In-person: LSC 1312 (2350 Health Sciences Mall)
Note: this room has a capacity of 38 people. If the room has reached this maximum capacity, we ask that you join virtually instead.
Virtual: email events@sbme.ubc.ca at least 4 hours prior to the start of the event for Zoom details. SBME cannot guarantee that late requests for Zoom details can be accommodated.
SBME is proud to present a special lecture from Dr. Corinne Hoesli
“Engineering human-scale pancreatic islet encapsulation systems to treat diabetes”
ABSTRACT
As Canadians are celebrating the 100 years of the discovery of insulin, there is new hope for a long-lasting treatment in the form of cell-based therapies for type 1 diabetes. Stem cell-derived pseudo-islets provide a virtually unlimited cell source for transplantation, but efficacy in patients without the use of immunosuppression remains to be demonstrated. Creating a barrier between the graft and the recipient through encapsulation can potentially provide immunoprotection as well as containment of stem cell-derived products. However, encapsulation can also exacerbate oxygen supply limitations – in particular when delivering human-scale cell doses. This seminar will provide an overview of islet encapsulation technologies being developed in the Hoesli Stem Cell Bioprocessing Laboratory – ranging from emulsion-based microencapsulation systems to 3D printed vascularized tissue models – with a focus on scale-up potential and oxygenation of human-scale engineered tissues.
Speaker
Associate Professor, Chemical Engineering | McGill
Canada Research Chair (Tier II) in Cellular Therapy Bioprocess Engineering
Prof. Corinne Hoesli is the head of the Stem Cell Bioprocessing Laboratory at McGill University. She joined the Department of Chemical Engineering as an Assistant Professor in August 2014. She is a biochemical engineer with expertise in bioprocess development, high‑throughput screening and stem cell culture optimization. In 2014, she received the Martin Sinacore Outstanding Young Investigator Award conferred by Engineering Conferences International and Biogen Idec in recognition of her leadership in bioprocess engineering. Her research aims to develop bioprocesses to produce and transplant therapeutic cells to treat diabetes and cardiovascular disease. She notably developed new methods to encapsulate pancreatic islets, as well as vascular biomaterials surface modification strategies.
Host
Professor and Director | School of Biomedical Engineering
Director | Michael Smith Laboratories