Regenerative medicine has made progress over the last years, but in the Netherlands, the field is still not well-connected. The field depends on research that combines different areas like stem cell technology, physics, bioelectronics, AI, medicine, and more. To create a clear national plan, experts from the NWA-route regenerative medicine and Stichting Toekomstbeeld der Techniek will work together. They will hold workshops and do research to understand important developments in technology, science, and society. The results will help create a strategy for the future of regenerative medicine and guide funding and policy decisions.

The long term performance of implantable medical devices such as breast implants, biosensors, pacemakers and drug/cell delivery devices is hindered by complex and unpredictable foreign body responses (FBR). Modern soft robotic technologies can be employed to design sophisticated anti-fouling implants that can remain in the body for an extended period and as well mitigate FBR. In this project, we propose to design a Hybrid Soft Robotic Implant (HyBORG), which employs mechanical oscillation to modulate FBR by altering fluid flow and cellular activity at the implantation site and support long-term functionality of the implant.

Creating and controlling 3D living objects made from materials and cells is crucial for future advances in medicine and sustainability. However, we currently face challenges in fidelity and speed that hold back innovation in healthcare and food production. To address this, a customized biofabrication toolbox is being developed that combines multiple fabrication methods and AI technologies, enabling customizable and scalable production of life/material combinations. This toolbox will enable breakthroughs in 3D models for cardiovascular disease and 3D-printed meat to advance the Netherlands position in critical economic areas.