CPM Launch Symposium

We are pleased to announce the virtual launch of the Centre for in vitro Predictive Models.  To celebrate we will be hosting an on-line symposium on Wednesday 22 July, 1-4pm BST.   Please join us for an afternoon of exciting talks focused on the development and application of advanced in vitro models in biomedical research.  The symposium will include a keynote lecture from Prof. Jennifer Lewis, Harvard University, plus research presentations from leaders in the field at QMUL and rapid-fire short talks from early career scientists.

Registration is required for this free event which will take place through the MS Teams platform.

 

Programme Overview:

13:00-13:05 Welcome and introduction: Prof. Wen Wang, Vice Principal for Science and Engineering, QMUL

13:05-13:15 Overview of the CPM

13:15-14:00 Keynote Lecture: Prof. Jennifer Lewis, Harvard University, "In Vitro Vascularization of Organoid-on-Chip Models and 3D Tissues"

14:10-15:10 Short talks from QMUL: 3x15 minutes talks from QMUL leaders in in vitro models

Prof. Frances Balkwill, Barts Cancer Institute, "Multi-cellular models in tumour microenvironment research"

Prof. Julien Gautrot, School of Engineering and Materials Science, "Development of vascularised models on chips"

Dr. Rosalind Hannen, Keratify, "Advancing skin barriers"

15:20-16:00 Junior researcher rapid fire session: 6x5 minute talks from QMUL students and postdocs

Dr. Clare Thompson, School of Engineering and Materials Science, "The Human Emulation System for the development and use of in vitro models"

Ms. Atiya Sarmin, Blizard Institute, "Development of ECM-based bioinks for 3D bioprinting of human skin equivalents"

Ms. Leah Ambler, Blizard Institute, "Characterisation of metastatic cancer stem cells using a 3D in vitro model"

Ms. Anna Kowala, Blizard Institute, "Engineering novel 3D in vitro models of human skeletal muscle using isogenic pairs of hiPSCs"

Dr. Stefaan Verbruggen, School of Engineering and Materials Science, "Organ-on-a-chip model of breast cancer metastasis to bone"

Ms. Myrianni Constantinou, Blizard Institute, "Patient-matched cerebral organoids as a tool to study Glioblastoma"

 

Abstract for keynote lecture:

Recent protocols in developmental biology are unlocking the potential for stem cells to undergo differentiation and self-assembly to form “mini-organs”, known as organoids. To bridge the gap from organoid building blocks (OBBs) to therapeutic functional tissues, integrative approaches that combine bottom-up organoid assembly with top-down bioprinting are needed. While it is difficult, if not impossible, to imagine how either organoids or bioprinting alone would fully replicate the complex multiscale features required for organ-specific function – their combination may provide an enabling foundation for de novo tissue manufacturing. My talk will begin by describing our recent efforts to generate organoids ex vivo with perfusable microvascular networks that support their viability and maturation. Next, I will describe the generation of 3D vascularized organ-specific tissues by assembling OBBs into a living matrix that supports the embedded printing of macro-vessels by a process known as sacrificial writing in functional tissue (SWIFT).  Though broadly applicable, I will highlight our recent work on kidney, cerebral, and cardiac tissue engineering.

J