Plenary Speakers
May 12, 2025
Medical Robotics for Cell Surgery – Science & Applications
Prof. Yu Sun
Professor, University of Toronto
E-mail: yu.sun@utoronto.ca
Short Bio: Yu Sun is a Fellow of Canadian Academy of Engineering (CAE), a Fellow of The Academy of Science of Royal Society of Canada (RSC), a Fellow of Canadian Academy of Health Sciences (CAHS), and an International Member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering. He was also elected Fellow of IEEE, ASME, AIMBE, AAAS, NAI, CSME, and EIC for his work on micro-nano robotic systems and devices. Among the awards he received were an NSERC E.W.R. Steacie Fellowship, NSERC Synergy Award of Innovation, IEEE McNaughton Gold Medal, IEEE EMBS Technical Achievement Award, and IEEE NTC Pioneer Award in Nanotechnology. He is the Editor-in-Chief of IEEE Trans. Automation Science and Engineering and an editorial board member of the AAAS journal, Science Robotics.
Abstract
The capability of manipulating micro and nanometer-sized objects, such as cells and nanomaterials opens new frontiers in robotic surgery, disease diagnostics, industrial applications and enables new discoveries in many disciplines such as biology, medicine, and materials science. The past two decades have witnessed spurred development of micro-nanorobotic systems and technologies with common hallmarks of precision instrumentation, sensing, actuation, and control. This talk will begin with a brief review of the evolution of the robotic micromanipulation field, followed by an overview of challenges, opportunities, and representative advances recently made in this field. Examples of robotic cell manipulation systems for clinical surgery and drug screen will be given; sub-micrometer position control and sub-nanoNewton force control for realizing 3D intracellular and intra-tissue manipulation and measurement will be introduced; and mechanical nanosurgery of chemoresistant tumors will be discussed.
Development of microneedle devices with anisotropic porous structure for biomedical application
Prof. Chenjie XU
Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong
E-mail: chenjie.xu@cityu.edu.hk
Short Bio: Prof. Xu focuses on the development of microneedle-based biomedical devices for transdermal drug and cell delivery, with applications in disease diagnosis and treatment. His innovative work explores the use of anisotropic porous microstructures, conductive microneedles, and cryomicroneedles to enhance the efficacy and precision of therapeutic delivery. His research findings have been published in leading journals such as Nature Biomedical Engineering, Nature Reviews Bioengineering, Matter, Science Advances, Nature Communications, Biomaterials, and ACS Nano. Prof. Xu has received numerous prestigious awards, including the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars (2024) and recognition as one of Stanford’s top 2% most highly cited scientists for multiple years (2024, 2023, 2022, 2011).
Abstract
Porous microneedle (MN) devices offer optimal performance for both drug delivery and body fluid sampling. However, current porous MNs suffer from randomly interconnected pores, and existing fabrication methods lack control over pore diameter and orientation. This study employs a freeze-casting technique to precisely control these parameters in porous MNs, inspired by the anisotropic porous structure of wood xylem. This specialized microstructure enables rapid liquid absorption from the tips to the base within seconds, making it an effective tool for tear sampling to monitor tear biomarkers—a capability confirmed in rat models of dry eye disease and diabetes. Additionally, these anisotropic porous MNs facilitate the active loading of various drugs, including γδ T cells, from the base to the tips without the need for specialized equipment. The delivery of γδ T cells via MNs has shown efficacy against tumors in both xenograft melanoma and pleural mesothelioma mouse models, presenting a novel approach to adoptive cell therapy.
May 13, 2025
Nonlinear Neural Dynamics – Unlocking the Secret and Performing Closed-loop Regulation of Brain Diseases Through Brain-Machine Interfaces
Prof. Mingjun Zhang
Professor, Tsinghua University
E-mail: mjzhang@tsinghua.edu.cn
Short Bio: Professor and National Distinguished Scholar, Tsinghua University, P. R. China. Chief scientist for national key R&D project on Brain-Machine Intelligence fusion through brain-machine interfaces. D.Sc. ESE (Washington University in St. Louis), PhD Industrial Automation (Zhejiang University), MS BioE & MS EE (Stanford University), MS CS (University of Missouri-Rolla), BS/MS ME (Zhejiang University). After working as an R&D engineer (Agilent Technologies, 2001-2007), associate professor (tenured, University of Tennessee – Knoxville, 2008-2013), full professor (tenured, The Ohio State University, 2014-2019), he joined Tsinghua University as a tenured full professor in 2020. As a corresponding or lead co-author, he published research papers in Cell Device, Nature Nanotechnology, Nature Communications, Science Advances, PNAS, IEEE Transactions. Research results from his lab has been highlighted by Science, Nature, National Science Foundation of USA, National Science Foundation of China, AAAS, Biomedical Engineering Society. Nature Nanotechnology highlighted his research “paves the way for a new front in peptide optics, News & Views, Jan. 2016.” Received 20+ prestigious research grants as PI from NSF, DoD, NIH of USA, and NSF-China, Department of Science & Technology of China. Received early career award (IEEE Robotics & Automation Society), Young Investigator Award (Office of Naval Research, USA), Innovation Award (Agilent Technologies).
Abstract
Our recent research efforts on understanding neural mechanisms underlying brain diseases through brain machine interfaces (BMIs) concluded that nonlinear neural dynamics associated with multi-stability involving limit cycles, bifurcations, attractors and integrators, may offer significant insights about neural disorders, and may pave a new avenue for closed-loop feedback modulation of brain diseases. In this talk, I will discuss how my lab employs our proprietary BMI system and a data-driven computational approach to model nonlinear neural dynamics underlying epilepsy, track neural activities across multiple brain regions, uncover the propagation patterns of multiband epileptiform activities, and identify seizure onset zones for clinical applications. I will conclude the talk by showing how our BMI embodied with nonlinear neural dynamics may be employed for in vivo closed-loop seizure modulation in rats.
Intelligent Infrared photodetectors
Prof. Weida Hu
Professor, State Key Laboratory of Infrared Physics,
Shanghai Institute of Technical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
E-mail: wdhu@mail.sitp.ac.cn
Short Bio: Weida Hu is Fellow of Optica, the vice president of Shanghai Institute of Technical Physics of Chinese Academy of Sciences, the head of State Key Laboratory of Infrared Physics, and a full professor (Principal investigator) on infrared photodetectors and intelligent recognition chips for space applications in Shanghai Institute of Technology Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. He received the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars in 2017, China Youth Science and Technology Award in 2019, National Science Fund for Excellent Young Scholars in 2013, and National Program for Support of Top-notch Young Professionals in 2015. He received Highly Cited Researcher (Clarivate) since 2022. He has authored or coauthored more than 200 technical journal papers and conference presentations, including Science (2), Nature Photonics (1), Nature Materials (1), Nature Nanotechnology (2), Nature Electronics (5), with the total citations of 29300 and h-index of 96 (Google scholar). He has been invited to contribute News & Views and Invited Review to Nature Materials, Nature Electronics, and Nature Communications. He has held 38 Chinese patents and one US patent.
Abstract
This talk addresses the technical bottlenecks in next-generation aerospace infrared detection systems, specifically focusing on three critical limitations: excessive resource consumption, operational inefficiency, and data transmission constraints. Conventional infrared detection methods employing pixel-by-pixel spectral detection, row/column selective integration readout, and frame-by-frame imaging mechanisms lead to compounded resource expenditures in imaging, communication, and computational domains. Furthermore, the implementation of low-temperature infrared optical systems to mitigate background noise introduces significant payload burdens.
Here we report the progress on intelligent infrared photodetectors based on 2D materials. Field-manipulated uncooled devices employing ferroelectric polarization, vertical junctions, photovoltaic p-n structures, sulfur vacancies, and waveguide coupling demonstrate superior performance, forming foundations for smart optical chips. Local-field-induced reprogrammable optoelectronic states facilitate integrated sensing, in-memory processing, and AI recognition within single detectors. Our work advances precise localized field engineering in 2D photodetectors, resolving critical challenges in material customization and device architecture optimization. This systematic exploration establishes guidelines for next-generation intelligent infrared detection systems.
May 14, 2025
Sonothrombolysis: Transducers and Contrast Agents
Prof. Xiaoning Jiang
Professor, North Carolina State University
E-mail: xjiang5@ncsu.edu
Short Bio: Xiaoning Jiang is the Dean F. Duncan Distinguished Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and a University Faculty Scholar at North Carolina State University. He is also an Adjunct Professor of Biomedical Engineering at North Carolina State University and University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and an Adjunct Professor of Neurology in Duke University. Dr. Jiang received his Ph.D. degree from Tsinghua University (1997) and his Postdoctoral training from the Nanyang Technological University (1996-1997) and the Pennsylvania State University (1997-2001). He was the Chief Scientist and Vice President for TRS Technologies, Inc. prior to joining NC State in 2009. Dr. Jiang is the author and co-author of two books, 6 book chapters, 11 issued US Patents, and more than 200 peer reviewed journal papers on piezoelectric transducers, ultrasound for medical and industrial imaging and therapy, drug delivery, smart structures and M/NEMS. Dr. Jiang served as the Vice President for Technical Activities in IEEE Nanotechnology Council (NTC) (2022-2023). He was the Co-Editor-in-Chief of IEEE Nanotechnology Magazine (2020 – 2021) and an IEEE NTC Distinguished Lecturer in 2018-2019. Dr. Jiang is currently the Vice President-Elect for Publications of IEEE NTC. Dr. Jiang is a Fellow of ASME, SPIE and IEEE.
Abstract
Venous thromboembolism (VTE) affects millions of people each year. The two most common VTE conditions are deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), with PE having a mortality rate exceeding 20%. Treatment options for these conditions include pharmaceutical and pharmacomechanical techniques, both of which carry risks such as bleeding, blood vessel wall injury, and extended treatment times (often exceeding 15 hours).
Sonothrombolysis, a novel approach within pharmacomechanical thrombolysis techniques, has garnered increasing attention due to its efficacy and the potential to mitigate risks associated with traditional thrombolysis methods. In this presentation, we review the current clinical and preclinical sonothrombolysis techniques, with a focus on ultrasound transducers and contrast agents that have been explored.
We will also cover recent advancements in small-aperture transducers and intravenous sonothrombolysis, mediated by microbubbles and nanodroplets, including in-vitro, ex-vivo, and in-vivo studies. The presentation will conclude with a discussion of the challenges and future perspectives in the field.
Decellularized Tissue Engineering Hyaline Cartilage Graft for Articular Cartilage Repair and Its Forward-Looking Test for Space Medicine
Prof. Dongan Wang
Professor, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
E-mail: donganwang@cuhk.edu.hk
Short Bio: Dr. Dong-An Wang is a Professor of Department of Biomedical Engineering in City University of Hong Kong. Dr. Wang has authored nearly 200 research and scholarly publications and numerous patents. The publications include those published in Nat Mater, Adv Mater, etc., some of which are editorially quoted by Science, Nat Mater, etc. Dr. Wang has been conferred with Best Paper Award by Elsevier and Euro Federation for Pharm Sci, and Biomaterials Science Prize by Royal Society of Chemistry. Dr. Wang is a Fellow of Royal Society of Chemistry, UK. Dr. Wang is ranked as the Top 2% of the World’s Most Highly Cited Scientists by Stanford University. Dr. Wang is a member of Biology & Medicine Panel, Research Grants Council (RGC), Hong Kong. Dr. Wang used to be Assoc Chair of School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Nanyang Technological University Singapore; Acting Head of Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong; and, Head of Research at Karolinska Institutet Ming Wai Lau Centre for Reparative Medicine. Dr. Wang is currently a Foreign Adjunct Professor at Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet.
Abstract
Articular hyaline cartilage, a tissue articulating skeleton at joints, is highly prone to damages caused by trauma, diseases and ageing; once injured, its self-regeneration is difficult and slow due to the avascular nature. To repair and regenerate damaged articular cartilage, we have innovatively developed decellularized tissue engineering hyaline cartilage graft (dLhCG). Good osteochondral defect healing and complete integration with adjacent native cartilage in in-situ implantation of dLhCG samples in large animal models. Investigative clinical trials have been completed in China with positive performance. Besides, a forward-looking space experiment is designed and performed with dLhCG for future space medicine too.
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