Speaker
Description
How can we durably regenerate damaged tissues in the human body? Despite major advances in regenerative medicine, this fundamental question remains largely unanswered. Current cell-based tissue engineering strategies allow us to create living implants in the laboratory, and through biofabrication we can design constructs that resemble native tissues in composition and morphology. However, while such approaches provide temporarily stable structures, the collagen-based matrices they rely on typically lack the intricate, anisotropic organization that underpins the biomechanical properties, functionality, and long-term stability of native tissues. This limitation has been a central barrier to developing durable cures for mechanically challenged tissues such as articular cartilage.
Recent progress in the field is beginning to unravel the biological and biophysical triggers that guide the formation, alignment, and integration of structural collagen networks. By harnessing these insights, researchers are now coupling biofabrication with biointerface engineering in an effort to steer tissue development in more physiologically relevant directions. Such strategies hold promise for producing implants with improved resilience, functionality, and integration into host environments.
This keynote will explore how emerging technologies and interdisciplinary approaches are converging to address one of regenerative medicine’s most persistent challenges: restoring complex load-bearing tissues with long-lasting function. I will highlight current breakthroughs, ongoing limitations, and the future research directions that may ultimately enable us to move from transient repairs to truly durable regeneration of damaged joints
