20 YEARS OF BREAKTHROUGHS: ADVANCING TISSUE ENGINEERING AND REGENERATIVE MEDICINE WITH TERMIS

The field of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine (TERM) has witnessed transformative advancements over the past two decades, reshaping approaches to restoring, replacing, or enhancing biological tissues. This keynote lecture will provide an overview of the pivotal breakthroughs that have propelled TERM from conceptual frameworks to clinical and industrial realities. The interaction of TERM with scientific societies like E-ORS and their collaborative contributions will also be highlighted. Key progress includes the development of biomaterials mimicking the extracellular matrix (ECM). Innovations in bioactive, biodegradable, and stimuli-responsive scaffolds have advanced cell-tissue interactions and regeneration. Concurrently, stem cell biology has unlocked the therapeutic potential of pluripotent and adult stem cells, enabling personalized medicine. Cutting-edge technologies such as bioprinting and organ-on-a-chip systems have redefined precision in tissue fabrication. Bioprinting allows construction of complex, vascularized tissues, while organ-on-a-chip platforms bridge in vitro studies and in vivo applications, offering predictive models for drug testing and disease modeling. Notable achievements include the clinical translation of TERM innovations, such as engineered skin grafts, cartilage, and corneal implants. These successes underscore interdisciplinary collaborations spanning biology, engineering, and clinical sciences. Emerging fields like synthetic biology and artificial intelligence (AI) are shaping TERM's future. Synthetic biology enables programmable cells and biomaterials, while AI-driven tools optimize tissue design and accelerate discovery pipelines. Regulatory and ethical considerations are crucial to ensuring responsible innovation and patient accessibility. This keynote will inspire interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation, highlighting how TERM has evolved into a mature field with profound healthcare implications. It will explore ongoing efforts to tackle challenges in creating fully functional, lab-grown organs and reflect on two decades of transformative progress, celebrating scientific ingenuity and its role in improving human health through regenerative technologies.