Events programme

organized by Silvia Budday, Michele Conti and Michele Marino

Abstract

Tissue engineering promises to create functional tissue equivalents for regenerative medicine and has made remarkable progress in recent decades. Nevertheless, the commercial and clinical implementation of tissue engineering falls short of its full potential. Key challenges include low reproducibility, unclear quality criteria at early time-points, and a lack of quality control methods. These challenges are particularly significant for tissue engineering approaches that involve 3D cell cultures.

This mini symposium aims to ease an interdisciplinary debate in tissue engineering ranging from biology, through chemistry, to mechanics. The topics of interests cover the analysis and understanding of unresolved issues emerging with traditional approaches, up to the role of innovative methodologies in facilitating progresses and scalability of the field. The latter comprise for instance the role of innovative (bio)materials and manufacturing technologies, of cutting-edge experimental techniques for the analysis of tissue engineering constructs, and of in silico tools for design and optimization of both biomaterials and biomanufacturing strategies. 

Relevant topics include but are not limited to:

1. characterization and description of biomaterials responses
2. smart and active materials
3. multiscale and multi-field experimental and computational analyses
4. novel biomanufacturing technologies
5. definition and optimization of experimental protocols
6. non-invasive experimental techniques (e.g., optical and electrical methods)
7. process design tools in biomanufacturing and tissue engineering
8. predictive models of cell mechanobiology in tissue engineering constructs
9. mechanistic models and data-driven approaches of cell response 
10. experiments and models on cell-biomaterial interactions and neo-tissue formation

organized by organized by Andreas Greuling, Meike Stiesch

Many patients suffer from tooth decay or even tooth loss, which requires dental treatment. While small tooth cavities can be relatively easy diagnosed and can often be treated with fillings, there are problems where a (partly) automated detection and diagnosis, insights from in silico models or recommendations gained by machine learning could support patient specific decisions and treatment.

This mini-symposium aims to bring together scientists from various communities in order to discuss the status quo and the future of computer assisted dentistry. The topics to be discussed in the mini-symposium include:

• biomechanical modelling approaches
• image recognition approaches
• artificial intelligence, machine learning
• innovative treatment planning using patient specific data and simulation results
• robot assisted treatment

organized by Fadi Aldakheel, Marko K Matikainen, Alexander Popp

Abstract

This mini-symposium aims to explore how physics-based models, experimental techniques, and advanced data-driven approaches can enhance our understanding of biological systems, improve diagnosis and treatment, and contribute to the development of innovative technologies. Today, continuum mechanical theories and numerical methods like finite element method (FEM), computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and machine learning (ML) have shown great potential in providing insights into problems ranging from tendonitis, cardiovascular engineering to brain modelling and even wound healing. Yet, most of our work today is clinical driven for good reason but often done in silos. However, the ability to pump-prime projects from the engineering end will help technology development and showcase readiness to clinical counterparts. The availability of multiple solutions can enhance and speedup the developments of proof of concepts and field deployments. 

This symposium aims to bring together experts, researchers, and practitioners from various disciplines to share their knowledge, insights, and foster interdisciplinary collaborations. Of particular interest include: 

1. Biomedical problems related to tendons in relation to walking, running and mobility 
2. Circulatory system and cardiovascular engineering 
3. Continuum mechanics in respiratory systems 
4. Patient-specific constitutive modelling 
5. Biomedical signal processing and analysis 
6. Multiscale modeling and simulation in biomechanics 
7. Machine learning in processing for medical imaging to simulation 
8. Image-based simulation methods and code-coupling 
9. Uncertainty quantification, inverse methods and parameter identification 
10. Open-source dataset generation and curation 

organized by Andreas Greuling, Meike Stiesch

Abstract

In modern medicine, dental implants as well as orthopedic implants have been used with success for many years. Many patients suffer from tooth decay or even tooth loss, which requires dental treatment, whereas dental implants are often used as a part of the solution. Despite the stunning success of implants, implant failures are still a relevant problem in modern dentistry. Besides bone loss due to peri-implantitis, unfavorable biomechanical loads and insufficient adaptation of the implant surface to the requirements of the biological tissue are important factors for implant failure. 

This mini-symposium aims to bring together scientists from the research group FOR 5250 and other experts in the field. It aims at discussing the progress in additive manufacturing, surface coatings, and innovative characterization methods for pa-tient-specific implants, with a main focus on dental implants. 

The topics to be discussed in the mini-symposium include:

• Additive manufacturing of lattice structures
• Material testing and characterization of additively manufactured lattice structures
• Coatings of implant surfaces
• Finite element analysis at micro and macro scale 
• Biological investigations in the context of additive manufactured and titanium based structures

organized by Dominik Schillinger, Tim Ricken

Abstract

The liver is a highly vascularized organ that serves a variety of physiological functions, including metabolism of nutrients and drugs, detoxification, bile production, or hormone regulation. It is characterized by a high degree of vascularization across hierarchical scales, and blood perfusion, tissue response and liver functions are closely linked from the organ scale down to the cellular level. Today, there is a growing number of computational modeling and simulation technology available that can help describe or predict different aspects of liver behavior, functionality and disease.

The aim of this mini-symposium is to showcase current research trends in this direction, including but not limited to: 

1. Modeling of liver response, function or disease at different scales
2. Scale-bridging modeling and simulation methods
3. Reconstruction or representation of 3D liver architecture at different scales
4. Experimental methods to quantify liver anatomy and function and their use to validate liver models.

organized by Rainer Bader^,, Manuela Sander, Hermann Seitz

Abstract

Functional implants are widely used in the musculoskeletal system. Among other things, they are used as load-bearing implants, e.g. for the treatment of large bone defects or as joint replacements, and as scaffolds to repair cartilage defects. Simulation-based approaches as well as robust experimental investigation methods are helpful for the research, development and preclinical evaluation of the suitability of modern functional implant systems.

This mini-symposium tends to bring together scientists from the Rostock Center for Interdisciplinary Implant Research (ROCINI) and other experts in the field. It aims to discuss innovative modeling approaches and experimental characterization methods of functional implants for the musculoskeletal system.

The topics to be discussed in the mini-symposium include:

• computational modeling approaches
• advanced experimental test methods
• material characterization

organized by Waldo Nogueira

Abstract

Advances in artificial intelligence and Big Data are transforming many fields including the field of hearing and cochlear implants. There is a need to create computational tools to optimize the cochlear implant healthcare system. Moreover, there is a need to characterize each cochlear implant user in detail o provide personalized treatments.  This minisymposium will present novel technologies in the area of outcome prediction with cochlear implants. These measures includes performance data from each user, precise data from the cochlear implant electrode nerve interface, imaging data from the cochlea and the cochlear implant electrode locations and corresponding anatomical models as well as evoked potentials to characterize the auditory pathway. This minisymposium will present several contributions dealing with tools and technologies to collect and process big and precise data to understand generic trends in cochlear implant healthcare and provide individualized treatments for cochlear implant users.

organized by Waldo Nogueira

Abstract

Electrical stimulation of the nervous system has been shown to be effective to treat different diseases, including the hearing loss, blindness, pain and depression. To achieve optimal stimulation effects and a better understanding of the underlying brain mechanisms, neuro-engineers have proposed computational modelling studies. These models typically combine a geometry and a numerical simulation of the physics occurring through stimulation with a given modality writing the geometry representing the targeting organ. As the need for better computational models continues to increase, we overview here recent modelling studies; we focused on approaches trying to restore the auditory system but we also cover stimulation of other parts of the nervous system. The minisymposium will present recent advances in:

• Computational models of the electrically and acousticcally stimulated auditory system
• Computational models of the ontogenetically stimulated auditory system
• Surrogate models
• Neuron models sensitive to electric, acoustic and optogenetic stimulation
• Computational models of transcranial electric stimulation, retinal impants and other nerves

organized by Waldo Nogueira

Abstract

The electrode-neuron interface formed between the cochlear implant electrodes and the auditory nerve plays an important in the outcome with these devices. The telemetry implemented in cochlear implants has enabled researchers to study factors affecting the quality and integrity of the interface. More concrete this minisymposium deals with the characterization of impedances in cochlear implants. This minisymposium will provide current strategies to characterize cochlear implant electrode impedances in vitro and in vivo as well as through computational models. Moreover latest technologies from the industry on how to use impedances to optimize the implantation procedure and to record 24/7 will presented.

organized by Marly Dalton, Meike Stiesch

Abstract

While implants are essential in healthcare to restore life-sustaining functions, ensuring their safety and reliability remains a major challenge in various medical disciplines. The comparable high prevalence of implant failures can be due to material corrosion, wear formation and implant loosening as well as bacterial biofilm formation and subsequent inflammatory reaction. The Collaborative Research Center 298 “SIIRI” advances solutions for this topic by the development of computer models to predict implant complications, new methods to study implant-associated infections, detection methods for implant loosening and gentle procedures for implant removal.
 
This mini-symposium aims to foster collaboration, knowledge sharing, and innovative research efforts to improve safety and efficacy of medical implants.
The topics for this mini-symposium include:

• Computational modeling
• Finite element methods
• Inductive heating for tissue-conserving implant removal
• Acoustic emissions for the detection of implant loosening
• New methods for the investigation of implant-associated infections