Mini TENET Symposium: Advancing Tendon Regeneration Research in the Baltic Sea Region – Unlocking New Opportunities
Chair of Symposium
Prof. dr. DANGUOLĖ SATKUNSKIENĖ
Lithuanian Sports University
danguole.satkunskiene@lsu.lt
The primary goal of this symposium is to bring together experts from various fields across Baltic Sea Region countries to foster collaboration on preventing tendinopathy and advancing regenerative treatments to restore tendon functionality. This event will unite academics, research labs, clinicians, biotech companies, and regulatory bodies to drive innovation and progress in tendon care.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION for mini-symposium participants:
Symposium participant registration by September 1, 2025, along with an abstract of up to 200 words.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
PhD student Leonardo Cesanelli
Lithuanian Sports University (Lithuania)
A Cascade of Dysfunction: How Obesity Alters Muscle-Tendon Health
Abstract
Obesity remains a major global health concern, contributing to a wide range of comorbidities, including musculoskeletal disorders that significantly impair quality of life. This presentation explores the effects of obesity on muscle–tendon health, spanning molecular alterations to functional decline. A translational approach integrates findings from a mouse model of diet-induced obesity and human studies, assessing muscle–tendon mechanics, structural changes, and key signalling pathways involved in tissue adaptation. Metabolic and functional assessments further reveal the broader physiological impact of obesity, including its effects on respiratory function and everyday movements, such as calf raises, driven by changes in muscle–tendon structure and mechanical properties.
Bio
Leonardo Cesanelli (M.Sc. in biological sciences, M.Sc. in sport sciences) is a junior researcher and lecturer at the Institute of Sport Science and Innovation, Lithuanian Sports University, currently completing his PhD. His research focuses on obesity-related alterations in muscle–tendon plasticity, extending beyond traditional physiology into the field of mechanobiology. By working with both animal and human models, he investigates musculotendinous properties across multiple levels—from molecular and ultrastructural changes to in vivo functional performance.