Pre-Conference Workshops

Stem Cell Network is pleased to host the “3D Bioprinting: Principles and Strategies for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine” as part of the TERMIS-AM meeting in partnership with Aspect Biosystems and Fluidform Inc. Tissue engineering holds the potential to transform drug discovery and clinical practice for regenerative medicine. While the creation of whole organs is a long-term goal, 3D bioprinted tissues already show promise in improving patient care as implantable therapeutic tissues and as more predictive models in drug development.

A multitude of strategies have arisen to recapitulate the structural and functional complexity of human tissue using additive manufacturing methods. A common challenge in the field is that biomaterials that preserve cell viability and promote function may not meet the structural and mechanical requirements of the application. This workshop focuses on strategies to overcome this and other challenges in tissue engineering using extrusion-based bioprinting methods.

The workshop will feature expert speakers working in the field and a panel discussion with industry leaders on the commercialization and translation of 3D bioprinting. The talks will be followed by technology demonstrations of Aspect Biosystems’ microfluidic 3D bioprinting technology and FluidForm’s FRESH printing platform. Both technologies offer strategies for creating complex tissue structures while promoting tissue function.

About Aspect Biosystems:

Aspect Biosystems is a biotechnology company creating bioprinted tissue therapeutics to transform how we treat disease. Aspect’s microfluidic 3D bioprinting technology uses microfluidic printheads to create hydrogel fibres with complex microarchitectures that can be patterned and matured into 3D tissue constructs. Through our internal programs and collaborations, we are working towards using these tissue constructs as implantable therapeutics for conditions such as type 1 diabetes and liver failure.

About FluidForm:

FluidForm’s FRESH technology works by extruding bioinks and other materials within LifeSupport – a specially formulated support bath that maintains the shape of soft materials during printing and is then gently melted away at physiologic temperatures. The technology is being used to precisely replicate the structure and function of human tissue to develop better disease models for drug discovery, create bioprosthetic and regenerative medical devices to restore function and engineer tissue and organs that will replace transplants.

Learning objectives

• Introduce attendees to basic concepts of 3D bioprinting, including an overview of the technology and an understanding of the advantages and capabilities
• Have an understanding of current and future applications for 3D bioprinting, including the benefits and challenges associated with different use scenarios
• Expose attendees to demonstrations of the 3D bioprinting hardware, software and platform technologies used to design and produce 3D bioprinted tissues

From bench to boardroom: Commercializing your RM product or therapy

The global regenerative medicine market was valued at US$23.8 billion (2018), and it is anticipated to grow to US$151 billion by 2026 with an annual growth rate of 26.1 per cent. Cell and gene therapies are being approved and reimbursed. It’s an exciting time to be an entrepreneur in this field. Join CCRM experts and special guests for a brief but helpful overview of the main issues to consider in your entrepreneurial journey from innovator to business leader. A taught case study will cover some of the main points to consider when taking your product or therapy to the marketplace. The afternoon will culminate with a thought-provoking and insightful keynote address from a well-respected leader in the field. You will walk away from this workshop feeling more knowledgeable, confident and inspired.

1:00 – 1:15 p.m. Welcome and introduction by Michael May

1:15 – 2:45 p.m. Six teaching talks*, 15 minutes. CCRM experts to lead

2:45 – 3:15 p.m. Participants, paired with invited guests from academia and industry (minimum one per table), to briefly discuss the case study now that they have heard from the experts; group wrap up with all participants

3:15 – 4 p.m. Keynote

*Talks will cover:

• Patents
• Regulatory
• Reimbursement
• How Tech Transfer Offices work
• Manufacturing and process development
• Financing for early start-ups
• Financial planning
• Marketing

Description: This workshop, being organized by Dr. Emilio I. Alarcón at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute & Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, aims to review the current state of the art of biomaterials for cardiac research. We will cover aspects from the material design, fabrication, in vitro & in vivo testing to the preclinical testing & regulatory considerations for use in humans. Participants in the workshop will be part of a dynamic afternoon with speakers from different backgrounds working in the field spanning from chemistry, physics, cell biology, and clinical research in cardiac health.

Workshop Chair: Dr. Emilio I. Alarcón, University of Ottawa

Speakers:
Dr Edmond W. K. Young, University of Toronto
Dr Golnaz Karoubi, University of Toronto; University Health Network
Dr Houman Savoji, Université de Montréal
Dr Duncan Stewart, University of Ottawa; The Ottawa Hospital
Dr Michael Laflamme, University Health Network; University of Toronto

Program:
Part I
1:00 PM – 1:05 PM                    Opening Remarks

1:05 PM – 1:20 PM                    Peptides vs Proteins for the Development of Biomaterials for Cardiopulmonary Repair

1:20 PM – 1:40 PM                    Microfluidics and Bioprinting as the Next Frontier of Biomaterials for Cardiopulmonary Repair

1:40 PM – 2:20 PM                    Lung on A Chip: Accelerating Clinical Translation

2:20 PM – 2:55 PM                    Q&A For Part I

2:55 PM – 3:15 PM                    Coffee Break & Networking

Part II

2:55 PM – 3:15 PM                    Cell–Based Therapeutics for Cardiopulmonary Repair

3:15 PM – 3:35 PM                    Biomaterials–Based Therapies for Heart and Lung Repair

3:35 PM – 3:55                          Q&A for Part II

3:55 PM – 4:00 PM                    Closing Remarks

TERMIS-AM/ NSERC CREATE Training Program in Organ-on-a-Chip Engineering and Entrepreneurship Per-conference Workshop

https://toep.utoronto.ca/

NSERC CREATE Training Program in Organ-on-a-Chip & Entrepreneurship (TOeP) is organizing a pre-conference workshop geared towards inspiring trainees to engage into a process of taking their discovery out of the lab and into the real world.

Uniquely, our workshop speakers were all (or still are) trainees who haven commercialized the discoveries from their PhD or Post-doctoral training through a start-up company. They were instrumental in growing these companies and have valuable lessons to share to facilitate the journey.

At the end of this workshop, you will be able to: understand how to identify the novel components of your work, improve problem-based design in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, understand the steps toward commercialization of devices and cell based therapeutics and what elements to include in a successful pitch.

NSERC CREATE TOeP Training program will reimburse the workshop registration fee for the first 30 trainees who register. Reimbursement forms will be available at the workshop.

Program:

1:00 PM – 1:20 PM                    Introduction to the Goals of the Workshop
Milica Radisic, Professor and Canada Research Chair (Tier 1) in Organ–on–a–Chip Engineering, University of Toronto; Senior Scientist, Toronto General Research Institute; Director, NSERC CREATE Training Program in Organ–on–a–Chip Engineering and entrepreneurship.

1:20 PM – 1:40 PM                    From an Idea to a Successful Company – the Story of Rheolution
Anis Hadjenni, CEO and Co–founder, Rheolution Inc,

1:40 PM – 2:00 PM                    Assessing the Novelty of your Idea – the Story of Ripple
Wendy Neimark, Co–founder and Chief Technology Officer, Ripple Therapeutics

2:00 PM – 2:20 PM                    Developing a Pitch and Setting your Idea for Successful Fundraising 
Milica Vukmirovic, Director of External Programs & Partnerships, Precision Medicine Initiative, PRiME, University of Toronto

2:20 PM – 3:00 PM                    Networking break

3:00 PM – 3:20 PM                    Working to Grow your Organ–on–a–chip Startup           
Sepand Bafti, Director of Biological Science at Norti

3:20 PM – 3:40 PM                    Trainee Perspective – Starting a Company During your PhD
Dawn Lin, PhD Candidate at McMaster University & Co–founder Organo–Biotech,

3:40PM–4:00PM                         PI Perspective on Starting a Company from the Lab
Mohsen Akbari, Associate Professor, University of Victoria

About NSERC CREATE TOeP:

The long-term objective of TOeP is to educate skilled individuals with expertise in both bioengineering and entrepreneurship, and enable personal development of our students so that they can ultimately fuel the creation of a high-tech economy.

TOeP provides specific workshops for Professional Skill Training in the following categories: Pitching and public speaking; IP Law; Entrepreneurship; Networking and business etiquette; Teamwork, critical thinking, leadership & project management; Business and Finance.  TOeP provides technical training through an Organ-on-a-Chip Course, TOeP specific guest speaker seminars and Ontario-on-a-Chip/TOeP Annual Symposium which features a TOeP student pitch competition.

TOeP provides coaching to the students for pitch development and practice sessions to perfect those. To reach a broader scientific community TOeP also organizes the Entrepreneurship Workshop at the meetings such as this one.

TOeP trainees are required to complete exchanges with other academic labs, in order to satisfy the mobility required for the program,  shadow entrepreneurs, develop their device prototypes and fundraise for commercialization of their prototypes either via VCs, angels and private investors or through grants.