Mini-Symposia

ORGANIZED BY

Stéphane Avril, Mines Saint-Etienne, France and T. Christian Gasser, KTH, Sweden

Despite the tremendous progress in vascular mechanobiology, there is still a pressing need to decipher how the mechanical microenvironment, including the role of interstitial fluid, interacts dynamically with cellular function. It is still unclear how cellular response and cellular active behaviour modify the vascular microstructure, and in turn interact with the mechanics of the tissue across the multiple scales. Multiscale and multi-disciplinary computational models spanning from events at the molecular to the organ scales are useful tools to explore the complex multifactorial nature of vascular tissue and they provide a unique opportunity to better understand and tackle cardiovascular disorders. In addition, recent progress in microscopy imaging and in data-driven modelling offer new perspectives for multi-scale modelling of arteries. This mini-symposium aims to present and discuss the latest research efforts in cardiovascular modelling and covering aspects, such as biology, imaging techniques (multiphoton microscopy, optical coherence tomography…), data/knowledge-driven as well as biomechanical computational modelling across length-scales.

ORGANIZED BY

David Nolte, University of Groningen, Alfonso Caiazzo, WIAS Berlin and Cristóbal Bertoglio, University of Groningen

Mathematical and computational modeling of the cardiovascular system increasingly provides non-invasive alternatives to traditional invasive clinical procedures. Moreover, it has the potential to generate additional diagnostic markers. Here, the personalization of models of different spatio-temporal scales is a key step, which relies on the formulation and numerical solution of inverse problems using clinical data, typically medical images, electrical, and/or pressure signals, for measuring both the anatomy and function of the vasculature. In recent years, the development and application of inverse methods have rapidly expanded, most likely due to the increased availability of data in clinical centers and the growing interest of modelers and clinicians in collaborating. This minisymposium aims to gather researchers from different mathematical and application areas in cardiovascular modeling to share their recent developments.

ORGANIZED BY

Elisabete Silva, LAETA/INEGI, Nuno Ferreira, LAETA/INEGI, Marco Parente, LAETA/INEGI, FEUP and António Augusto Fernandes, LAETA/INEGI, FEUP

Understanding soft tissue biomechanics is essential for grasping the mechanical behavior of muscles, tendons, ligaments, skin, and other connective tissues. This knowledge is key to developing medical devices, surgical techniques, and rehabilitation protocols, as well as creating accurate computational models. Also, the field of biodegradable implants offers promising solutions for temporary support that the body can eventually absorb, reducing long-term complications. This mini-symposium aims to bring together leading researchers, clinicians, and industry experts to discuss recent advances, challenges, and future directions in the biomechanics of soft tissues and the development of biodegradable implants. Key topics will include but are not limited to:

Mechanical Characterization of Soft Tissues

• Techniques for measuring mechanical properties
• Viscoelastic, hyperelastic, and anisotropic behavior
• In vitro and in vivo testing methods

Biomechanical Modeling and Simulation

• Constitutive modeling, including hyperelastic and visco-hyperelastic models
• Finite element analysis (FEA) under various conditions
• Multiscale modeling integrating cellular, tissue, and organ-level phenomena

Tissue Damage and Repair

• Injury mechanisms and repair processes
• Role of mechanical loading in tissue regeneration
• Modeling fatigue damage and recovery

Design and Development of Biodegradable Implants

• Material properties and design considerations
• Mechanical performance and degradation behavior
• Biocompatibility and integration with tissues

Applications in Medicine and Rehabilitation

• Design and optimization of implants and prosthetics
• Surgical planning and simulation
• Rehabilitation strategies using biodegradable implants

Innovative Techniques and Technologies:

• Advances in imaging for soft tissue analysis
• Biomaterials for tissue engineering and implants
• Wearable technologies for real-time monitoring of tissue mechanics and implant performance

Objectives

• Present and discuss cutting-edge research and methodologies
• Highlight clinical and technological applications of biomechanical research
• Facilitate collaboration among researchers, clinicians, and industry professionals

Join us to explore the latest in soft tissue biomechanics and biodegradable implants, share your research, and network with experts in the field.

ORGANIZED BY

Alberto Salvadori, Università di Brescia, Eoin McEvoy, University of Galway, Mattia Bacca, University of British Columbia and Tommaso Ristori, Eindhoven University of Technology

All living cells and tissues exert and experience physical forces that guide their function. Those mechanical processes are pivotal in the biophysics of embryonic formation, tumor angiogenesis, cancer growth and metastasis, wound healing, and developmental diseases. A fundamental understanding of these mechanisms can contribute to the advancement of medical intervention, from reducing bone fracture risk in osteoporosis to device-based treatment of aortic aneurysm.

Tissue development and remodeling are mediated by cell-generated stresses and strains, which emerge at the nanoscale in response to complex biochemical interactions among cells and with their microenvironment. Cells can sense and mechanically respond to their surroundings by attaching to extracellular matrix (ECM) fibers through the formation of focal adhesions, developing actin networks, and actively generating tension via myosin motor contractility. In turn, associated mechanosensation can guide morphology changes, nuclear remodelling, altered gene expression, and signalling to promote changes in cell behaviour and activity.

Theoretical and computational characterization of living matter requires the collective effort of scientists across a wide range of disciplines, including solid mechanics and bio-fluid dynamics at different length and time scales. This special session will focus on the latest advances in computational and theoretical modelling that provide new and fundamental insight into cellular mechanobiology and morphogenesis.

ORGANIZED BY

Raimondo Penta, School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Glasgow, Alberto Girelli, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Brescia, Italy and Laura Miller, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow

There is a continuous growing interest towards the use of mathematical and computational modelling for addressing the behaviour of real-world biophysical systems.
These latter are typically hierarchical in nature, with multiple constituents exhibiting different functionalities and mechanical behaviour.

Understanding the processes that are taking place in biological systems across different scales is increasingly relevant in a large variety of scenarios of practical significance, including, but not limited to musculoskeletal tissues (e.g. bones and tendons), organs (e.g. the eye, the brain, the heart, the lungs, etc.), the lymphatic system and its components, such as the lymph node, solid tumours.
Normally, biological media possess complex, interactive relationships across the micro- and macro-scales of the hierarchy. For example, coarse-scale pressure and strains, drug and heat distributions, are affected by the geometry and the functionalities at the micro-scale.
Many experimental methods are available to observe interactions across these hierarchical layers but are limited in their capacity to obtain information at all length-scales due to trade-offs between transient and spatial resolutions.
This motivates the use of multiscale, data-driven techniques to provide insights into these systems at a reduced computational cost.

Multi-scale homogenisation techniques allow to encode the geometrical and physical properties at the finest scales in order to inform the governing equations at coarser scales to eventually determine the effective behaviour of the system under consideration.
This mini-symposium focusses on new trends on multi-scale theoretical and computational modelling to address cutting-edge biophysical questions, including aspects concerning homogenisation techniques, experimental validation of the models, data-driven approaches, and new emerging techniques (such as neural networks) for efficient numerical simulations of complex and heterogenous multi-scale systems.

ORGANIZED BY

Francesco Viola, Gran Sasso Science Institute, Fabio Guglietta, Università Roma Tor Vergata and Martino Scarpolini, Gran Sasso Science Institute

Fluid-structure interaction (FSI) plays a crucial role in the biomechanics of the cardiovascular system, influencing both normal physiological function and the progression of various cardiovascular diseases. The complex interplay between blood flow dynamics and the mechanical behavior of cardiovascular tissues—such as arteries, heart valves, and the myocardium—requires sophisticated modeling approaches that integrate fluid dynamics with structural mechanics. This symposium aims to explore the latest advancements in FSI applied to cardiovascular flows, emphasizing the integration of computational, experimental, and clinical approaches.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the development of advanced numerical methods for FSI and the integration of clinical data into FSI simulations. We welcome discussions on multiscale and multiphysics modeling approaches, as well as the challenges of capturing the nonlinear behavior of cardiovascular tissues under physiological and pathological conditions. Additionally, the symposium will address the validation and verification of FSI models using experimental data and clinical imaging, the role of machine learning in enhancing FSI simulations, and the potential of FSI models to inform clinical decision-making and personalized medicine.

By fostering collaboration across disciplines such as computational biomechanics, biomedical engineering, and cardiovascular medicine, this symposium aims to advance the state-of-the-art in FSI modeling, paving the way for more accurate simulations of cardiovascular function and disease, and ultimately contributing to improved patient outcomes.

ORGANIZED BY

Silvia Budday, Institute of Continuum Mechanics and Biomechanics, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany, Giulia Luraghi, Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering "Giulio Natta", Politecnico di Milano, Italy, Michele Marino, Department of Civil Engineering and Computer Science Engineering, Università degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata, Italy and Tim Ricken, Institute of Mechanics, Structural Analysis and Dynamics, Universität Stuttgart, Germany

In silico medicine holds great promise for advancing personalized medicine,improving drug/device development,and enhancing our understanding of complex diseases. It leverages advances in computer science,computational mechanics,data analytics,and biological sciences to create virtual models of human biology,diseases,and treatments. These models can predict how diseases progress,how patients respond to treatments,and identify potential side effects before clinical trials,thereby reducing the cost and time required for drug/device development. However,challenges remain in terms of model accuracy and validation,uncertainty quantification,data quality,and integration. Biological systems are incredibly complex and involve numerous interacting components. Capturing this complexity in a model requires deep knowledge of biophysical mechanisms,advanced algorithms and significant computational power. Progresses in in silico medicine require a strong collaboration between biologists,engineers,and clinicians.

This minisymposium fosters a meeting opportunity between researchers in the Italian Chapter of the European Society of Biomechanica ESB-ITA,and the Computational Biomechanics Group of GAMM - Association of Applied Mathematics and Mechanics. It is open to all areas of Biomechanics,with special interests towards advanced computational approaches for structural problems,fluid dynamics,fluid-structure interaction,multiphysics and multiscale coupling. Key themes are the modelling of cellular and sub-cellular behaviors,tissue growth and remodeling,analysis of the response of biological structures in health and disease,as well as design and analysis of medical devices for diagnosis and intervention.

ORGANIZED BY

Daniel Hurtado, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Mona Eskandari, UC Riverside, Martin Genet, École Polytechnique and Wolfgang A. Wall, Technische Universität München

Modeling the respiratory system has gained unprecedented interest due to the recent COVID-19 pandemic and the increasing prevalence of chronic respiratory disease. Successful computational frameworks for building digital replicas of the respiratory system require the integration of multiple scales and physics. We invite contributions from researchers and industry professionals to share their work and collaborate on discussing the future directions of computational respiratory medicine. We encourage submissions that highlight the latest innovations and research in the following areas:

• Multiscale Modeling of the Respiratory System: Exploring techniques and methodologies for modeling the respiratory system across different scales, from cellular to organ-level behavior.
• Lung and Airways Structural and Mechanical Characterization: Advances in understanding and simulating the mechanical behavior of lung tissue, airway tissue, and pulmonary vasculature under various physiological and pathological conditions.
• Airflow Dynamics in Airways: Research on the airflow mechanics within the respiratory system, including the effects of airway structure and remodeling on respiratory health.
• Gas Exchange Mechanisms: Studies focused on modeling the mechanisms of gas exchange, including the impact of structural features of the alveolar microenvironment on oxygen and carbon dioxide diffusion.
• Artificial Intelligence in Respiratory Modeling: Developing new AI-based tools for accelerating the construction and numerical simulation of the respiratory system.
• Clinical Applications: Reports of how current models are used to assess pulmonary function, including virtual twins in respiratory medicine.

ORGANIZED BY

Luca Gerardo-Giorda, Institute for Mathematical Methods in Medicine and Data Based Modeling, Johannes Kepler University Linz & Johann Radon Institute for Computational and Applied Mathematics (RICAM), Austrian Academy of Sciences, Linz, Austria, Argyrios Petras, Johann Radon Institute for Computational and Applied Mathematics (RICAM), Austrian Academy of Sciences, Linz, Austria

Cardiovascular diseases are among the leading causes of death worldwide. Minimally invasive and other interventional procedures, such as ablation and stent placement, are commonly used to treat various cardiac conditions. To enhance the understanding, planning, efficiency, and safety of these procedures, digital twins have been developed. Given the complex multiphysics and multiscale nature of interventional treatments and cardiovascular function, coupled mathematical models have been created to simulate processes from cellular to tissue and organ levels. Integrating medical imaging data with these models has enabled personalized therapy planning and paved the way for their clinical applicability. This minisymposium aims to bring together experts to present state-of-the-art applications of digital twins in cardiac interventional procedures.

ORGANIZED BY

Carlo Massaroni, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Francesca De Tommasi, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma and Chiara Romano, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma

In the rapidly advancing field of bioengineering, wearable sensors have emerged as pivotal technologies transforming healthcare, rehabilitation, and human-machine interfaces. These devices facilitate real-time monitoring of physiological signals, providing critical data for diagnostics, treatment planning, and personalized medicine. Advances in materials science, miniaturization, and wireless communication have significantly expanded the capabilities of wearable sensors, making them more accessible and seamlessly integrated into daily life. From tracking vital signs to enhancing the functionality of assistive devices, wearable sensors are pushing the boundaries of biomedical engineering.
The special session "Wearable Sensors in Bioengineering" offers a platform for selected line of speakers to share their expertise in the mentioned relevant topics including the development of innovative sensors, integration of wearable sensors into assistive devices, innovative data analysis methods, and practical implementations that enhance quality of life. Participants will have the opportunity to engage with leading experts, discuss current challenges, and contribute to the future direction of wearable sensor technology in bioengineering.

ORGANIZED BY

Leo Cheng, University of Auckland, Javier Garcia-Casado, Universitat Politècnica de Valencia, Sebastian Brandstaeter, University of the Bundeswehr Munich and Christian J Cyron, University of Technology Hamburg

Many organs are composed of smooth muscle, including the gastrointestinal tract, respiratory tract, blood vessels, bladder and uterus. Disorders of these organ systems place a significant burden on healthcare systems. Although historically fewer resources have been devoted to the study of smooth muscle, there has been a rapid increase in our knowledge in recent years.

We encourage submissions that highlight the latest innovations and research in all smooth muscle organs and tissues, including, but not limited to, the following areas:

• Multi-scale and multi-physics models of smooth muscle organ systems from the cellular level to the whole organ (including electrophysiology, biomechanics and fluid dynamics models etc).
• Digital twin/patient-specific models
• Signal and image processing techniques for assessing whole organ function
• Preclinical validation studies through to clinical translation
• Clinical applications of novel diagnostic methods and therapies

ORGANIZED BY

Nevio L. Tagliamonte, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Francesca Cordella, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma and Stefano Mazzoleni, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna

Robotic devices are increasingly spreading in rehabilitation and assistance applications. In these fields, rehabilitation robots and bionic prostheses require an extremely complex mechatronic design, advanced computational models and ML/DL algorithms to adjust human-robot interaction, promote their effective use and evaluate the effects of different types of human-robot interfaces used for the bidirectional communication between the robot and the human central and peripheral nervous systems. In this last case, the adoption of computational models brings several advantages especially in the case of invasive solutions.
The design and development of computational models and ML/DL algorithms for Decision Support Systems pose several scientific, technological and clinical challenges: the mini-symposium aims at soliciting a discussion on recent developments in terms of biomechanical, neuromechanical, computational modelling and ML/DL algorithms for the design and development of novel control algorithms, interfaces, stimulation, intention detection strategies and motor-cognitive recovery predictions during human-robot interaction in the fields of rehabilitation robotics and bionic prostheses.

ORGANIZED BY

Arianna Carnevale, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Umile Giuseppe Longo, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico and Emiliano Schena, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico

Bioengineering is influencing orthopaedics by integrating advanced technologies to improve the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders. A multimodal approach — including biomechanics, wearable sensors, genomics, robotics, artificial intelligence, and virtual reality — is reshaping orthopaedic care. The latest innovations in these fields have the potential to optimize patient care, improving diagnosis, treatment precision, and rehabilitation outcomes.

The mini-symposium “Bioengineering in Orthopaedics: Current Trends, Challenges, and Clinical Relevance” will provide a valuable opportunity for clinicians, researchers, and engineers to discuss these innovations and their real-world applications. Through the sharing of case studies and clinical outcomes, the mini-symposium will highlight the real benefits of these technologies and interdisciplinary approaches in optimizing patient care.