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Workshops Workshop 1 Workshop 2 Workshop 3 Workshop 4 Workshop 5 Workshop 6 Workshop 7 Workshop 8 Workshop 9 Workshop 10 Workshop 11 |
Workshop 4 (Morning 9:00 - 12:00) Title: CARING FOR CELLS IN MICROSYSTEMS: ENSURING CELL-SAFE DEVICE DESIGN AND OPERATION Presenters: Joel Voldman, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA Sarvesh Varma, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA Workshop Description: Microfluidic platforms and their technical performance can be optimized using quantitative computational models. However, finding optimal designs or operating conditions that do not harm cells is inherently harder, owing to biological complexity and several technical challenges. In this context, this workshop is geared towards engineers, designers, and users who wish to establish cell-friendly technologies with utility to a broader scientific community. We will discuss strategies to define and measure cell health, along with best practices to mitigate cell stresses within microsystems. We anticipate this workshop will help the audience establish standards that change the way microfluidic platforms are engineered and evaluated, and will enable further adoption of such technologies. Outline: This workshop aims to first familiarize the audience with aspects that define healthy cells and how they may be impacted the cellular microenvironment. We will briefly introduce cellular mechanisms essential for cell function and survival and highlight how stressors emerging from microsystems may disrupt these mechanisms. Subsequently, we will review assays employed by the community to assess cell health, along with associated advantages, disadvantages and withstanding limitations. We will discuss relevant quantitative assays which can be used to measure cell states, along with strategies that are easy to adapt for monitoring cell health. Concluding with a group discussion, we aim to identify guidelines and compile recommendations for the community for establishing cell-friendly technologies. |
