NEW: Nature Symposium on Biomedical Applications

Graphene and other 2D materials have only recently been explored in the context of biomedical research. We are happy to announce that during Graphene Week 2016 Nature Materials and Nature Physics together with the Graphene Flagship are organising a Nature Symposium on Biomedical Applications to discuss the potential of graphene in biosensors, diagnostic devices and bioelectronic implants. Leading experts in these fields will provide an overview on the state-of-the-art, delineate research directions to follow and the challenges that graphene researchers are called to address.

Taking place on Thursday 16 June, this 'must-see' symposium comprises of two sessions, the first of which will be dedicated to Sensor devices outside the body with Prof. Luisa Torsi from the University of Bari Aldo Moro in Italy talking about High Performing Printable Bio-Electronic Sensors; Prof. Michael Strano from MIT in the USA presenting Bio-Implantable and Subcellular Sensors Based on Nanocarbon Systems and Prof. Owen Guy from Swansea University in the UK discussing Lab On Chip Graphene Sensors For Point of Care Diagnostics.

The second session is dedicated to Implant devices inside the body with Prof. Tsuyoshi Sekitani from Osaka University in Japan speaking about how to design better tissue-machine interfaces with stretchable and bendable electronics; Prof. Jose Garrido from the Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2) in Spain speaking about his work on graphene based flexible electronics for neuroprosthetics and finally Dr Daniel Chew from the Bioelectronics R&D in GlaxoSmithKline, UK draws the speaker session to a close with a talk about his work to create electronic implants which control illnesses.

Co-Chaired by Prof. Kostas Kostarelos from the University of Manchester in the UK and WorkPackage Leader of Biomedical Technologies in the Graphene Flagship this symposium gives attendees the opportunity to hear from those at the cutting edge of research in the biomedical field.

“Symposiums such as these are so important because they act as spring-boards on how graphene and other 2D materials can have a realistic and transformative contribution for biomedical technology” said Prof. Kostarelos.

Talking further about Nature's interest in this field are the two Co-Chairs of the symposium, Dr Maria Maragkou from Nature Materials and Dr Luke Fleet from Nature Physics, “Nature’s physical science journals have showcased many of the exciting developments from researchers working with two-dimensional materials. But as graphene works its way into biomedical applications, these advances look set to extend into Nature’s life science pages.”

Read more about graphene in biomedicine in the recently published piece by Nature Materials entitled 'Graphene steps into biomedicine'​.

This is a session not to be missed and is included in the Graphene Week conference pass or you can register for a day pass​ to attend this exciting and unique session.