US-Mauritius International Workshop: Biomaterials: Perspectives and Possibilities, at the University of Mauritius, Nov. 30 - Dec. 4, 2009

塔夫茨大学的David Kaplan博士将与毛里求斯大学的Dhanjay Jhurry博士合作，于2009年11月30日至12月4日在毛里求斯的毛里求斯大学举办一个名为“生物材料：前景与可能性”的国际研讨会。研讨会的目标是建立一个综合的跨学科研究、教育和培训计划，重点是生物材料工程在生物医学领域的应用，包括生物材料、药物输送、再生医学和生物传感器等方面。该研讨会将是这一进程的第一步，其目标是将美国的10名教师聚集到毛里求斯，在一个注重该领域当前技术状况的环境中，详细讨论印度洋地区此类举措的未来需求和机会，并制定一份详细的规划文件，指导下一步的工作。虽然会议的重点是基础和应用科学与工程，但该地区的政府官员和商业实体也将参加会议，以获得对未来需求、机会和指导的额外看法。与会者将来自周边地区，包括非洲、东南亚、印度、澳大利亚和相关地区，共75名教师、学生、政府和行业专业人士为目标。研讨会的成果将有三个方面：a.在五天内准备了详细的规划文件，以指导该地区的下一步工作，并向美国国家科学基金会报告；b.为后续的更详细的会议制定具体计划，作为该地区生物材料学科发展的中心；c.在会议之外启动合作研究项目。已征聘了一批有成就的教员来主持12月的讲习班，毛里求斯的政府、基础设施和规划也已到位，以促进富有成效的会议和长期影响。更广泛的影响？会议/讲习班将使与会者有机会更多地了解生物材料的全球现状和未来方向，特别是与毛里求斯和更广泛区域的需求、机会和未来计划有关。会议将促进生物材料领域未开发的人才资源、原材料和新的见解和增长场所。此外，来自该地区的教师和学生将能够通过研讨会建立新的合作项目，以开创新的机会，新的推广和新的影响。与会者还承诺通过后续规划和方案，为这一倡议建立长期影响，以便随着时间的推移，为该地区带来一系列可持续的机会。例如，对生物材料、再生医学、药物输送和纳米医学的关注将为在该大学启动硕士课程提供基础，这是会议的直接成果。

Dr. David Kaplan of Tufts University, in collaboration with Dr. Dhanjay Jhurry of the University of Mauritius, will conduct an International Workshop entitled: Biomaterials: Perspectives and Possibilities will be held at the University of Mauritius, Reduit, Mauritius, from November 30th, 2009 through December 4th, 2009Intellectual Merit: The objective of the Workshop is to initiate the establishment of an integrated interdisciplinary research, education and training program with a focus on the engineering of biomaterials for application in the biomedical field, including aspects of biomaterials, drug delivery, regenerative medicine and biosensors. The Workshop will be a first step in the process, with a goal to bring together 10 faculty from the U.S. to Mauritius in an environment focused on the current state of the art in the field, detailed discussions of the future needs and opportunities in the Indian ocean region for such initiatives, and a detailed planning document to guide the next steps. While the focus of the meeting will be on the fundamental and applied science and engineering, government officials and commercial entities in the region will also participate to gain additional perspectives on future needs, opportunities and guidance. Participants will be invited from surrounding regions, including Africa, Southeast Asia, India, Australia and related environs, with a total of 75 faculty, students, government and industrial professionals as a goal. The outcome of the workshop will be three fold: a. detailed planning document prepared over the five days to guide next steps for the region and for a report back to the NSF, b. specific planning for a follow on, more detailed conference as a hub for growth in the region in the biomaterials discipline, and c. initiation of collaborative research projects out of the meeting. An accomplished group of faculty has been recruited to run the workshop in December and the government, infrastructure and planning in Mauritius is in place to facilitate a productive meeting and long term impact. Broader Impacts ? The conference/workshop will provide participants the opportunity to learn more about the current global state of biomaterials and future directions, with particular relevance to the needs, opportunities and future plans for Mauritius and the broader region. The under tapped personnel resources, raw materials and new venues for insight and growth in the biomaterials world will be facilitated by the meeting. Further, faculty and students from the region will be able to establish new collaborative projects through the workshop to initiate new opportunities, new outreach and new impact. The participants are also committed to building a long standing impact for this initiative through follow on planning and programs so that a sustainable set of opportunities for the region emerges over time. For example, the focus on biomaterials, regenerative medicine, drug delivery and nanomedicine will provide a basis for initiating a Masters-level course at the university as a direct outcome from the meeting.