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Workshops

The purpose of a workshop is for the presenters to provide an in-depth educational experience on topics relating to biomaterials with a significant amount of time dedicated to discussion and questions and answers. The following workshops are scheduled for SFB’s 2007 meeting in Chicago:

• Recent Developments in Rapid Prototyping of Biomaterials
• Carry the Torch: Understanding typology, leadership and communication styles to become a dynamic and effective leader in the field of biomaterials
• Spine Pain: Origins and Treatment Strategies

 

• Recent Developments in Rapid Prototyping of Biomaterials

Direct writing technologies, including microcontact printing, fused deposition modeling, selective laser sintering, inkjetting, and laser direct writing, involve layer-by-layer growth of three-dimensional structures. These technologies have traditionally been used in the microelectronics, defense, and automotive industries. More recently, direct writing technologies have been used to process cells and materials for use in medicine and dentistry. This workshop will review recent developments in rapid prototyping technologies for fabrication of tissue substitutes, biosensors, drug delivery devices, and medical instruments. Speakers will discuss various aspects of the rapid prototyping process, including processing of radiographic images, development of computer models, novel direct writing processes, and biocompatible materials for use in direct writing. This symposium aims to create collaboration and discussion among the many groups involved in the development and use of rapid prototyping technologies, including biomaterials engineers, medical scientists, medical device manufacturers, equipment manufacturers, and clinicians.

• Carry the Torch: Understanding typology, leadership and communication styles to become a dynamic and effective leader in the field of biomaterials

Whether preparing for a career in academia or industry, leadership skills are required to succeed in the field of biomaterials. In order to become a leader, it is important to understand the various personality types and communication styles of the people around you, and how your own personal traits shape your leadership style and how others see you.

This program will examine the major factors that impact our abilities to lead by evaluating how personality and behavior affect communication power and how these factors influence your perception in a work environment. The workshop will offer techniques and skills necessary to help recognize and develop effective interpersonal skills, such as motivating others and efficient conflict resolution. Individual and group activities will be used to teach effective ways to cultivate leadership skills and build strong and effective leaders. The three-module workshop sheds light on the preparation necessary to move towards leadership positions and will also serve to assess personal leadership development. Generic leadership, behavioral, and communication concepts will be presented in the first module. The second module will focus on the needs for these skills in industry.  In the third module, emphasis will be made on the special considerations of leadership required in both the academic and industry side of the biomaterials field.

• Spine Pain: Origins and Treatment Strategies

This program has been approved by the University of Illinois at Chicago for 6 hours of Category 1 CME credit.

The workshop has been designed in two parts for a full day program.

Session I of the workshop will focus on the origin and mechanisms associated with lower back pain, in particular with pain associated with the intervertebral disc.  While several recent studies have revealed the presence of nerve fibers in the disc in different regions, there is no conclusive association of patient's pain to a location in the spine. This symposium is aimed at addressing these issues.  Leading pain researchers and clinicians from the region will participate in lectures as well as an open panel discussion on the topic.

Session II of the workshop will address different treatment strategies for alleviating disc pain including drug delivery concepts, synthetic and protein based injectable nucleus replacement strategies, total disc replacement strategies as well as biological strategies such as genetic engineering, cellular and tissue engineering approaches.

Learning Objectives:  Upon completion of the activity, participants should be able to:

1. List the origin of and describe the mechanism associated with lower back pain, especially that associated with the intervertebral disc
2. Explain how the presence of nerve fibers in the disc in different vertebral regions could be associated with a specific pain location in the spine
3. Formulate a treatment plan for each of the following strategies used to alleviate disc pain:
   • drug delivery concepts
   • synthetic and protein-base
   • injectable nucleus replacement
   • total disc replacement and biological strategies.