Future body

Stem cells are defined by the capacity of generating an identical copy of themselves (self-renewal) and of learning how to perform a function (differentiation). Recent technologies offer unprecedented opportunities for disease modelling, drug discovery and cell therapy. Davide Danovi will give an overview of the field sketching the roadmap to capture its full potential.

For centuries, we have been fixing and improving our bodies with materials. Ancient Peruvians repaired skull fractures with gold plates, Mayans replaced lost teeth with shells. Eileen Gentleman will speak about how biologists are joining forces with chemists and physicists to create the next generation of materials that don’t just replace damaged tissues, but coax the body to grown new ones. Featuring Dr Georgiou, a polymer chemist speaking about creating a perfect home for your cells, and Dr Dreiss, a soft matter physicist talking about all things squishy, from bones to bottoms.