The aims of this joint initiative of the European Society for Biomaterials and the Chinese Committee for Biomaterials—organized by IBEC (the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia)—are to showcase the latest research, to provide a forum for the discussion of recent advances, to build relationships between European and Chinese researchers, and to promote collaboration in future research projects.
Regenerative medicine is making it possible for the human body to repair itself by regenerating healthy tissue and organs. Researchers are working with combinations of biomaterials, cells, and cell-stimulating growth factors to produce viable and functional tissues and organs. The advantage of this technology is that the techniques are based on the recipient’s own cells and thus eliminate the risk of rejection and the need for donors because it is the patient’s own body that is repaired. Moreover, these treatments can provide a definitive solution because the tissue is regenerated.
Innovations in the field of regenerative medicine are making it possible to treat diseases that until now have been incurable, such as renal and cardiac insufficiency, osteoporosis, and diabetes. Researchers now hope that technological advances will eventually provide solutions for almost all tissue disease, degeneration, and failure. Apart from its health benefits, regenerative medicine will also have a great impact on the biomedical industry and health care in general.
