About STERMI

The Society for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine – India (STERMI) is a national, not-for-profit scientific organization committed to fostering excellence in research, education, and translational innovation in the domains of tissue engineering, biomaterials, stem cell science, and regenerative medicine. The Society serves as a professional forum for academicians, clinicians, researchers, and industry experts to engage in scholarly exchange and collaborative initiatives of national and global relevance.

STERMI was established with the objective of strengthening India’s scientific capacity in regenerative medicine by promoting high-quality research, disseminating emerging knowledge, and encouraging interdisciplinary dialogue. The Society organizes scientific meetings, symposia, workshops, and training programs designed to advance technical competence and support the professional development of students and early-career researchers.

A key mandate of the Society is to uphold rigorous ethical standards, promote responsible research practices, and facilitate evidence-based translation of laboratory discoveries into clinical and industrial applications. Through strategic collaborations with academic institutions, research organizations, and international bodies, TERM India seeks to contribute meaningfully to national healthcare priorities and to the global progress of regenerative medicine.

STERMI remains committed to enabling a robust academic ecosystem that nurtures scientific inquiry, supports innovation, and advances the development of next-generation regenerative technologies for the benefit of society.

The Society aims to provide a national forum for the assembly, interaction, and advancement of scientific thought in the field of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. In pursuit of this mission, the Society shall strive to achieve the following objectives:

• To foster a conducive national environment for the growth and advancement of both basic and translational research in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

• To promote interdisciplinary collaboration by bringing together professionals from diverse scientific, engineering, medical, and allied disciplines, thereby enhancing the quality, innovation, and impact of future research.

• To facilitate knowledge dissemination and capacity building through regular communication with members via Society newsletters, and by organizing annual workshops, symposia, and hands-on laboratory demonstrations that encourage learning, exchange of ideas, and skill development.

• To encourage active international engagement by promoting member participation in the activities of the Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society (TERMIS) and other relevant global scientific forums.

• To promote scientific research and technological development in enabling areas such as biomaterials, biophotonics, bioreactors, cellular and tissue constructs, and related technologies, aimed at improving therapeutic strategies for human and veterinary healthcare and alleviating disease, pain, and suffering.

• To provide leadership in innovation and translation by identifying, developing, and supporting platform technologies and intellectual property that underpin the advancement and clinical translation of tissue engineering and regenerative therapies at national and international levels.

The Society for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine (India) (STERMI) was formally registered on April 25, 2007, as a charitable society under the Travancore–Cochin Literary, Scientific and Charitable Societies Registration Act of 1955. The Society was established with the core objective of integrating the rapidly evolving fields of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine to strengthen the national healthcare ecosystem and to provide a unified platform for interdisciplinary scientists engaged in research and development across India.

The conceptual origins of STERMI can be traced back to April 2006. During the Regenerate 2006 – World Congress on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine held in Pittsburgh, USA, Dr. Chandra P. Sharma attended the Executive Council meeting of the Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society (TERMIS) as a member of the TERMIS–Asia Pacific Executive Council. At this meeting, Dr. Sharma was encouraged by the international scientific leadership to initiate a dedicated national society in India to promote and coordinate activities in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

Following this mandate, Dr. Sharma undertook extensive consultations with researchers, clinicians, and scientists across the country. The overwhelmingly positive and enthusiastic response from the Indian scientific community underscored the need for a national professional body in this emerging interdisciplinary domain. Based on this collective support, the Memorandum of Association and the Rules and Regulations of the Society were developed, and a fourteen-member founding committee was constituted at the Biomedical Technology (BMT) Wing of SCTIMST.

These efforts culminated in the formal establishment of STERMI in 2007, marking a significant milestone in advancing regenerative medicine research and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration in India. The first official meeting of the Society was organized on December 13, 2007, at IIT Madras, and was inaugurated by Prof. D. F. Williams, Editor-in-Chief of Biomaterials. This inaugural meeting set the foundation for STERMI’s continuing role as a national platform for scientific exchange, collaboration, and capacity building in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.