TOPIC： Health Aging – Contribution of the assets of biomedical engineering and biomaterials

SPEAKER： Prof. dr. Yijin Ren, W.J.Kolff Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Materials Science, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, The Netherlands

TIME：APRIL 26 (Tuesday)AM10:00 

LOCATION： Room 528, Chemistry Building A (化学A楼528演讲厅)

INVITER： Prof.Xinyun Zhu (朱新远教授)

Abstract: Healthy aging involves more than growing old. Starting at a young age, we rely on biomaterials, temporarily or permanently, to restore part of the functions in our bodies, in a severe form such as prosthetic implants or in a mild form such as dental restorations. Even if one is extremely lucky to stay away from any biomaterials in his body, if that would be at all possible, he will still be in need of medical devices made of sophisticated biomaterials to provide him a definitive diagnosis every time he visits a hospital with a physical complaint.

Biomaterials in the form of implants and medical devices have been widely used to replace and or restore the function of human tissues or organs and saved millions of lives. To meet the ever growing demand in health care and desire to improve the quality of life of the patients, biomaterials need to be smartly engineered for different medical situations and to increase the range of use and the efficacy. As the boundary of biomedical engineering has expanded to include tissue, genetic, neural, pharmaceutical and clinical engineering as well as medical devices, it’s integration with materials has become an imperative part of modern health care.

The W.J. Kolff Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Biomaterials Science, named after Prof. Kolff the Father of Artificial Organs, is the only institute of this kind in the Netherlands that is located within a university medical center. Here the speaker will take the privilege to present you some of the most exciting research work from the Kolff institute and how the assets of modern biomedical engineering and materials contribute to the leading, EC-endorsed, theme of our medical center, Healthy Aging.

Biography: Born and brought up in Wuhan, China, Dr. Yijin Ren stayed in her hometown until finished the dental training. After completing orthodontic specialist training at Beijing University with a MS degree in 1999, she moved to the Netherlands to pursue an academic career. In 2003 she obtained a PhD degree from University of Nijmegen. In 2007 she was appointed full Professor at University of Groningen, and Head of Department of Orthodontics and clinical program director at University Medical Centre Groningen (UMCG). In 2015 Dr. Ren was appointed director of W.J.Kolff Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Materials Science, named after Prof. W.J.Kolff, the father of artificial organs. The Kolff Insititute is one of the five research institutes at the UMCG, and is the only engineering institute in the Netherlands embedded in an academic hospital.

Prof. Ren received a number of prestigious national and international awards in the last 10 years including the best 5-year paper by the Dutch Orthodontic Society, research grants from the European Orthodontic Society, Stimulation Grant for talented PhD’s by Dutch Scientific Organization (VENI), Distinguished Scientist Award ‐ Young Investigator Award by International Association of Dental Research, best paper of the year by Dutch Dental Journal, Best poster awards by European Orthodontic Society, and visiting professorship and Outstanding Alumni Award by Wuhan University, Paper of the year for significant societal impact.

Her scientific interest is mainly on downward translational research (basic science to clinical practice) in the field of biofilms and bioadhesion, and biomaterials associated infection. Further Dr. Ren is also active in research on clinical applications of 3D facial imaging in diagnosis, treatment planning and outcome evaluations. Clinically Dr. Ren keeps an active practice at UMCG mainly on patients with cleft lip and palate and craniofacial anomalies. She is a consultant orthodontist in the North Netherlands Cleft Lip and Palate Center.

Prof. Ren has been a Council member of World Federation of Orthodontists representing the Dutch Orthodontic Society and a member of the Editorial Board of a number of scientific journals. Prof. Ren has published over 110 peer-reviewed articles with a large number in the Q1 journals across different disciplines, such as Journal of Dental Research, Dental Materials, Biomaterials, Advanced Functional Materials, ACS Nano, FEMS Microbiology Reviews, Langmuir, PlosOne, International Orthopaedics etc. She has given nearly 100 lectures in national and international conferences. Dr. Ren is married and has four children.