Abstract

Engineering Organoids, Organs, and Societies

Kelly Stevens, Assistant Professor, Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington

Although much progress has been made in building engineered human tissues and organs over the past several decades, replicating complex tissues remains an enormous challenge. To overcome this challenge, our field first needs to create better three-dimensional spatial maps, or “blueprints” of human tissues and organs. We also need to then understand how these spatial blueprints encode positional processes in tissues. Here, I will describe some of our work to develop multimodal “google maps” of human organs, as well as both biological and technology means to build these organs. Finally, I will speak to how we might together better built a more impactful profession by leveraging the power of all human intellect.