Medicen Paris Region and IBEC join forces to create the first Bioengineering and Medtech Against Cancer event on November 24 and 25, 2020

Paris, France, and Barcelona, Spain, November 23, 2020 – Medicen Paris Region, Europe’s leading healthtech cluster, and IBEC, the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia, in collaboration with Biocat, ‘La Caixa’ Foundation and Meditecnologia, boosted by EIT Health, announce today their collaboration in organizing a digital event on November 24 and 25, 2020, bringing together medtech and biotech players in the oncology field.

The ToHealth Short Course 2020 will encourage impactful entrepreneurship that takes a predictive, preventive, personalized and participatory approach to medicine. This free virtual event will bring together international experts to present technological advances, future trends and opportunities in the fight against cancer using bioengineering and medtech.

“In line with the EU cancer mission, we set up a very ambitious program that allows participants to learn more about the latest oncology developments, to discuss the main challenges and to create new collaborations with relevant European partners active in the field,” said Daniela Onofri, European project manager for Medicen Paris Region.

Several topics will be covered, including:

• Mechanobiology – targeting the tumor’s mechanical properties as a novel therapeutic strategy against cancer
• Tumor on chip – developments in microfluidic cell culture technology have led to the generation of human organs-on-chips for cancer drug testing and disease modeling
• Liquid biopsies – have the potential to dramatically improve the diagnosis and prognosis of cancer
• Targeted drug delivery – advanced drug delivery strategies are being developed for chemotherapy, with high efficacy and few side effects

These tools have the potential to change the current paradigm in cancer diagnosis, prognosis and treatment, but this revolution will only be possible with a multidisciplinary convergence of technologies and synergic dialogue between researchers, clinicians, companies and patients. None of this will be achieved without the involvement of all stakeholders, to ensure that these technologies are effective, safe and accepted by patients, their families and caregivers and healthcare professionals.

“Cancer is one of the pathologies that can benefit most from the novel bioengineering approach, at the frontiers of life science and engineering, that brings together fields such as nanomedicine, biophysics, mechanobiology, biotechnology and ICT,” said Josep Samitier, director, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia.

Cancer is the second leading cause of death globally, accounting for an estimated 9.6 million deaths in 2018. Its burden continues to grow, exerting tremendous physical, emotional and financial strain on individuals, families, communities and health systems.

In order to meet this health challenge in the 21st century, it is important to combine the most recent bioengineering and medical technologies to develop novel approaches and a biological system analysis to provide innovative solutions for diagnosis, prognosis and treatment, while protecting the overall health of the patient and limiting side effects. With this purpose, the Bioengineering and Medtech Against Cancer event promotes an innovation model where scientists, engineers, clinicians, industrials, entrepreneurs, medtech companies, patients and doctors will work in close collaboration.

As part of this project, a call for expressions of interest has been launched for all project leaders in the field of oncology. This initiative will offer the 12 most interesting projects the possibility to pitch in front of a panel of experts composed of industrialists, academics, and investors during the Innovation Track on November 25. More than 300 participants are already registered.

More information about the event

About IBEC

The Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), located in Barcelona (Spain), conducts excellent interdisciplinary research at the frontiers of engineering and life sciences. It  generates new knowledge by combining fields such as nanomedicine, biophysics, biotechnology and tissue engineering with applications in health information technology.

www.ibecbarcelona.eu

About BioCat

Biocat maximizes the economic and social impact of the life sciences and healthcare innovation ecosystem in Catalonia (Spain). Its strategy is based on several key points: raising awareness and promoting the ecosystem, providing innovative skills training and developing talent, and accelerating technology transfer and business growth through support and activities to boost the sector’s value. Established in 2006 as a public-private foundation, Biocat, alongside the Catalan Government, promotes strategic large-scale policies and projects to help make the sector more competitive.

www.biocat.cat

About Medicen Paris Region

Medicen is the health innovation hub in the Paris Region with more than 480 players in the entrepreneurial, industrial, clinical and academic spheres supporting the development of innovative diagnostic and therapeutic solutions. It brings together members in five areas of excellence: biological diagnostics, medical imaging, biotherapies and molecules, medtech and digital health. In order to make Ile-de-France the leader in the therapies of tomorrow, it has three levers for action: supporting the growth of startups and SMEs in France and abroad, promoting the emergence of innovation and directing project leaders to the right public funding.

www.medicen.org