematical modeling to in vitro study
Session 2: Fundamentals of MC II
Session chair: Adam Noel
M. Schäfer, S. Lotter, M. Egan, M. Kuscu, S. Angerbauer, A. Eckford, N. Tuccitto
Entropy Production in Synthetic MC
A. Archetti, G. Giusti, K. R. Gorla, S. Caputo, M. Magarini, M. Matteucci, L. Mucchi, M. Pierobon
Emergent Molecular Communication: Preliminary Results with Graph Neural Networks and Diffusion Channels
L. Middelthon, M. Zoofaghari, I. Balasingham
Synthetic Biocommunication Dynamics Through Quantum Information
S. Sigg
Adversarial Classes for Molecular Communication
V. Gholamiyan, Y. Zhao, W. Labidi, H. Boche, C. Deppe
Security and Privacy: Key Requirements for Molecular Communication in Medicine and Healthcare
Session 3: Applications of MC
Session chair: Max Schäfer
S. Bhattacharjee, F. Dressler, Falko
Decoding Human Breath from the Perspective of Molecular Communication
H. Cai, O. Akan
Semantic Learning for Molecular Communication in Internet of Bio-Nano Things
S. Pal, J. Torres Gómez, L. Y. Debus, R. Wendt, F.-L. Lau, C. Khandanpour, M. Sieren, S. Fischer, F. Dressler
Machine Learning-Driven Localization of Infection Sources in the Human Cardiovascular System
R. Zheng, P. Zhou, P. Hofmann, J. A. Cabrera, F. H. P. Fitzek
Distance Estimation for DNA-Based Molecular Communication
P. Hofmann, A. Wietfeld, J. Fuchtmann, P. Zhou, R. Zheng, J. A. Cabrera, F. H. P. Fitzek, W. Kellerer
The Impact of Arterial Plaque Tissue Elasticity on In-Body Molecular Communication Scenarios
Session 4: MC Testbeds I
Session chair: Stefan Fischer
L. Debus, M. J. Wilhelm, H. Wolff, L. C. P. Wille, T. Rese, M. Lommel, J. Kirchner, F. Dressler
Blood Makes a Difference: Experimental Evaluation of Molecular Communication in Different Fluids
L. C. P. Wille, J. Kirchner
From Steady to Pulsatile Flow in Molecular Communication: Propagation of Nanoparticles in Mid-sized Arteries
K. Xiao, A. Thalmayer, J. Kirchner, G. Fischer
Physics of SPION–Surface Interactions in Fluidic Channels: Implications for Molecular Communication Systems
T. tom Dieck, L. Brand, S. Lotter, K. Castiglione, R. Schober, M. Schäfer
Realizable Transmitters for Diffusive Molecular Communication
L. Erbacher, S. Zurmühl, T. tom Dieck, D. Wegner, R. Schober, H. Sticht, K. Castiglione
Nanoscale pH Sensing and Control for Molecular Communication Applications
M. Scherer, D. Wegner, R. Schober, K. Castiglione, M. Schäfer
Experimental Polymersome-based Receiver Design for Molecular Communication
Session 5: MC Testbeds II
Session chair: Mohammad Zoofaghari
M. Femminella, G. Reali, F. Calì, N. Tuccitto
From Theory to Experimentation in Molecular Communications: Discussion through a Case Study
F. Vakilipoor, A. Ettner-Sitter, T. Aung, S. Härteis, R. Schober, M. Schäfer, Maximilian
Experimental Study of Particle Accumulation in a CAM-based MC Testbed
K. R. Gorla, A. Auditore, A. Licciardello, N. Tuccitto, M. Pierobon
Preliminary Results on a Novel Testbed for the Experimental Validation of Redox-based Molecular-to-Electrical Communication
M. Albay, E. Akyol, F. Mirlou, L. Beker, M. Kuscu, Murat
Low-cost Microfluidic Testbed for Molecular Communications with Integrated Hydrodynamic Gating and Screen-printed Sensors
E. Akyol, A. Azmoudeh, I. Mokari Bolhassan, P. K. Isgor, M. Kuscu
Microdroplet-Based Communications with Frequency Shift Keying Modulation
Keynote Speakers
Keynote 1: Bridging the Gap: Implementation of a 3D In Vivo Molecular Communication System
Molecular communications (MC) research is increasingly focused on applications within the human body, such as health monitoring and drug delivery. These applications require testing in realistic and living environments. Despite significant progress in experimental work in MC, taking experimental MC research to the next level requires the development of in vivo experimental testbeds. Recently, the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) model has been proposed for the development of in vivo MC testbeds.
The CAM model fulfills the 3R’s principles of reduction, refinement and replacement of animal models for research purposes and provides an accessible model of a cardiovascular system, including circulation and organs. The CAM itself is a highly vascularized extraembryonic membrane that forms as a respiratory organ in fertilized chicken eggs. Human cells or tissues can be transplanted onto the CAM, e.g. to study the effect of potential therapeutics. The CAM model is well established in various fields of research and was originally used for angiogenesis and anti-angiogenic therapeutic approaches. In recent years, however, it has gained increasing importance in many different fields such as bioengineering, transplantation biology, cancer research and drug development.
This talk describes the basics of the CAM model, its versatile applications in research and clinics, and finally explores its potential as an in vivo testbed for the design and analysis of MC systems
Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Silke Härteis was born on April 2, 1982, in Neumarkt, Germany. She currently holds the position of Professor for Molecular and Cellular Anatomy at the University of Regensburg, where she is part of the Department for Cellular and Molecular Anatomy.
She completed her high school education in Neumarkt in 2001 and went on to study Molecular Medicine at FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg from 2001 to 2006. In 2009, she earned her doctorate (Dr. rer. nat.) and later achieved her Habilitation at the Medical Faculty of FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg in 2014. In 2018, she was appointed as a professor for molecular and cellular anatomy at the University of Regensburg.
Her major scientific interests include translational research in tumors and kidney diseases, focusing on bridging the gap between laboratory findings and clinical applications. She is also dedicated to developing 3D in vivo tumor models as alternatives to traditional animal models and implementing these models within a molecular communication system.
Keynote 2: Intra-body Molecular Communication Technology: Applications for Brain and Heart Diseases
Molecular communication models and theories have recently emerged as powerful tools for studying complex biological systems in a simplified and mathematically tractable manner. This has opened new avenues for understanding diseases and developing innovative treatment methods. However, optimizing these methods and overcoming biological barriers to deliver therapeutics effectively remain significant challenges.
This talk explores state-of-the-art advancements and future research opportunities for harnessing molecular communication technologies in human medicine. The central concept is to draw parallels between the delivery of (macro)molecules and data transmission. The focus will be on drug delivery using extracellular vesicles, which serve as carriers to transport therapeutics—such as functional proteins, genetic materials, and lipids—to target cells.
Extracellular vesicles can be engineered to enhance their propagation, targeting efficiency, and uptake by recipient cells, thereby minimizing side effects. The talk will highlight recent findings demonstrating these engineered vesicles’ potential in developing targeted drug-delivery solutions for conditions such as glioblastoma and heart failure.
Ilangko Balasingham earned his M.Sc. and Ph.D. in signal processing for communications from the Department of Electronic Systems at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway. He completed his master’s thesis at the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, USA.
From 1998 to 2002, he co-founded and worked as a Research Engineer at Fast Search & Transfer ASA in Oslo, Norway (now part of Microsoft Development Center Norway Inc.), developing image and video streaming solutions for mobile handheld devices. Since 2002, he has been with the Intervention Center at Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway, where he leads the Wireless Biomedical Sensor Network Research Group. In 2006, he was appointed Professor of Medical Signal Processing and Communications at NTNU.
His research interests span robust short-range communications for in-body and on-body sensors, body area sensor networks, microwave short-range sensing of vital signs, short-range localization and tracking of mobile sensors, and nanoscale communication networks. He has authored or co-authored over 330 scientific papers, co-founded two companies, and holds six patents. Additionally, he has supervised 32 postdoctoral researchers, 18 Ph.D. students, and 35 master’s students.
Dr. Balasingham has delivered over 25 invited or keynote talks at international conferences. He is actively involved in conference organization, serving as Co-Chair of the 8th Workshop on Molecular Communications, General Chair of the 2019 IEEE International Symposium on Medical ICT and the 2012 Body Area Networks (BODYNETS) conference, and TPC Chair of the 2015 ACM NANOCOM. He also contributes to editorial boards, serving as Area Editor of Elsevier Nano Communication Networks since 2013 and Specialty Chief Editor of Frontiers in Communications and Networks since 2020.
Keynote 3: Exchange of signals and resources between cells in plants
In plants, a variety of stimuli trigger short-range and long-range signals that travel to distal tissues. Long-range signals such as rapid calcium waves travel through plants, triggered by a range of stress stimuli. Many transmission mechanisms have been proposed by which these waves pass between cells and tissues, including the movement of signaling molecules through plasmodesmata. Plasmodesmata are intercellular cytoplasmic connections that form the interconnected cytosol termed the symplast. Thus, plasmodesmata and the symplast are a key route by which molecules can carry information and resources between cells. As plasmodesmata open and close, their dynamics can presumably regulate the dynamics and range of signal transmission. However, our data indicates that travelling calcium waves do not travel via plasmodesmata but rather are mediated by diffusion and bulk flow of amino acid chemical messengers through the extracellular domain called the apoplast. We observed that multiple stimuli trigger calcium waves with similar dynamics, but calcium waves alone cannot initiate all systemic defence responses, suggesting that mobile chemical messengers are a core component of complex systemic signalling in plants and that signals travel short and long distances through the apoplast. We now aim to reveal which information is transmitted via this route and how this defines plant responses to stress signals.
Christine Faulkner is Group Leader at the John Innes Centre (UK). She is a cell biologist by training, receiving her PhD at the University of Sydney (Australia), followed by postdoctoral positions in the UK at the University of Edinburgh, the John Innes Centre, and the Sainsbury Laboratory. She has longstanding interests in cell-to-cell communication in plants and her team uses quantitative live imaging, in collaboration with mathematical modellers, to reveal the mechanisms of signal transmission in plants during stress responses. Their research is primarily funded by the UK Research and Innovation and the European Research Council.
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IEEE Sister Chapter Program Event at the 9th Workshop on Molecular Communications (MolCom 2025) in Catania, Italy, April 9-11, 2025
The IEEE Sister Chapter Program, hosted during the 9th Workshop on Molecular Communications (MolCom 2025) in Catania, Italy, on April 10, 2025, from 1:30PM to 5PM, emphasizes Italy’s leadership in innovation while fostering collaboration with the IEEE Nebraska Section ComSoc Chapter. This event brings together global researchers, Italian industry leaders, and students to explore advancements in molecular communication and next-generation networks.
12:30-13:30 – Lunch
13:30-15:00 – Lightning talks
- Anna Vizziello (University of Pavia)
- Luca Borgianni (EU-TRAINS Project, University of Pisa)
- Maximilian Schäfer (Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg)
- Massimiliano Pierobon (University of Nebraska-Lincoln)
- Karthik Reddy Gorla (Politecnico di Milano)
- Enrico Alessi (ST Microelectronics)
- Stefan Fischer (University of Lübeck)
- Alberto Perotti (Huawei Technologies Sweden AB)
- Adam Noel (Memorial University in St. John’s, Canada)
15:00-15:30 – Coffee Break
15:30-17:00 – Panel Session on Future Trends in Communications: “6G and Beyond”