Hosted by the Manchester Biomedical Research Centre the day was focussed on current research, successful application and some of the issues faced in applying regenerative medicine based techniques in a clinical setting.

A number of stimulating talks covered a broad range of clinical applications from vascular graft design to substitution of whole organs such as the kidney. The challenges of identifying the best cell types to use and how to provide those cells with the right architecture in which they could function appropriately were described. Also discussed were aspects of how such solutions could be commercially developed and the day was rounded off with considerations on how to deliver new solutions into the NHS to provide patient benefit.

MedTec 2010 held at the NEC on the 27th and 28th of April was a combination of trade show and conference. The first days’ talks on the ‘Regulatory Landscape’ was a great opportunity to hear from some high profile speakers and find out more on the ongoing challenges in regulatory affairs and views on how best to govern medical devices and technology in the future. The second day, covering the ‘Business Landscape’, proved to be very interesting with talks from NICE and NTAC giving insight into their respective roles and handy tips on making medical devices and technology attractive to the NHS.

NorthernNet, Daresbury Science and Innovation Campus and RTC North arranged a networking event to enable SMEs and organisations within the digital creative and healthcare fields to pitch to each other and find out more.

Our host Paul Treloar from Darebusry SIC galvanised the group and encouraged all present, to make a 90 second pitch. Through an intense but engrossing 60 minutes we heard from companies specialising the 3D media technologies through website marketing to development and manufacturing of printed circuit boards. Presentations from healthcare organisations included Paul Hanmer from TrusTECH and Penny Johnson from the Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) based at Central Manchester NHS Foundation Trust.

The buffet lunch was an excellent opportunity for people to follow up on common areas of interest based on the pitches made and provided MIMIT the chance to create and connect with new contacts, as well as gain more insight into the digital creative field.

Our Showcase event celebrated two successful years of operation for MIMIT, with project highlights illustrating solutions in development to address unmet clinical need.

It also marked the retirement of our founding chair Prof Sir Robert Boyd and introduction of Dr John Stageman, his successor.

To find out more about the event please see the MIMIT news item covering the event "Celebrating our Second Year of Success".