Alexandre Trubert-Paneli, our partner from the University of Glasgow, recently traveled to Warsaw to share the team’s latest breakthrough at The International Conference for Biofabrication 2025. The international conference, held from 14-17 September, brought together researchers, industry experts, and clinicians to explore how biofabrication can revolutionise healthcare.

ISBF2025 was a great opportunity to showcase the PRISM-LT project and the broader emerging field of Engineered Living Materials. I was pleased to see such a large and engaged audience at the symposium — many were curious about the possibilities and opportunities that ELMs can bring.

His presentation on “Fabrication of Symbiotic Engineered Living Materials for Bone–Fat Interface Modelling” introduced the conference audience to PRISM-LT’s innovative approach: using genetically engineered bacteria and yeast as “helper cells” that work alongside stem cells in 3D printed tissue constructs.

Unlike traditional tissue engineering that relies on passive biochemical cues, PRISM-LT adopts what Alexandre described as “a proactive approach” where the helper cells detect what the stem cells need and respond by producing the right growth factors at the right time and place.

Alexandre explained how the project has successfully engineered helper cells to express osteogenic (bone) and adipogenic (fat) factors and optimised stem cell encapsulation in hydrogels. As he explained, the project has focused on “optimisation of individual components and will next aim to synergise them within a 3D construct.”

As a PRISM-LT member, Alexandre’s role involves bringing together all the project elements: the helper cells, stem cells, and specialized materials that make the platform work for both medical research and cultured meat applications.

We have done extensive work characterising each component individually, the next step is to investigate their interplay and the proficiency of the symbiotic platform to generate living tissues.

For someone who values cross-disciplinary collaboration, the Warsaw conference offered Alexandre plenty of opportunities to meet researchers from different fields and explore new partnerships as PRISM-LT starts to move toward its integration phase, moving from lab research to practical applications for healthcare.