When the body loses its normal abilities—due to stroke, blindness or cancer, for example—doctors must tap their creativity to engineer new ways to restore function. Researcher Molly Shoichet of the University of Toronto will tell three stories from this field, regenerative medicine, in a public lecture tonight at 7 p.m. Eastern time. The lecture will be broadcast live at the link below.
Shoichet’s lab recently invented a new polymer called a hydrogel that can deliver protein drugs or stem cells to the brain and spinal cord. She has also worked on a way to use newly engineered biomaterials to deliver replacements for dead cells in an eye after blindness sets in. “Our dream is to take an invention from the lab and turn it into a product that will make a difference in someone’s life,” she says in a teaser video for the lecture.
In her talk Shoichet will offer details about three instances in which her team found fascinating ways to make up for the body’s shortcomings, and she will focus on explaining the underlying biology, chemistry and engineering that made it possible. Her presentation, titled “Engineering Change in Medicine,” is part of a public lecture series at the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics in Ontario. Online viewers can pose questions by tweeting to @perimeter and using the #piLIVE hashtag.
On supporting science journalism
If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.
You can view videos of some past Perimeter physics lectures below:
How Quantum Computing Could Change Cybersecurity Forever [Video]How Mistakes Help Science [Video]
Shape-Shifting Particles: Mysterious Neutrinos [Video]
The Hunt for Dark Matter and Dark Energy [Video]