Cellular-Organ Models, Mechanotransduction and Emerging Biomimetic Technologies
Dr. Donald E. Ingber is a highly distinguished Harvard professor and the Founding Director of the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, one of the world’s most influential centers for bioengineering inspired by living systems. From this platform he has driven a new way of conceiving biomedical research, bringing together biology, engineering, physics, design and medicine to create technologies that mimic the organizational and functional principles of living systems. Widely recognized as a global pioneer in mechanobiology and in applying “tensegrity” principles to cellular and tissue organization, his work has redefined how we understand the role of physical forces in development, physiology and disease and helped give rise to entire fields such as biologically inspired engineering and human organs‑on‑chips. He is the creator of the human organs‑on‑chips platform that now sets new standards for advanced drug evaluation and precision toxicology, a technology celebrated internationally not only for its scientific and medical impact but also as a design icon: awarded Design of the Year by the London Design Museum, listed among the World Economic Forum’s most important emerging technologies, and acquired by the Museum of Modern Art in New York for its permanent collection. These contributions place Dr. Ingber among the most influential figures of his generation at the intersection of basic science, technological innovation and the transformation of biomedical practice.
Dr. Albert Folch is a Professor of Bioengineering at the University of Washington and an international leader in microfluidics and organ‑on‑chip systems. His laboratory designs devices that mimic the microenvironment of neurons and tumors, enabling the study of processes such as axon guidance, synaptogenesis, and cancer stem cell behavior, as well as microfluidic platforms that multiplex drugs on human tissue to improve the design of personalized therapies and the assessment of new immunotherapies.
Dr. Grissel Trujillo de Santiago is an internationally recognised scientist whose work is opening new possibilities in the fabrication of tissues and life-inspired materials. A research professor at Tecnológico de Monterrey and co-director of the Alvarez-Trujillo Lab, she is one of the inventors of chaotic bioprinting, a technology that harnesses mathematically controlled flows to build multilayered architectures and arrange cells in patterns that reproduce the complexity of biological tissues. Her research combines conceptual originality, precision engineering, and biomaterials design to develop three-dimensional structures with potential applications in regenerative medicine and drug testing. Her ability to connect discovery with innovation extends to FORMA Foods, where she serves as scientific co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer, advancing structured meat alternatives through 3D printing. Recognised with the American Chemical Society’s 2024 Emerging Leader in Chemistry Award, the Mexican Academy of Sciences’ 2023 Young Scientist Research Award, and the L’Oréal-UNESCO-AMC For Women in Science Fellowship, her career stands out for translating bold ideas into technologies that expand the possibilities of biofabrication.
Dr. César López Camarillo is a research professor at the Universidad Autónoma de la Ciudad de México and a leading figure in cancer genomics. His group has driven the development of three-dimensional breast cancer cell culture models to investigate molecular biomarkers and precision medicine pathways, and his widely recognized, award-winning contributions are complemented by a strong commitment to teaching and scientific outreach.
Dr. Kevin Kit Parker is a Distinguished Professor of Bioengineering and Applied Physics at Harvard and is affiliated with the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery at Boston Children’s Hospital. His laboratory, the Disease Biophysics Group, investigates cardiac cell biology and tissue engineering, traumatic brain injury, and biological applications of micro‑ and nanotechnologies. To understand mechanotransduction in the heart, his team uses advanced cellular and tissue engineering techniques to build custom‑designed cardiac myocytes and ventricular tissue constructs that serve as experimental preparations to study how the extracellular matrix and cytoskeleton regulate mechanochemical and mechanoelectrical signaling and activate genetic programs in the myocardium.
Tec de Monterrey / Centro Biotecnología - FEMSA
Dr. Mario Moisés Álvarez is a Rómulo Garza Insignia Professor and research faculty member at Tecnológico de Mo nterrey, where he founded and served as the first director of the FEMSA Biotechnology Center, one of Mexico’s leading hubs for biotechnology innovation. His career bridges chemical engineering, biotechnology and biomedical engineering, with over three decades devoted to bioreactor design, tissue engineering, 3D bioprinting, pharmaceutical biotechnology and the development of point‑of‑care diagnostic platforms based on micro‑ and nanotechnologies. He has led emblematic projects ranging from vaccines and biopharmaceuticals to organ‑on‑chip devices for studying the interplay between the intestinal microbiota and colorectal cancer, positioning the FEMSA Biotechnology Center and the Álvarez‑Trujillo Lab as reference groups in tissue engineering and bioprinting in Latin America.
Emory University
Dr. Khalid Salaita is the Samuel Candler Dobbs Professor of Chemistry at Emory University, program faculty in Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech–Emory, and a member of the Winship Cancer Institute, where he has emerged as a leading figure in molecular mechanobiology. His lab investigates the interface between living systems and engineered nanoscale materials, repurposing nucleic acids to build synthetic motors, sensors and therapeutic tools that can measure and control mechanical forces in cells with piconewton sensitivity. Among his key contributions are molecular tension fluorescence platforms and a suite of DNA‑based mechano‑technologies that make cell‑surface forces visible and usable to detect pathogens and to interrogate processes such as immune recognition, tumor progression and treatment response, establishing his group as a reference in force‑based technologies for biomedical applications.
Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León
Dr. Jorge Luis Menchaca Arredondo is a research professor at the Faculty of Physical‑Mathematical Sciences of Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, where he has helped make biophysics and nanoscale surface studies central pillars of research in materials science and biological systems. As co‑founder of the surface and interface physical chemistry laboratory, he uses atomic force microscopy to probe the viscoelastic properties of cells, the organization of biomolecules and the behavior of nanoparticles in liquid environments, providing a direct window into the forces and textures that govern life at the microscopic scale. His projects range from encapsulating biological material using microfluidic techniques to advancing liquid‑AFM methodologies, establishing his group as a reference for leveraging high‑precision physical tools to understand and manipulate biological interfaces and complex materials.
University of Michigan
Dr. Ramon Ocadiz Ruiz is a researcher in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Michigan, with over a decade of experience in cancer biology and metastasis. His work focuses on elucidating the molecular basis of tumor development and the dynamics of metastatic spread using bioengineered microenvironments and advanced models of breast and lung cancer, with the goal of improving early detection and disease prognosis. He is a recipient of the Pierre Massion Young Investigator Award for Lung Cancer Early Detection Research from the LUNGevity Foundation, recognizing his emerging contributions in developing bioengineered implants for early detection of lung cancer.
Director - Centre for Advanced Light Microscopy | McMaster University
Dr. José Moran‑Mirabal is a Professor of Chemistry and Chemical Biology at McMaster University, University Scholar, Canada Research Chair in Micro‑ and Nanostructured Materials, and Founding Director of the Centre for Advanced Light Microscopy. His group combines micro‑ and nanofabrication, surface chemistry, and high‑resolution fluorescence microscopy to design materials and devices from the micrometer down to the nanometer scale. Their research includes the development of high‑fidelity bioinks for 3D bioprinting of biomimetic tissue models, modular functionalization of nanocellulose, and simple, low‑cost fabrication of micro‑ and nanostructured surfaces, which have become reference platforms for probing biomolecular interactions and building advanced experimental systems.
Instituto de Investigaciones en Materiales - UNAM
Dr. María Cristina Piña Barba is one of the leading pioneers of medical physics and biomaterials in Mexico, and a key figure pushing materials science toward concrete solutions for health. Her research focuses on designing and understanding biomaterials for prostheses, implants and three‑dimensional scaffolds that can help repair and regenerate tissues, always with the goal that what happens in the lab eventually reaches patients and clinicians. Through projects that bring together physics, medicine and materials science, and through efforts that connect the university with hospitals and companies, she helps turn advanced biomaterials -such as 3D scaffolds and decellularized extracellular matrices- into real tools for better health care.
Instituto de Ciencias Físicas - UNAM
Dr. Susel Del Sol Fernández leads the Biophysics Laboratory at UNAM’s Institute of Physical Sciences, a leading group in the study of how polyene drugs, ion channels and biological membranes interact. Her team combines atomic force microscopy, UV/Vis spectroscopy, single‑channel electrophysiology, nanoparticle analysis (TRPS), and molecular dynamics and quantum simulations to unravel how antibiotics such as amphotericin B act at the lipid bilayer level and how this knowledge can be used to design analogs and controlled‑release systems, particularly safer and more effective liposomal formulations. This work has established her laboratory as one of Mexico’s reference groups in membrane biophysics and nanomedicine, driving the rational design of drug‑delivery vehicles and new therapeutic strategies grounded in the physics of biological systems.
LAAS-CNRS
Dr. Morgan Delarue is a CNRS researcher at the Laboratoire d’Analyse et d’Architecture des Systèmes (LAAS‑CNRS) in Toulouse, a research center dedicated to complex systems and advanced technologies. He leads the MechaBioFluidics team, which investigates how compressive mechanical stress impacts cell physiology, combining microfluidics, biophysics and cell biology to explore what happens when cells are put under pressure, from yeast to mammalian cells. This work has helped establish his laboratory as a reference group for understanding how mechanical stress in the microenvironment shapes cell proliferation, intracellular organization and treatment responses, particularly in cancer and other diseases linked to tissue mechanics.
Harvard Medical School
Dr. Yu Shrike Zhang is a professor at Harvard Medical School and works in the Division of Engineering in Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, where he directs the Laboratory of Engineered Living Systems (Zhang Lab).
His lab advances organ‑on‑chip platforms, 3D bioprinting, and the biofabrication of scaffolds and hydrogels to build biomimetic tissues and microphysiological models that are widely recognized and adopted in international research. It also develops bioanalysis tools and minimally invasive delivery systems used to study diseases, evaluate drugs, and design regenerative and personalized medicine strategies, contributions that have earned numerous awards and establish him as a leading figure in biofabrication and microphysiological systems.
Institut Cochin
Dr. Paolo Pierobon is a Director of Research at Institut Cochin (INSERM/CNRS, Paris), where he investigates the dynamics of cytoskeleton‑dependent immune responses. His group studies how mechanical forces, actin and microtubule organization, and cell polarity regulate lymphocyte activation and immune synapse formation, combining biophysical approaches, advanced microscopy, and microfluidics to follow communication between immune cells in tissues such as lymph nodes. This work has established his laboratory as a leading group in understanding how the properties of the immune microenvironment shape the effectiveness of immune responses and guide the design of new targeted therapies.
Université Grenoble Alpes
Dr. Alice Nicolas is a researcher at the Laboratoire des Technologies de la Microélectronique (LTM), a joint CNRS–Université Grenoble Alpes research unit on the MINATEC‑CEA campus, dedicated to developing micro‑ and nanotechnologies for microelectronics and health. Within the “Micro and Nanotechnologies for Health, Energy and Environment” (MiNaSEE) division, which she co‑leads, her work focuses on the design and fabrication of micro‑ and nanofabricated platforms for biosensors, medical devices and analytical systems that integrate advanced materials and state‑of‑the‑art cleanroom technologies to develop innovative solutions for the diagnosis and monitoring of biological systems.
Universidad del Valle de México, Campus Querétaro
Dr. Néstor Méndez Lozano is a research professor at Universidad del Valle de México, Querétaro Campus, specializing in materials science and leading projects in collaboration with the National Autonomous University of Mexico and CINVESTAV Querétaro to develop new solutions for medicine. His work has focused on ceramic calcium phosphate biomaterials with composition and structure close to the hydroxyapatite present in human bone, produced through microwave‑assisted hydrothermal processes to obtain biocompatible materials that are recognized as “self” by the body. These advances aim to replace conventional metallic joint prostheses with implants and coatings that support bone integration and regeneration, bringing the UVM–UNAM–CINVESTAV collaboration to the forefront of Mexican efforts in biomaterials for orthopedics and bone reconstruction and directly linking materials engineering to clinical needs.
Purdue University
Dr. Shalini Low‑Nam leads a research group in the Departments of Chemistry and Physics at Purdue University focused on membrane biophysics and signaling in immune and tumor cells. Her lab combines single‑molecule fluorescence imaging, fast high‑resolution microscopy and immunology to dissect how membrane organization and dynamics control T‑cell activation, immune–tumor cell interactions and the mechanisms by which engineered cells such as CAR‑T recognize and eliminate their targets. This work places her group at the forefront of mechanobiology and signaling biology, providing quantitative tools and new insights to improve immunotherapies and cancer control strategies.
CINVESTAV
Dr. América Alejandra Padilla Viveros is a Cinvestav researcher, Biotechnology Engineer, and PhD graduate in Chemical-Biological Sciences specialising in transforming scientific knowledge into impactful innovation. Her work brings together technology transfer, intellectual property, research valorisation, and the circular bioeconomy to help move biotechnology developments in health, agri-food, and environmental fields into protected, scalable technologies with real-world applications. She is co-inventor of national and international patents and a utility model, including a 3D bioprinting device recognised with the 2024 IMPI Mexican Innovation Award.
Instituto de Investigaciones en Materiales - UNAM
Dr. Yareli Rojas-Aguirre is a researcher at UNAM’s Institute of Materials Research and leads a multidisciplinary group that brings together expertise in chemistry, physics, biology, and engineering to create next-generation therapeutic platforms. Her research lies at the frontier of biomaterials and nanomedicine, investigating how molecular recognition and self-assembly can be programmed to control structure–function relationships in complex systems. Building on these principles, she develops biomaterials, nanostructures, systems, and devices with the potential to transform targeted drug delivery and expand the toolkit available to pharmaceutical and biomedical sciences. Her work combines fundamental science, rational materials design, and applied innovation to advance supramolecular strategies toward therapeutic solutions for diseases of high relevance. She also promotes rigorous public engagement with nanotechnology, nanomedicine, and their societal implications, strengthening the connection between scientific breakthroughs and society.
Tec de Monterrey / INBioTech
Dr. María Luisa del Prado Audelo is a professor‑researcher at the School of Engineering and Sciences of Tecnológico de Monterrey, where she leads the INBioTech Lab (Innovation in Nano and Biotechnology Laboratory) focused on biomaterials and nanosystems for health applications. Her work lies at the interface of biomaterials and nanotechnology: she designs nanoparticles and nano‑, micro‑ and macro‑scale platforms for controlled release of biomolecules and drugs, biopolymeric scaffolds for tissue regeneration, and biopolymer aerogels for water remediation, with a strong emphasis on sustainable solutions and unconventional therapies. Recent projects include nanosystems encapsulating active components from essential oils to target microorganisms that evade traditional treatments and targeted delivery systems for tissue engineering; her contributions have been recognised with awards such as the Canifarma Award for Technological Development and the Bionano Award, as well as her selection among 3M’s 25 Women in Science in Latin America.
Leica Microsystems
Dr. Piero Bagnaresi connects the study of living systems with the technologies that reveal their complexity. With expertise in cell biology, biotechnology, and advanced microscopy, his career brings together research on cellular signalling and the use of fluorescence, confocal microscopy, and calcium imaging to investigate dynamic biological processes. As Manager of Life Sciences & Applied Solutions for Latin America at Leica Microsystems, he connects scientific needs with specialised imaging and analytical solutions, bringing technological capabilities to researchers and users across different sectors. His background combines experimental knowledge with a strategic perspective on innovation, focusing on how imaging technologies can expand our ability to characterise biological systems and address complex biomedical questions.
Instituto de Oftalmología Conde de Valenciana
Dr. Juan Carlos Zenteno Ruiz is a leading expert in ocular genetics in Mexico who combines genomic research with the development of retinal organoids to decipher the mechanisms of vision loss and explore new therapeutic possibilities. As head of the Laboratory of Pluripotent Cells and Ocular Organoids at the Instituto de Oftalmología Conde de Valenciana, he develops three-dimensional models derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells that reproduce key features of the retina, including its layered organisation and the formation of light-responsive photoreceptors. These platforms enable the investigation of conditions such as retinitis pigmentosa, Stargardt disease, and Usher syndrome, as well as the evaluation of molecules with the potential to preserve or restore photoreceptor function. His work at UNAM and his research into the genetic basis of ocular diseases connect molecular alterations identified in patients with their investigation in human tissue models, bringing clinical genetics, bioengineering, and therapeutic research together to address one of medicine’s major challenges: preserving vision.
CINVESTAV
Dr. Carlos Jorge Ramírez Flores is a Cinvestav researcher whose work connects infection biology with the potential of human microphysiological models. His research combines three-dimensional systems, biological matrices, and molecular analysis to decipher how Toxoplasma gondii invades tissues, crosses cellular barriers, and spreads throughout the body. He focuses particularly on parasite proteases and their ability to degrade extracellular matrix components and intercellular junctions, linking molecular mechanisms of virulence with the physical environment of infection. His work includes modelling early interactions between T. gondii and the intestine using a human microphysiological system, an approach that enables infection to be explored in an experimental setting more closely aligned with tissue physiology. His research brings together parasitology, biochemistry, and advanced cellular models to address a fundamental question: how pathogens interact with the structures that protect the body and overcome its barriers.
Dr. Tatiana Fiordelisio Coll is a professor at UNAM’s Faculty of Sciences, where she investigates the physiology of the neuroendocrine system and endocrine cell dynamics under physiological and pathological conditions, with particular interest in how intracellular signalling and tissue microenvironments relate to endocrine‑metabolic diseases and pituitary tumours. She is also head of the National Laboratory for Biomimetic Solutions for Diagnosis and Therapy (LANSBIODYT), from which she drives an innovation ecosystem in biomimetic platforms and medical devices so that research can be translated into solutions with real social impact. Her work spans the design and development of organ‑on‑chip and microphysiological systems, together with point‑of‑care (PoC) diagnostic technologies such as biosensors, and portable systems for organ preservation in transplantation, all guided by a clear mission: to create bio‑inspired materials and devices that solve medical problems and turn transformative technologies into products accessible to society. She is the Mexican co‑leader of the CNRS International Research Project (IRP) BioPhysImmuno, which structures Franco‑Mexican collaboration with LAI in Marseille, and a co‑organizer of this COMMET symposium.
Dr. Pierre‑Henri Puech is one of the central figures in adhesion biophysics and immunobiophysics at the Adhesion and Inflammation Laboratory (LAI, Marseille), where he has placed mechanobiology at the heart of the discussion on immune and cancer cell behaviour. His work examines how lymphocytes and other cells convert mechanical cues into signalling decisions: how mechanotransduction controls cascades triggered by cell–cell contact, how cells continuously generate forces, and how piconewton‑scale loads reconfigure biomolecules and guidance pathways in living tissues. By integrating force‑based biophysical approaches with advanced imaging and rigorous quantitative analysis, his group builds a physical and molecular framework for understanding immune recognition, fibrosis and cancer progression. He is the French co‑leader of the CNRS International Research Project (IRP) BioPhysImmuno, which structures the Franco‑Mexican collaboration with LANSBIODYT, and is a co‑organizer of this COMMET symposium.
Dr. Edda Lydia Sciutto Conde is a researcher at UNAM’s Institute of Biomedical Research and one of the most influential figures in the immunology of parasitic infections and neuroinflammation. She is widely recognized for developing the S3Pvac vaccine against Taenia solium and for decisive contributions to the diagnosis of human and porcine neurocysticercosis, which have reshaped how this disease is addressed in the region. Her trajectory has pushed classical immunology toward the study of neuroinflammatory components and the role of the blood–brain barrier in autoimmune and neurodegenerative disorders, bridging parasitology, neuroscience and translational medicine. She also drives the development of advanced blood–brain barrier models -including chip‑based approaches and experimental platforms that allow quantitative measurement of its permeability and drug passage into the brain- with the aim of designing more effective and specific therapeutic strategies for complex neurological diseases.
Dr. Paula Licona Limón is a principal investigator at UNAM’s Institute of Cellular Physiology and a leading figure in cellular and molecular immunology in Mexico. Her laboratory investigates how the immune system controls bacterial, parasitic and viral infections, as well as responses to cancer and autoimmunity, using transgenic, reporter and deficient mouse models to define effector mechanisms and signalling pathways across different lymphoid populations. Her research focuses on type 2 immune responses, the role of factors such as TGF‑β and the PKA pathway in T‑cell subset differentiation, and the design of immunotherapies against multidrug‑resistant bacterial strains, placing her at the forefront of efforts to understand and modulate immune responses in complex infections and cancer.
Dr. Leonardo Ibor Ruiz Ortega conducts cutting-edge research at the intersection of biophysics, nanotechnology, and biomaterials. At the State University of Sonora, he employs scanning probe microscopy to investigate, at nanometre resolution, the mechanical and physicochemical properties that govern the behaviour of biological structures. His work combines fundamental studies of living systems with the design and characterisation of hydrogels, nanoparticles, biopolymers, and metal–organic frameworks for biomedical applications.
His current research on the nanomechanics of biological structures provides valuable tools and perspectives for the development of biomimetic models, microphysiological platforms, and emerging healthcare technologies. His involvement aligns with the research and development initiatives promoted by LANSBIODYT, strengthening the dialogue between fundamental science, materials engineering, and biomedical innovation.
Dr. Gabriel A. Caballero‑Robledo is a renowned researcher at CINVESTAV Monterrey, specializing in soft-matter physics and microfluidics applied to biomedical devices. His laboratory develops microfluidic and nanotechnology-based systems for controlled drug delivery using microbubbles and ultrasound, for the study of extracellular vesicles and plant-derived nanovesicles, and for the self-organization of microparticles in microfluidic channels for immunoassays and rapid diagnosis of infectious diseases, positioning these technologies as more accessible and efficient alternatives to conventional methods.
Industrial designer Yesica Escalera Matamoros, from UNAM’s Industrial Design Research Centre (CIDI), brings creativity, thoughtful insight, and rigour to the development of solutions that connect technology with people’s needs. Her ability to bring together design, functionality, and user experience makes her an invaluable contributor to interdisciplinary work, shaping solutions that address both the technical complexity and the human dimension of each project. Her involvement in healthcare technology initiatives, including ZLUP, a system for diagnosing sleep apnoea, complements her close, ongoing collaboration with LANSBIODYT on the development of a diagnostic biosensor, a lamp for ophthalmic treatment, and a portable system for organ preservation in transplantation. Throughout this collaboration, her design sensibility and ability to integrate diverse perspectives enrich the research and development process. Her contribution underscores the value of industrial design as an essential connection between scientific knowledge and the creation of technologies designed around people.
MSc. Diana Velázquez is a PhD student in Biological Sciences whose research focuses on developing a biomimetic device to evaluate NK lymphocyte transmigration. Her work connects the study of cellular processes with the design of experimental tools, bringing biology and technology together through an interdisciplinary approach. Her research reflects a creative and dedicated scientific outlook, along with a strong interest in connecting different fields of knowledge to address complex biological questions. Through this work, she contributes an interdisciplinary perspective to the development of new tools for scientific research.
MSc Karla Amairani Ventura López is a PhD student whose research focuses on cytosolic calcium dynamics in natural killer (NK) cells in response to extracellular mechanical cues. Her work brings together the study of cellular signals and the physical conditions of the surrounding environment through a distinctly interdisciplinary approach. Her contribution centres on a fundamental research question: how external mechanical cues relate to responses within NK cells. With an outlook that bridges scales and disciplines, Karla brings a valuable perspective to exploring the dialogue between cells and their environment.
