TTERMIS World Congress 2024, Seattle (USA)
Sara Campinoti, The Roger Williams Institute of Hepatology
The Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society (TERMIS) World Chapter (TERMIS-WC) Meeting 2024 took place in Seattle (Washington, USA) from the 25th to 28th of June 2024, and the theme was “Coming Together to Design Better Healthcare for All”’. And indeed, the conference brought together scientists, engineers, clinicians and industry representatives, to discuss cutting-edge research in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. It really was a great scientific event: with up to 9 parallel sections, all the possible sub-fields and research topics in the field of bioengineering and regenerative medicines were represented.
I had the privilege to have attended the TERMIS European Chapter congress last year (which was held in Manchester in March 2023)- a great experience which broadened my research views. TERMIS-WC didn’t disappoint me: it was great to be exposed to top-class research conducted worldwide and I felt a sense of belonging to the TERMIS global community.
Throughout the conference, I had the opportunity to attend numerous talks and poster presentations. I thoroughly enjoyed the wide breadth of research topics that were presented, and I found most of the presentations and the posters to be of great quality. I found a growing number of presentations on multicellular 3D models and extracellular matrix-focused research particularly useful for the projects I am involved in, and I look forward to discussing what was presented with my colleagues back in the lab. Particularly inspiring was Prof Gordana Vunjak-Novakovic, Jensen Tissue Engineering Award presentation: I found her career journey inspiring, and I admired her attitude towards positive mentoring and supporting early career investigators.
I am delighted that I was able to present three projects (one poster, one poster and rapid-fire presentation, and one as a talk) I am involved in Dr Luca Urbani’s lab at the Roger Williams Institute of Hepatology and I received many useful comments and insights. I hope the new contacts I have made during the conference will evolve into new and exciting collaborations.
I am extremely grateful to the Tissue and Cell Engineering Society (TCES) for providing me with a travel bursary that allowed me to attend TERMIS-WC. Without the travel bursary, I would not have had the opportunity to travel to Seattle and go on to win the TERMIS-SYIS Scientific Excellence Award for my abstract and presentation titled “Bioreactor design to achieve immune cell perfusion in liver models for the study of the extracellular matrix-immune cell interactions in liver fibrosis”. Thank you TCES!
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TERMIS 2024, Manchester (UK)
Juan Gonzalez, Glasgow University
I had the privilege of attending the 7th TERMIS World Congress in Seattle, USA from 25th-28th June 2024. The TERMIS is undoubtedly the most relevant scientific event in the area of basic and translational research of tissue engineering held on the world. It is the main forum for discussion of advances and discoveries aimed at developing “nano” and “micro” scale platforms for the diagnosis and treatment of multiple diseases in the field of tissue engineering. The conference brought together researchers from across the world to discuss new materials concepts, their spatial patterning and 3D printing, their modeling and simulation, biological and biomedical functions, and finally applications of bioinspired designs. I was thrilled to have an abstract accepted for oral presentation. My work, entitled “The Boron Transporter NaBC1 Mediates Mechanotransduction Via Fibronectin-Binding Integrins”, describes a new role for NaBC1 in cell mechanotransduction responding to changes in the mechanical properties of the cell microenvironment. It showed the work I have been doing over the past two years during my postdoc at the University of Glasgow. This opportunity allowed me to share my findings with fellow researchers in the field of mechanobiology, and to receive feedback from the audience. This was of particular importance for me, since we have just published the preprint with this work. During the conference, I had the opportunity to attend very interesting oral and poster presentations on a wide range of topics, including bioinspired designs, function-guided biomaterials, tissue and organ mimetic cellular 3D systems, modeling and simulations, novel nanotechnologies to address major biomedical challenges, and mechanical properties of biomaterials as applied to mechanobiology. This year was the World edition, held every 4 years, so the list of participants in the congress was full of top scientists we always follow as a top references in our field. Attending the TERMIS World Congress was an invaluable experience for my career development, since I gain new insights and perspectives on the latest research in the field, and I also made valuable connections. I would like to thank the Tissue and Cell Engineering Society for their travel award that helped to cover the conference costs.
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28th ESACT meeting, Edinburgh 2024
Lady Barrios Silva, University College London
The 28th meeting of the European Society for Animal Cell Technology (ESACT) took place at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre from the 23rd to the 26th June 2024 with the theme ‘Application of Cell Technologies to Advance the Health and Wealth of Society’. This conference consisted of a series of scientific, technical, and networking sessions that allowed attendees to share the advances in the field. The conference started with a series of academic workshops on Sunday, the following days hot topics included biological therapeutics, micromapping and personalised medicine, cells as factories and therapies, product quality, manufacturing optimisation and sustainability in research. Alongside learning from the above, I was able to get connected with many scientists that like me, use Desing of Experiment (DoE) techniques to screen, characterise and improve their research processes, making them more cost-effective, time-saving and sustainable. It was eye opening to learn about the many other types of DoE available and their use in different fields. Networking opportunities with people from industry such as Sarah Ho and Madeleine Carter, from Roslin technologies, or Dr Noemi Dorival-Garcia, from 980 Devices, allowed me to gain career guidance and inspiration. I am also hoping to join the ESACT frontiers programme after hearing how dynamic and motivated the members were to support early career researchers in their development and career prospects. Lastly, I would like to express my gratitude to the Tissue and Cell Engineering Society (TCES), for awarding me with a travel bursary to present my work on cell desiccation as an alternative to cryopreservation for storage and transport. I was able to connect with lots of new researchers interested in our technology and have insightful conversations about the needs from both academia and industry on topic of cell storage and transport.
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Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society (TERMIS) 2024 World Congress, Seattle, USA.
W. Sebastian Doherty-Boyd, University of Glasgow
The Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society (TERMIS) World
Congress 2024 was held in Seattle, Washington, from June 25th to the 28th, 2024. This
global event brought together leading scientists, clinicians, and industry professionals to
discuss the latest advancements in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. This year’s
congress attracted over 1000 participants from around the world, including a substantial
number of young and early-career researchers.
The congress featured a diverse range of plenary sessions, simultaneous oral presentations,
and interactive workshops. Each day included insightful discussions from prominent figures
on their career journey, research, and the future of the field. With several parallel sessions
running simultaneously, there was ample opportunity to explore topics aligned with my own
research, adjacent, and distal fields.
I was honoured to present my work on “developing a synthetic bone marrow niche for
testing novel leukaemia therapies” with an oral presentation. This facilitated significant
discussion and networking opportunities that will strengthen my career progression as I look
to finish my PhD and move on to the next step.
In addition to the scientific sessions, the congress provided numerous networking
opportunities. I attended the Student and Young Investigator Section (SYIS) events, which
included career development workshops, a “meet the mentor” lunch with senior academics,
and a social event at a local arcade. These events facilitated networking with my
international peers, as well as leaders in the field.
Overall, attending the TERMIS World Congress in 2024 was an excellent experience. I am
immensely grateful to the Tissue and Cell Engineering Society (TCES) for awarding me a
travel bursary that facilitated my participation in this world-renowned conference, allowing
me to share my work on an international platform, gain insights from pioneering research,
and foster connections that will be crucial for my future career.
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7th TERMIS World Conference 2024
Patricia Gonzalez UCL
The Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society (TERMIS) held its 7th World Conference in Seattle from June 25-28, 2024. With the theme “Coming together to design better healthcare for all,” the conference brought together young and established researchers in the field of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine (TERM) from its three chapters: America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific.
With over 1,500 abstracts divided into 99 sessions, researchers from 47 countries showcased their research, learned from their colleagues, and interacted with each other. Over the course of the conference, 10 scientific concurrent sessions were held, each addressing 10 different topics that spanned from biofabrication, biomaterials, in vitro models, vascularization, decellularized ECM, and stem cell-based therapies, among others. Additionally, three poster sessions covered the work of around 1,000 research projects.
As every year, the conference included networking and learning activities for young scientists, organized by the Students and Young Investigator Section (SYIS). These activities included a welcome reception, a social mixer, and the SYIS signature event “Meet-the-Mentor Luncheon,” where students and young researchers had the opportunity to enjoy lunch with recognized senior faculty members and scientists within the field.
Moreover, the conference featured plenary sessions and speakers, including Professor Shana O. Kelly, President of the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub Chicago; a panel discussion on Regulatory Affairs, Manufacturing, and Scale-Up, with Professors Johnna Temenoff, Karen L. Christman, Yasuhiko Tabata, and Fergal J. O’Brien; a debate session between Professor Molly Stevens and Professor Dietmar W. Hutmacher on whether the progress seen in Regenerative Medicine is due to people or technology (with “people” being the winner); and a talk and panel focused on inclusive research that included Dr. Alyson McGregor, author of “Sex Matters: How Male-Centric Medicine Endangers Women’s Health and What We Can Do About It,” and Professors Ana María Porras, Simone Andrea Douglas-Green, Ariella Shikano, and Jennifer Elisseeff.
Additionally, the conference included ceremonies to induct new members into the International Fellows of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine (FTERM, established to recognize distinguished leaders within the field) and award researchers from the three chapters. This year, the Jensen Tissue Engineering Award, the highest award in TERMIS Global, was given to Professor Gordana Vunjak-Novakovic for her work on engineering functional tissues and patient-specific organ-on-a-chip models. Preceding the award, Professor Gordana gave an inspiring talk about her research on engineering human tissues for medical impact, concluding with lessons from her journey. She emphasized the importance of conducting research that benefits people, acknowledging failures, stepping out of comfort zones, surrounding oneself with the best and enabling them to excel, and maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
Overall, this edition of TERMIS was an incredible experience that allowed me to present my research, interact with fellow colleagues, get to know first-hand the research currently being done in TERM, and most of all, it was an inspiring opportunity to reassure myself of the relevance of our research. I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to TCES for awarding me a travel bursary to attend this conference, allowing me to expand my knowledge and significantly impact my career progression and future research.
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TERMIS World Congress 2024, Seattle (USA)
Marta Clerici, Keele University
I recently attended the 7th TERMIS World Congress 2024 in Seattle, Washington, held from June 25 to June 28 at the Seattle Convention Centre. The conference brought together leading experts, researchers, and students in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, centred on “Coming Together to Design Better Healthcare for All.“
The congress offered a diverse program with many sessions on cutting-edge topics such as bio-fabrication, immunomodulation, tendon and ligament engineering, decellularized ECM materials, 3D in vitro tumour modelling, and advancements in skin tissue engineering. My PhD project focuses on tendon stem cells and extracellular vesicles, so I found the concurrent sessions on “Advances and Challenges of Tendon and Ligament Engineering and Regeneration” and “Extracellular Vesicles in TERM” particularly relevant and engaging. Additionally, I had the opportunity to present my poster titled “Dynamic Cell Culture Promotes Human Tendon Stem/Progenitor Cell-derived Extracellular Vesicle Production.” This experience allowed me to discuss my findings and receive valuable feedback from fellow researchers.
Attendees also participated in numerous breakout sessions, poster presentations, and the business plan competition, which highlighted innovative projects and research in the field. The conference facilitated networking and collaboration through various social events, including the SYIS (Student and Young Investigator Section) social at GameWorks, providing young researchers with valuable opportunities to connect with established professionals.
Overall, the TERMIS 2024 World Congress was a dynamic and enriching event, highlighting the latest advancements in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, and fostering collaboration aimed at enhancing healthcare outcomes. I am extremely grateful to the TCES for providing the travel bursary and giving me the opportunity to attend this high-quality world congress.
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TERMIS WC 2024, SEATTLE
Zhipeng Deng, University of Bristol
I attended TERMIS 2024 in Seattle, which this year had the theme “Coming Together to Design Better Healthcare for All”. The conference featured daily plenary sessions on high-level, recent hot topics that are difficult to find in papers. Invited speakers used their own research and experiences as examples to discuss translation strategies and inclusive research strategies in TERM. One highlight was a debate between Prof. Molly Stevens and Prof. Dietmar W. Hutmacher on “What Drives Transformative Progress in Regenerative Medicine: People or Technology,” which was both interesting and inspiring.
Every day, parallel sessions ran simultaneously, making it challenging to choose the most relevant ones. Despite this, every talk I attended was excellent. I particularly enjoyed Prof. Sarah Heilshorn’s presentation on “Designer Biomaterials as Bioprinting Inks.” She introduced new bioinks her group designed, combining hyaluronan and elastic-like protein, and discussed how the addition of small molecule catalysts and competitors can better control printability. She also introduced innovative bioprinting strategies developed in her lab.
Evening poster sessions featured hundreds of researchers presenting their work. I found this part especially enjoyable due to the ample opportunities for discussions and networking. I presented my poster on Wednesday, showcasing the research I’ve conducted during the first two years of my PhD. The title of my poster was “Coagulative Granular Hydrogels for Endogenous Tissue Repair.” Engaging with other researchers working on similar projects was stimulating and provoked new ideas.
In addition to presenting, I had the privilege of serving as a SYIS co-chair for a session titled “Scaffold, Matrices, and Biomaterials,” alongside Prof. Cecilla Giachelli and Prof. Buddy Ratner. This role provided a valuable opportunity to learn how to chair a session, introduce speakers, manage timing, and ask questions.
Overall, attending TERMIS WC 2024 was an excellent opportunity for me to present my research and gain insights into the latest advancements and methodologies, which will inspire new directions for my work. I am grateful to the Tissue and Cell Engineering Society (TCES) for providing the travel grant that enabled me to attend this conference.
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Tissue and Regenerative Medicine Society (TERMIS) World Congress in Seattle, USA between 25-28th June 2024
Annie Kataki, UCL
I had the privilege to attend the Tissue and Regenerative Medicine Society (TERMIS) World Congress in Seattle, USA between 25-28th June 2024. This World Congress that occurs every 3 years, brings together researchers from across the globe to present their work, discuss cutting-edge research, network and exchange ideas.
As a final year PhD researcher, I was thrilled to have had the opportunity to participate in such a prestigious conference and have 2 abstracts accepted for one poster and one oral presentation. My poster presentation was entitled “Unravelling cell-ECM interactions in spatially advanced multicellular pancreatic cancer models 3D models”, and my oral presentation was entitled “A systematic comparative evaluation of the therapeutic efficiency of novel proton beam and conventional photon therapies on advanced multicellular 3D pancreatic cancer models”.
Throughout the conference I had the opportunity to attend numerous talks and poster presentations, ranging on different topics such as mechanobiology, therapeutics, bioprinting and mechanobiology. I also had the opportunity to engage with research from various geographies and initiate collaborations between our groups that without the conference wouldn’t have been established.
Overall, this conference was an immense milestone to my academic journey and served as a platform for both personal and professional growth. I am extremely grateful to TCES for its support and contribution to facilitating my attendance to TERMIS World Congress 2024. Without it, I wouldn’t have been able to experience this incredible opportunity!
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Tissue and Regenerative Medicine Society (TERMIS) World Congress in Seattle, USA between 25-28th June 2024
Hannah Lamont, Birmingham University
I was pleased to attend the World TERMIS Congress 2024, held in Seattle, Washington. The congress gathered global leading experts in the field of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, providing a platform for the exchange of groundbreaking research and innovative ideas. It was a great opportunity to network with peers and open discussion with professionals the field that could help advance my career.
There were multiple poster and oral talk sessions that covered a wide range of topics. Sessions I found particularly inspiring covered aspects of ophthalmology, biofabrication strategies and new techniques within 3D in vitro modelling. Topics that were advantageous for helping me in my current project and learning new concepts for future research. I had the opportunity to present my work at the first poster session during congress, my poster was titled ‘Automated biofabrication of biomimetic glaucoma in vitro models’. The research showcased our recent advancements in forming physiological relevant trabecular meshwork models in a reproducible manner for translation into pre-clinical testing. The poster attracted significant attention, leading to insightful discussions with peers and professionals that were conducting similar work in the field of ophthalmology and biofabrication strategies utilising collagen scaffolds. It was great to receive such constructive feedback and meet new people.
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Tissue and Cell Engineering Society (TCES) committee for their generous funding support, which made my attendance and participation in this prestigious event possible. The opportunity to present our research on such a global stage has been instrumental in advancing both my academic career and broader research goals.