Major international medical device conference set to take place in Ireland
UCD to host the first ever BioInterface conference outside of the United States
University College Dublin is hosting a major, international medical device conference for the US-based Surfaces in Biomaterials Foundation later this month.
This is the first time that the annual BioInterface conference is being held outside of the United States since it was established in 1990. Over 200 people are expected to attend the conference including noteworthy academic and industry speakers from around the globe.
The interface between the human body and a medical device is critical to the device's performance. The 2012 BioInterface conference, which has a strong applied focus, will enable representatives from industrial, academic, clinical and regulatory communities to gather together to discuss recent advances in biomaterials research and innovation which can improve the performance of medical devices.
Among the broad range of topics that will be covered during the conference are surface modification of devices, biomaterials, wound healing, drug delivery systems, plasma medicine and regulatory issues.
Speaking in advance of the conference, Dan Hook, from Bausch & Lomb and President of the Foundation said, “Among the reasons for selecting Ireland as the location for our 2012 conference, the first ever to be held outside the US in our 22-year history, is the large concentration of medical device companies in the country. Ireland for example boasts the highest per capita medical technology personnel in Europe with nine of the top ten global companies having manufacturing plants in Ireland.”
He added, “We decided specifically to hold BioInterface 2012 at University College Dublin as it is at the forefront of cutting-edge research and innovation in biomaterials and surface engineering in addition to its strong links with the medical industry in Ireland.”
Representatives from companies such as DePuy, Medtronic, EnBio, Bausch & Lomb SurModics, BASF and Boston Scientific, amongst others, will be attending or presenting at the conference.
In addition leading academic researchers from universities such as University of Utah, University of Sydney, Utrecht University, University of Washington, University of Liverpool, Nanyang Technological University along with researchers from UCD, UCC and NUI Galway will be presenting their latest research findings.
Dr Denis Dowling, UCD School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, a member of the conference organising committee said, “We are delighted that the Surfaces in Biomaterials Foundation chose to host its first ever conference outside of America at University College Dublin. This helps to demonstrate the global recognition of the importance of the medical device sector in Ireland.”
He added, “We still have some places left at the conference if members of the medical device industry in Ireland or abroad, or academic researchers, who are interested in attending.”
During the conference a prestigious annual award, the Excellence in Surface Science Award, will be presented. This award honours an outstanding researcher for significant contributions to surface science at the biointerface or an entrepreneur for practical application of surface science in the development of medical devices.
In addition a student award will be presented to recognise excellence in student research. The award winner will be selected from student poster presentations held during the conference.
John O’Donoghue, CEO, EnBio Ltd, which is headquartered at NovaUCD, the Centre for New Ventures and Entrepreneurs, along with Dr Dowling, are the Irish representatives on the BioInterface 2012 programme committee.
The BioInterface 2012 conference takes place in the UCD O’Reilly Hall, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4 from 23-25 October. Additional information, including registration, is available via www.biointerface2012ireland.com
ENDS
10 October 2012
For further information contact Micéal Whelan, University College Dublin, Communications Manager (Innovation), e: miceal.whelan@ucd.ie, t: + 353 1 716 3712 or Dr Denis Dowling, UCD School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, e: denis.dowling@ucd.ie or t: +353 1 716 1747.
Editor’s Notes
The US-based Surfaces in Biomaterials Foundation is dedicated to exploring creative solutions to technical challenges at the BioInterface by fostering education and multidisciplinary cooperation among industrial, academic, clinical and regulatory communities. www.surfaces.org
