Jeroen Leijten is a professor at University of Twente. After earning his PhD-degree, he performed postdoctoral studies at KU Leuven, Harvard, and MIT. His interdisciplinary research group focuses on the development of nano- and microscale tools using enabling technologies to drive the scalable production of multiscale bioengineered constructs for tissue-engineering and biomedical applications. He has developed cutting edge biomaterials and technological platforms for the generation of micromaterials that enable the biofabrication of multiscale hierarchical tissue constructs that guide stem cell behavior at the nano, micro, and macro scale in a spatiotemporally controlled manner. His lab has a specialized focus on realizing the integration of engineered tissues within the living host. This includes the generation of metabolism supporting micromaterials to bridge the implant’s prevascular phase, novel strategies to create anastomosed blood vessel networks, and design and optimization of biomaterial strategies to guide bodily acceptance of the implant. He has raised >13M€ in the last few years, obtained several valorized patents, and authored 83 peer reviewed journal articles including Nature Communication, Cell Stem Cell, Advanced Materials, Advanced Functional Materials, and PNAS, of which 18 featured as the journal’s front cover. He received numerous recognitions including ERC Starting, Veni, and Vidi Grants. He was recognized twice by the popular science magazine New Scientist as ‘top 10 North European Young Scientific Talent’, elected member of the Young Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Science, and received the Jean Leray Award (ESB), and Robert Brown Award (TERMIS). 

Silvia Mihăilă earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry and physics in Romania. She then pursued her PhD degree at the University of Minho (Portugal) under the prestigious MIT-Portugal Program focusing on TE strategies for bone vascularization (2015). After that, she continued her academic trajectory as a Marie Curie postdoc fellow at the Department of Urology of Radboud UMC (Nijmegen, NL) where she used synthetic biomimetic matrices to enhance stem cell differentiation. In 2017, she moved to UMC Utrecht to embark in a project related to the development of a bioartificial kidney unit based on bioengineered hollow membranes. Since March 2021, Silvia has held the position of assistant professor of in vitro models of disease at Utrecht University's Department of Pharmacology. Her current research aims to develop humanized in vitro models that replicate pathological complications associated with kidney injury. By unraveling disease mechanisms and identifying therapeutic targets, she seeks to advance understanding and treatment options.