This blog is primarily for the benefit of my research group and collaborators back in Sheffield, but hopefully it might also shed some light on the purpose of scientific meetings for others who view these posts. With this in mind, in case you are not familiar, a scientific meeting is intended to bring the research community together to see and criticise each other's work, and to share ideas for future research that might result in scientific progress that in turn drives the development of new therapies. Many scientific meetings are huge, and while there are benefits in seeing the whole global family of biomaterials and tissue engineering in a single location, it can sometimes be a frustrating experience as the scale can inhibit the purpose. This autumn I have been privileged to present at bone-tec, a much smaller meeting of around 100 people with a focus (quite obviously) on bone tissue regeneration. For me it has been a salient reminder of the benefits in attending a smaller, more focussed meeting compared to a European or World Congress. Why is this the case? The reasons are numerous but include the ease of attending only a single session (compared to dashing from theatre to theatre for different sessions), the opportunity to discuss current research with some of the world's leading scientists and engineers as well as PhD students and postdoctoral researchers. Most importantly, you actually have the opportunity to give your full attention to an important field that will undoubtedly shape emerging new medical treatments in the forthcoming years and decades.
So what have I learnt, both generally and of use to my own group? The bulk of the programme was centred on progress in the identification and use of small biological molecules that facilitate or accelerate the healing of challenging bone defects. While some work considered the detailed mechanisms that underpinned the biological effects of known osteoinductive molecules (e.g. BMP2), other talks were on less well known but potentially important cytokines. Many of these cell signalling molecules were related to inflammatory pathways and included several interleukins associated with early inflammation. These papers collectively underlined the close relationship between inflammation and bone repair, and significant progress was demonstrated in what is still a complex and rapidly evolving field. One other area that has grown recently is endochondral ossification and the potential use of hypertrophic cartilage (cells and/or matrix) to promote bone tissue healing. While Sheffield-based academics have been engaged in this field for several years (in our early years, we were one of the few centres that recognised the potential value of these strategies), there is no doubt that today there are several major research teams making rapid and significant progress, and my view is that we are right to remain active in this specific field. There were many other research themes covered where Sheffield has a track record including nanoscale ceramic gels where Richard Oreffo showed some very impressive laboratory models to evaluate their potential. My presentation on multi-functional materials that combined antimicrobial properties with promotion of bone healing attracted several questions and invitations to discuss collaboration. I also saw a number of papers where it appeared that Sheffield might form useful partnerships, for example Jons Hillborn presented a particularly elegant study of delivery strategies for siRNA and related molecules that had considerable therapeutic potential (for example, in the treatment of cancers). As well as new data on biological compounds, a number of speakers covered innovations in bioceramics and bioglass research, and there is no doubt this field continues to evolve and will most likely see new clinical products in the near future. The hosts provided an impressive talk on the application of Raman to detection of mineral in tissue culture, a little too late for us to form a collaboration but very encouraging nevertheless. In addition to a large number of high quality academic and clinical speakers, we also heard from industry. One notable speaker was from the company PreSens who have a wide range of non-invasive sensors to detect changes in in vitro systems including mass, pH and O2 levels, potentially very valuable for tissue culture based research programmes.
As well as a fairly intense scientific programme, there were some more relaxed moments. One of great significance was a "special" session where the organisers surprised Professor James Kirkpatrick with a series of talks dedicated to his career in bone and tissue engineering, timed to mark his official retirement from Mainz. James has a long association with Sheffield through the EXPERTISSUES network where he was a frequent and memorable speaker on our courses, and also as an external examiner. He is undoubtedly one of the most important figures in the global regenerative medicine community, and it was wonderful to be able to be part of a relatively small group to show our appreciation for his enormous contribution. James assured me he would remain very active even after retirement! The meeting ended on Saturday where Simon Pool and I were able to use the local wifi to watch the Wales v Australia before a very enjoyable conference dinner in a traditional restaurant. Katja Schenke-Layland had put together a very impressive scientific meeting where I think everybody left with good ideas for future research and new collaborations, the next meeting will be in Munich and it will be an essential destination for all of us.
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So what have I learnt, both generally and of use to my own group? The bulk of the programme was centred on progress in the identification and use of small biological molecules that facilitate or accelerate the healing of challenging bone defects. While some work considered the detailed mechanisms that underpinned the biological effects of known osteoinductive molecules (e.g. BMP2), other talks were on less well known but potentially important cytokines. Many of these cell signalling molecules were related to inflammatory pathways and included several interleukins associated with early inflammation. These papers collectively underlined the close relationship between inflammation and bone repair, and significant progress was demonstrated in what is still a complex and rapidly evolving field. One other area that has grown recently is endochondral ossification and the potential use of hypertrophic cartilage (cells and/or matrix) to promote bone tissue healing. While Sheffield-based academics have been engaged in this field for several years (in our early years, we were one of the few centres that recognised the potential value of these strategies), there is no doubt that today there are several major research teams making rapid and significant progress, and my view is that we are right to remain active in this specific field. There were many other research themes covered where Sheffield has a track record including nanoscale ceramic gels where Richard Oreffo showed some very impressive laboratory models to evaluate their potential. My presentation on multi-functional materials that combined antimicrobial properties with promotion of bone healing attracted several questions and invitations to discuss collaboration. I also saw a number of papers where it appeared that Sheffield might form useful partnerships, for example Jons Hillborn presented a particularly elegant study of delivery strategies for siRNA and related molecules that had considerable therapeutic potential (for example, in the treatment of cancers). As well as new data on biological compounds, a number of speakers covered innovations in bioceramics and bioglass research, and there is no doubt this field continues to evolve and will most likely see new clinical products in the near future. The hosts provided an impressive talk on the application of Raman to detection of mineral in tissue culture, a little too late for us to form a collaboration but very encouraging nevertheless. In addition to a large number of high quality academic and clinical speakers, we also heard from industry. One notable speaker was from the company PreSens who have a wide range of non-invasive sensors to detect changes in in vitro systems including mass, pH and O2 levels, potentially very valuable for tissue culture based research programmes.
As well as a fairly intense scientific programme, there were some more relaxed moments. One of great significance was a "special" session where the organisers surprised Professor James Kirkpatrick with a series of talks dedicated to his career in bone and tissue engineering, timed to mark his official retirement from Mainz. James has a long association with Sheffield through the EXPERTISSUES network where he was a frequent and memorable speaker on our courses, and also as an external examiner. He is undoubtedly one of the most important figures in the global regenerative medicine community, and it was wonderful to be able to be part of a relatively small group to show our appreciation for his enormous contribution. James assured me he would remain very active even after retirement! The meeting ended on Saturday where Simon Pool and I were able to use the local wifi to watch the Wales v Australia before a very enjoyable conference dinner in a traditional restaurant. Katja Schenke-Layland had put together a very impressive scientific meeting where I think everybody left with good ideas for future research and new collaborations, the next meeting will be in Munich and it will be an essential destination for all of us.
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