Professor Hala Zreiqat The Fourth Tissue Engineering Symposium Interview

Professor Hala Zreiqat The Fourth Tissue Engineering Symposium Interview

The Sydney University Tissue Engineering Network (SuTEN) is holding its 4th Tissue Engineering Symposium in August 2012. This two day world class event will bring in leaders from several top universities all around the world.

The Fourth Tissue Engineering Symposium
28-29th of August, 2012
8:00am - 5:30PM
The Darlington Centre, University of Sydney, Australia.
$60 / $30 Students (incl. GST) Price includes lunch and refreshments.
http://sydney.edu.au/engineering/aeromech/SuTEN

Interview with Professor Hala Zreiqat

Question: Can you talk us through the process behind organising the Tissue Engineering Symposium?

Professor Hala Zreiqat: The Tissue Engineering Symposium is for Clinical and Orthopaedic doctors and people who are interested in research in Mucsculoskeletal diseases.

We have a program that explains who will be at the Tissue Engineering Symposium, see: http://sydney.edu.au/engineering/aeromech/SuTEN


Question: What is your main aim for the event?

Professor Hala Zreiqat: The Tissue Engineering Symposium brings together top class researchers who are working to find solutions for problems encountered in blood, cartilage and bone.


Question: Why are young doctors and PhD students encouraged to attend the event, this year?

Professor Hala Zreiqat: This year's theme is also particularly useful for Early Career Researchers. If you are a young post doc or PhD student, you are encouraged to also attend the Early Career Researcher Workshop scheduled on the 27th of August.

We are encouraging young doctors because these are the people who will take research to the next level. PhD students can learn from all the top class scientist who are coming from overseas to attend and speak at the Tissue Engineering Symposium. I've also invited people who can explain what we need to do, if anything, to further our research or give confidence on the level of research that we are currently doing in Australia by interacting with these people.

The event is not only for young people but many senior doctors, as well.


Question: What is the main message you hope young doctors and PhD students take from the Tissue Engineering Symposium?

Professor Hala Zreiqat: I believe it is important that we have more people dedicated to research in this specific area in the hope that we can find cures in the not so distance future.


Question: What topics will be covered at the Tissue Engineering Symposium?

Professor Hala Zreiqat: Sessions include:
Programming Stem Cells for Bone, Blood, and Cartilage Regeneration.
Mucsculoskeletal tissue regeneration.
Cells, molecular signals and tissue regeneration.
Haematopoeitic and vascular regeneration.
General discussion of translation from bench to bed, and industrialisation.

On the 27th of August, in the evening, there will be an event particularly for early career researchers with mentors to advise how to enhance their research capabilities and how to be at the forefront of research. The 28th and 29th of August focuses on the latest research such as what is happening in research and what has been discovered in the key areas of blood, cartilage and bone.


Question: What are the highlights for you of the Tissue Engineering Symposium?

Professor Hala Zreiqat: I am excited about hearing from everybody; we have Dennis E. Discher and Thomas Schaer from Pennsylvania and Vicki Rosen from Harvard who are all doing top class research in their area.

Question: Has there been advances made in cells, molecular signals and tissue regeneration?

Professor Hala Zreiqat: Yes, there have been a number of advances in the area of bone, cartilage and blood and they will all be discussed at the Tissue Engineering Symposium.


Question: What do these advancements mean for Australians suffering with tissue and cell damage?

Professor Hala Zreiqat: Many people are suffering from Mucsculoskeletal or bone diseases; Mucsculoskeletal disease (such as Osteoarthritis (severe trauma can lead to Osteoarthritis), Rheumatoid Arthritis, back pain injuries, Osteoporosis) are one of the most significant disease affecting Australians next to the heart and they are crippling to Australians. Australia is amongst the countries with the highest rate of Mucsculoskeletal diseases, which is why it is important that we hold the Tissue Engineering Symposium.