Summer school lecture on living therapeutic materials

University of Glasgow represented PRISM-LT at the Leibniz ScienceCampus (LSC) Living Therapeutic Materials Summer School.

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Diogo Matias

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Aleixandre Rodrigo-Navarro, a research associate in biomedical engineering at the University of Glasgow and Laura Sabio Rodríguez, a postdoctoral researcher at the Centre for the Cellular Microenvironment, presented their work on “ELMs (Engineered Living Materials) to Control Stem Cell Fate and Its Applications in Tissue Engineering” at the LSC (Leibniz Science Campus) Living Therapeutic Materials Summer School in Noonweiler, Germany.

The summer school brought together early career scientists and leading experts to collaborate on living therapeutic materials, covering microbe-material interactions, biosafety, and other related topics.

“It was a great opportunity for me to present my work at the ELMs,” says Aleixandre. “It was an event heavily focused on living biomaterials, a core concept in the PRISM-LT project, and Laura and I had the chance to interact with top researchers in the field, who were very open to sharing their views, thoughts, and ideas on the topic.”

“This is a nascent field that is growing at a very rapid pace, and it is very important to have these regular meetings to discuss all the perspectives on ELMs, from the core science to societal and regulatory implications,” Aleixandre explains. ”Laura and I had the chance to share the ideas that drive PRISM-LT and how the project’s vision will have a positive impact in both society and the ELMs community.”

Person in a classroom giving a scientific lecture.
Aleixandre, giving his shared lecture with Laura at LSC Living Therapeutics Materials Summer School.

As a research associate in the PRISM-LT project, Aleixandre’s expertise in biomedical engineering is essential to the success of the project’s complex bioink, which includes engineered helper microorganisms, such as bacteria or yeast, that produce relevant growth factors for chemical guidance. These microorganisms will support stem cells’ long-term differentiation and consolidation towards a specific lineage.

Attending events like this summer school is part of the PRISM-LT’s dissemination strategy. Partners can share PRISM-LT’s goals, strategies, and progress with technical audiences, which could lead to new collaborations and advancements in bioprinting tech.