International scientific conference highlighting the development of regenerative medicine in Russia took place at the Skolkovo Center of Innovations on February 14, 2013. The conference featured panel discussions on the following subjects: “Specifics of investing in regenerative medicine projects,” “Prospects of development of regenerative medicine in Russia,” and “3D bioprinting: pro et contra” and the following reports: “Vision of the future of regenerative medicine” by G.N. Konstantinov, Phys-Math Sci Doctor, Professor, National Research Institute of the Higher School of Economics, General and Strategic Management Subdepartment head, Director of the Corporate Management Center; “Computerised fabrication of tissues in regenerative medicine” by Xuejun Wen, William H. Goodwin Professor, Department of Chemical and Life Science Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University; “3D bioprinting technology” by V.A. Mironov, Professor, Head of Research at the Laboratory for Biotechnological Research of 3D Bioprinting Solutions, tissue engineer, recognized pioneer and inventor of organ printing and biofabrication.

The conference opened with a theme press conference: “Role of 3D bioprinting in regenerative medicine” hosted by Gelena V. Livshits, Director of Medical Programs at the Skolkovo Center of Innovations; Vladimir A. Mironov, Professor, Head of Research at the 3D Bioprinting Solutions; Alexander Yu. Ostrovsky, General Director of 3D Bioprinting Solutions and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the INVITRO Group; and Sergey V. Novoselov, Doctor of Biological Sciences, head of reasearch laboratory at 3D Bioprinting Solutions. Before answering questions, they spoke about the regenerative medicine’s prospects and trends, main technologies and opportunities expected to emerge in the future.

In his report “3D Bioprinting Technology” V.A. Mironov provided a more detailed overview of bioprinting. The following are some excerpts from his speech: “Organ printing can be defined as computerised and robotised layer-by-layer additive 3D biofabrication of functional human tissues and organ parts. Organ printing is a biomedical version of a well-developed method of rapid prototyping or fabrication of additives. In essence, the difference lies only in the type of used material. Instead of metals, polymers or ceramics, which are typical materials for rapid prototyping, we use live tissues or self-assembling spheroids as building blocks.”

First on the event’s agenda is a themed press conference: “Role of 3D bioprinting in regenerative medicine.” Press conference will be hosted by: Gelena V. Livshits, Director of Medical Programs at the Skolkovo Center of Innovations; Vladimir A. Mironov, Professor, Head of Research at the 3D Bioprinting Solutions, one of the recognized pioneers of robotised biofabrication, professor at the Engineering School of the Department of Chemical and Life Science Engineering of the Virginia Commonwealth University, USA, author of the idea of using tissue spheroids in bioprinting; Alexander Yu. Ostrovsky, General Director of 3D Bioprinting Solutions, a company developing reproductive medicine technologies in Russia, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the INVITRO Group; and Sergey V. Novoselov, Doctor of Biological Sciences, head of reasearch laboratory at 3D Bioprinting Solutions, specialist in the field of molecular and cell biology and biomedicine.

Speakers will highlight the following priority subjects:

• Regenerative medicine: state of the art in the world and in Russia, key players, methods and trends; 
• The role of Skolkovo Center of Innovations Biotechnological Cluster and private investors in the creation of working environment for leading researchers in Russia; 
• 3D Bioprinting Solutions -- the developer of organ prototype fabrication technology and efficient methods of tissue substitution.

After the end of the press conference, which will continue for one hour, reporters and journalists will be invited to attend the conference’s extensive scientific program. Scientific program of the “regenerative medicine day” will comprise 3 workshops where Russian and foreign experts in the field will make reports to open themed panel discussions.

The first workshop “Private investments in regenerative medicine” will be opened by a brief communication by Gennady N. Konstantinov, Phys-Math Sci Doctor, Professor, National Research Institute of the Higher School of Economics, General and Strategic Management Subdepartment head, Director of the Corporate Management Center. The report will be followed by a panel discussion featuring Mikhail A. Batin, founder of the “Science for Life Prolongation” Research Support Fund, member of the Management Committee of the Gerontological Society under the Russian Academy of Sciences, representatives from the Bortnik Foundation, Skolkovo, Russian Venture Company, other experts.

Second panel discussion “Prospects for the development of regenerative medicine in Russia” moderated y Gelena V. Livshits will focus on issues related to regulatory and infrastructure provisions for the industry of cell and regenerative medicine, creation of a favorable working environment in Russia and general development of this direction. Speakers will highlight relevant achievements in the world, most interesting projects in Russia and plans for the future. Second workshop is sceduled to open after the report by Xuejun Wen, William H. Goodwin Professor, Department of Chemical and Life Science Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, USA: “Computerised fabrication of tissues in regenerative medicine.”

From the report to be delivered by Prof. V.A. Mironov the conference’s guests will have the opportunity to learn what bioprinting is about, what are the method’s achievements and problems and what is being done by the research team of 3D Bioprinting Solutions, including the fabrication of universal tissue constructs and perfusion-related solutions. V.A. Mironov is a member of the team, which created an apparatus for the fabrication of tissue spheroids, he is the holder of the first patent in the field of bioprinting and coauthor of the patent “Fabrication of vascular grafts from nanofibers.” In his report, Vladimir Mironov will also tell about the biofabrication project, which has received a high appraisal from the Skolkovo Center of Innovations Panel of Experts. 3D Bioprinting Solutions sees its mission as developing practical aspects of reproductive medicine technologies in Russia to help people in need of organ transplantation. The method of 3D organ printing from autological cells and tissue materials may help resolve the problem of immune incompatibility and, with the time, allow fabricating inexpensive prototypes of human organs and efficient tissue substitution to ensure complete restoration of health. The problems and objectives of bioprinting will be the subject of a next panel discussion with the participation of Prof. Anthony Atala, M.D., Ph.D., Director of the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, North Carolina; V.A. Mironov under the moderation of Prof. A.A. Potapov, Full Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, member of the Presiding Committee of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, Deputy Director of the N.N. Burdenko Institute of Neurosurgical Research, Vice President of the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies.

On February 15, 2013, the researchers invited by 3D Bioprinting Solutions and the Skolkovo Center of Innovations will give lectures on bioprinting for the students of the Fundamental Medicine Department of the M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University and the N.I. Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University.

The event’s organisers announce the beginning of accreditation and registration for journalists, research teams, representatives of the financial world and other interested people and invite them to take part in the “Regenerative Medicine Day.”