Hardwired for Health

Sometimes we may get so ill or injured that tissues and organs need replacing completely. Surgeons may try and do this by transplanting tissue from one person to another, but often there simply aren’t enough replacement organs to go round. Scientists, like me, are trying to find out ways to grow replacement body parts in the lab or to stimulate the body to make its own replacement tissue. Come and find out how we’re trying to do this by using stem cells, drugs and biomaterials.

Very high frequency sound (ultrasound) can move tiny objects such as cells. This talk shows how we can use ultrasound to detect deadly bacteria, to gently stimulate cells, and even to help grow new tissue. Making cells dance to sounds that no one can hear may one day create better cartilage for damaged knees, or build models of our lungs to help us understand the symptoms of asthma.