B5) Biofabrication – Role of Architecture in Biomedical, Tissue Engineering and Biomimetic Applications
Chair(s): Liang Kun (NTU), Debrupa Lahiri (IIT Roorkee, India) Co-Chair(s): Deepak Chourdhuy (A*STAR) Symposium Scope/Topics Recent advances in healthcare have increasingly relied on multidisciplinary collaborations that bring together expertise from biology, chemistry, materials science, engineering, and clinical medicine to address complex biomedical challenges. Central to these efforts is biofabrication, an interdisciplinary field that integrates biomaterial chemistry with structural design to create functional constructs for biomedical, tissue engineering, and biomimetic applications. While biofabrication is often associated with 3D and bioprinting, the field encompasses a much broader range of fabrication technologies. These include electrospinning, freeze-drying, self-assembly, microfabrication, chemical and supramolecular assembly, additive manufacturing, and other emerging techniques capable of precisely controlling material composition, architecture and biological function across multiple length scales. Such approaches enable the development of biomimetic materials and engineered tissues that closely recapitulate the complexity of native biological systems. This symposium aims to showcase the latest advances in biomaterial design and biofabrication strategies that bridge fundamental materials science with translational biomedical applications. We invite contributions highlighting innovative fabrication technologies, advanced biomaterials, and bioinspired design principles for applications including tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, in vitro tissue and disease models, drug delivery, biosensing, biomedical devices, soft robotics, bioprocessing and other biomimetic systems. By bringing together researchers from diverse disciplines, this symposium seeks to foster scientific exchange and stimulate new collaborations that will shape the next generation of biofabrication technologies for healthcare and beyond. Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine Smart biomaterial design 3D/4D Bioprinting In vitro tissue and disease models Organ-on-a-chip systems New biofabrication techniques and strategies Drug delivery Biosensing Implants and biomedical devices Biomimetic system design Soft robotics Cultivated meat/Cellular agriculture Bioprocessing and scale-up biofabricated products Invited Speakers To be confirmed Recent advances in healthcare have increasingly relied on multidisciplinary collaborations that bring together expertise from biology, chemistry, materials science, engineering, and clinical medicine to address complex biomedical challenges. Central to these efforts is biofabrication, an interdisciplinary field that integrates biomaterial chemistry with structural design to create functional constructs for biomedical, tissue engineering, and biomimetic applications. While biofabrication is often associated with 3D and bioprinting, the field encompasses a much broader range of fabrication technologies. These include electrospinning, freeze-drying, self-assembly, microfabrication, chemical and supramolecular assembly, additive manufacturing, and other emerging techniques capable of precisely controlling material composition, architecture and biological function across multiple length scales. Such approaches enable the development of biomimetic materials and engineered tissues that closely recapitulate the complexity of native biological systems. This symposium aims to showcase the latest advances in biomaterial design and biofabrication strategies that bridge fundamental materials science with translational biomedical applications. We invite contributions highlighting innovative fabrication technologies, advanced biomaterials, and bioinspired design principles for applications including tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, in vitro tissue and disease models, drug delivery, biosensing, biomedical devices, soft robotics, bioprocessing and other biomimetic systems. By bringing together researchers from diverse disciplines, this symposium seeks to foster scientific exchange and stimulate new collaborations that will shape the next generation of biofabrication technologies for healthcare and beyond. Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine Smart biomaterial design 3D/4D Bioprinting In vitro tissue and disease models Organ-on-a-chip systems New biofabrication techniques and strategies Drug delivery Biosensing Implants and biomedical devices Biomimetic system design Soft robotics Cultivated meat/Cellular agriculture Bioprocessing and scale-up biofabricated products To be confirmed
B4) Materials Innovation for Sustainable Agriculture, Food and Environmental Systems
Chair(s): Tedrick Thomas Salim Lew (NUS), Mervin Chun-Yi Ang (NIE) Co-Chair(s): Seonyeong Kwak (Seoul National University, South Korea) Symposium Scope/Topics This symposium will focus on the development and application of advanced materials and nanotechnologies to address pressing challenges in agriculture, aquaculture, food security, and environmental sustainability. Emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches, the symposium seeks to highlight innovations that enhance resource efficiency, reduce environmental impact, and build resilience against climate change. The scope spans from fundamental materials research to translational technologies with real-world impact in sustainable systems. Likely topics include: Nanomaterials for crop protection, soil health, and nutrient delivery Biodegradable and bio-based materials for sustainable food packaging Sensors for real-time environmental or food monitoring Smart delivery systems for agrochemicals and biostimulants Biomaterials for agriculture and aquaculture Invited Speakers To be confirmed This symposium will focus on the development and application of advanced materials and nanotechnologies to address pressing challenges in agriculture, aquaculture, food security, and environmental sustainability. Emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches, the symposium seeks to highlight innovations that enhance resource efficiency, reduce environmental impact, and build resilience against climate change. The scope spans from fundamental materials research to translational technologies with real-world impact in sustainable systems. Likely topics include: Nanomaterials for crop protection, soil health, and nutrient delivery Biodegradable and bio-based materials for sustainable food packaging Sensors for real-time environmental or food monitoring Smart delivery systems for agrochemicals and biostimulants Biomaterials for agriculture and aquaculture To be confirmed
B3) Translation of Healthcare Materials to the Clinic
Chair(s): Subbu Venkatraman (SERI, NUS/NTU), Andri Riau (SingHealth) Co-Chair(s): Raj Singh (Queen’s University Belfast, UK), Madhavan Nallani (ACM Biolabs Singapore), Xu Chenjie (City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong China) Symposium Scope/Topics The symposium explores the interface between materials innovation and real-world clinical deployment across various medical and surgical disciplines. The focus is on how novel biomaterials, cell-based therapies, 3D-printed devices, and smart/interactive materials can overcome translational barriers to reach a pre-clinical stage, regulatory approval, first-in-human studies, and eventual patient benefit. Key themes include: Design principles and functional performance of healthcare materials for tissue regeneration, drug delivery, immune modulation, and diagnostic applications. Manufacturing and scalability considerations, including reproducibility, quality assurance, and process control. Pre-clinical evaluation pipelines, with emphasis on in vitro, ex vivo, and animal models predictive of human outcomes. Case studies of successful and ongoing translational efforts, highlighting real-world successes, lessons learned, failure modes, and strategies to accelerate progress. Convergence of enabling technologies such as biofabrication, imaging, computational design, and advanced testing platforms. The symposium aims to foster interdisciplinary dialogue among materials scientists, engineers, clinicians, regulatory scientists, and industry stakeholders to identify opportunities and bottlenecks in moving healthcare materials from the laboratory to clinical practice. Invited Speakers To be confirmed The symposium explores the interface between materials innovation and real-world clinical deployment across various medical and surgical disciplines. The focus is on how novel biomaterials, cell-based therapies, 3D-printed devices, and smart/interactive materials can overcome translational barriers to reach a pre-clinical stage, regulatory approval, first-in-human studies, and eventual patient benefit. Key themes include: Design principles and functional performance of healthcare materials for tissue regeneration, drug delivery, immune modulation, and diagnostic applications. Manufacturing and scalability considerations, including reproducibility, quality assurance, and process control. Pre-clinical evaluation pipelines, with emphasis on in vitro, ex vivo, and animal models predictive of human outcomes. Case studies of successful and ongoing translational efforts, highlighting real-world successes, lessons learned, failure modes, and strategies to accelerate progress. Convergence of enabling technologies such as biofabrication, imaging, computational design, and advanced testing platforms. The symposium aims to foster interdisciplinary dialogue among materials scientists, engineers, clinicians, regulatory scientists, and industry stakeholders to identify opportunities and bottlenecks in moving healthcare materials from the laboratory to clinical practice. To be confirmed
B2) Bioderived and Bioengineered Materials: Discovery, Design, Characterization and Applications
Chair(s): Sierin Lim (NTU), Souhir Boujday (Sorbonne Université, France) Co-Chair(s): Kanchan Chauhan (Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Mexico), Christian Nijhuis (University of Twente, Netherlands) Symposium Scope/Topics The Symposium will present state of the art advances in the design and engineering of bioderived materials across multiple length scales. By integrating fundamental insights into assembly processes with the bioengineering of molecular and supramolecular building blocks, new opportunities are emerging for the rational construction of hierarchical bio based materials. The Symposium will also examine the interactions between bio derived materials and other material classes, including polymers and metals, which are essential for developing multifunctional hybrid systems. Computational design and modelling will feature prominently, encompassing approaches that enable predictive understanding of material behaviour, guide molecular to macroscale design, and support the development of advanced characterization methodologies for bio based and bioengineered materials. A central emphasis of the Symposium will be the translation of fundamental principles into practical applications, particularly those that address global challenges in human health and environmental sustainability. Topics: Novel bio-based materials (e.g., protein, carbohydrate, lipid, nucleic acids) and their hybrids Molecular engineering of bio-based materials for improved properties Characterization methods for investigating property and behavior at interfaces, including charge transport and light interactions Computational designs, including AI/ML, and modeling for understanding biomolecular assembly and structure-function relationships Applications of bio-based materials in various fields, including but not limited to medicine, health, electronics, data storage, quantum computing, energy, environment, military, and consumer products. Industrial translations – from bench to market Invited Speakers To be confirmed The Symposium will present state of the art advances in the design and engineering of bioderived materials across multiple length scales. By integrating fundamental insights into assembly processes with the bioengineering of molecular and supramolecular building blocks, new opportunities are emerging for the rational construction of hierarchical bio based materials. The Symposium will also examine the interactions between bio derived materials and other material classes, including polymers and metals, which are essential for developing multifunctional hybrid systems. Computational design and modelling will feature prominently, encompassing approaches that enable predictive understanding of material behaviour, guide molecular to macroscale design, and support the development of advanced characterization methodologies for bio based and bioengineered materials. A central emphasis of the Symposium will be the translation of fundamental principles into practical applications, particularly those that address global challenges in human health and environmental sustainability. Topics: Novel bio-based materials (e.g., protein, carbohydrate, lipid, nucleic acids) and their hybrids Molecular engineering of bio-based materials for improved properties Characterization methods for investigating property and behavior at interfaces, including charge transport and light interactions Computational designs, including AI/ML, and modeling for understanding biomolecular assembly and structure-function relationships Applications of bio-based materials in various fields, including but not limited to medicine, health, electronics, data storage, quantum computing, energy, environment, military, and consumer products. Industrial translations – from bench to market To be confirmed
B1) Imaging & Diagnostic Materials
Chair(s): Kanyi Pu (NTU), Jianping Xie (NUS) Co-Chair(s): Xiaogang Liu (NTU), Jong Seung Ki (Korea University, South Korea), Marc Vendrell (University of Edinburgh, UK) Symposium Scope/Topics Molecular probes for chemical biology and medicine. Inorganic materials and nanoparticles for in-vitro diagnostics and in vivo imaging. Materials for new imaging modalities. Materials for imaging-guided surgery across optics, MRI, CT and PET. Sensing materials for environmental monitoring. Invited Speakers To be confirmed Molecular probes for chemical biology and medicine. Inorganic materials and nanoparticles for in-vitro diagnostics and in vivo imaging. Materials for new imaging modalities. Materials for imaging-guided surgery across optics, MRI, CT and PET. Sensing materials for environmental monitoring. To be confirmed
