Keynote Speakers

At the 18th Cell Transplant and Regenerative Medicine Society Congress, Dr. Gao will share his insights on the clinical potential of microrobot technology and its parallels with cell transplantation procedures. His keynote lecture will “Connect” cutting-edge robotics with translational applications in regenerative medicine.

Dr. Wei Gao, a trailblazer in medical engineering and bioelectronics, is at the forefront of developing wearable biosensors and microrobotics for precision medicine. As a Professor of Medical Engineering at Caltech and an Investigator at the Heritage Medical Research Institute, he has pioneered the design of bioresorbable acoustic microrobots (BAM), an innovative platform for targeted drug delivery and precision surgery.

The 1966 film Fantastic Voyage inspired the concept of miniature machines traversing the human body to diagnose and treat disease. This once-futuristic vision is now being realized through the development of synthetic micro/nanorobots engineered for in vivo biomedical applications. In this talk, I will highlight recent advances in the design of microrobots powered by bioavailable fuels or externally applied fields such as ultrasound and magnetism. These systems enable a range of sophisticated capabilities, including biosensing, targeted drug delivery, bioimaging, and cellular isolation. I will discuss our recent work on ultrasound-propelled microrobots that achieve deep-tissue navigation and controllable drug release guided by real-time ultrasound imaging. In parallel, I will present biofuel-powered micro/nanomotors designed for effective tissue penetration and programmable therapeutic delivery, particularly in oncology settings. These platforms integrate responsive materials, wireless control, and clinical imaging interfaces, transforming synthetic motors into intelligent, adaptable therapeutic agents. Our results reveal the vast potential of medical microrobots in addressing unmet clinical needs across gastrointestinal disorders, inflammation, cancer, and precision medicine.

At the 18th Cell Transplant and Regenerative Medicine Society Congress, Dr. Matsumoto will share the latest breakthroughs in islet transplantation and discuss how cutting-edge cell therapies can transform diabetes treatment. His keynote lecture will provide invaluable insights into the future of regenerative medicine and the clinical applications of bioartificial islets.

Dr. Shinichi Matsumoto is a pioneering figure in islet transplantation and regenerative medicine, dedicated to developing innovative therapies for Type 1 Diabetes. As Japan’s first islet transplant surgeon, he has been at the forefront of both clinical and research advancements, working to establish bioartificial islet transplantation as a groundbreaking treatment.

Dr. Matsumoto earned his medical degree from Kobe University and pursued international research at the University of Minnesota and the University of Washington, where he contributed to early developments in islet transplantation. In 2004, he successfully performed Japan’s first human islet transplant at Kyoto University Hospital. He has since led major transplantation projects at Baylor University and in Japan, with his current focus on encapsulated porcine islets as a potential cure for diabetes. His ambitious goal is to make bioartificial islet transplantation a reality by 2025, aiming for a treatment that eliminates the need for donor shortages and immunosuppressants.