If I only had a heart: engineering living tissues

As Canada’s population ages, the demand increases for organ transplants but the supply does not. To answer this unmet need, bioengineers have developed new strategies to replace organ functions.

In the past, engineers used non-biological approaches including kidney dialysis, surgical screws and heart-lung machines. In contrast, biologists focused on drug-based treatments and transplants.

Now, bioengineers are merging these two approaches, using the structural properties of biomaterials in tandem with the complex biological functions of living cells to create tissues in the lab.

This talk will present some success stories in regenerative medicine, but also look towards the challenges to be overcome in the future. These challenges include optimizing cell source and function, improving nutrient delivery to cells, storing “bio-artificial” organs and coping with recipient responses such as scarring and rejection.

Engineering living tissues holds great promise for improving human health.

Join us as we launch the latest Science in the City series and our first public lecture celebrating Canada’s National Biotechnology Week.

Biotechnology uses living organisms to create new products that improve the quality of our food, our health and our environment.

This is a free public lecture.

All are welcome!

Tuesday, September 27 2005
McMaster Innovation Park
175 Longwood Rd. South
Doors open @ 6:30 pm
Lecture begins at 7:00 pm
To reserve your seat

e-mail sciencecity@mcmaster.ca
Or by phone 905-525-9140, extension 24934