Keynotes 2024
Shweta Agarwala
Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Aarhus University
Denmark
Elena Lopez
Additive Manufacturing Division, Fraunhofer IWS, Dresden
Germany
Neha Sharma
Clinic of Oral and Craniomaxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital Basel
Switzerland
Abstracts & Bios
Keynote: Printed and Flexible Electronics and Bioelectronics
Prof. Dr. Shweta Agarwala, Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Aarhus University, Denmark
Sustainability and health are two of the global challenges recognized by UN. Electronics is the pillar that supports the innovation in these sectors. However, current electronic components are non-biodegradable and release toxins in environment, while the implanted electronics is not compatible with soft human tissues. The aim of my research is to overcome these challenges through i) development of novel electronic material library, and ii) next-generation devices with new form factors. Through green chemistry we have developed novel biodegradable, biocompatible and bioresorbable electronic materials. Printed electronics is the new emerging fabrication technique that allows electronic components, circuits and devices to be put on a desired surface using nanoparticle inks. The synthesized materials are converted into printable inks to fabricate soft and flexible devices. I will showcase some of the case studies on the application of the materials and flexible devices.
Prof. Dr. Shweta Agarwala is Associate Professor at ECE, Aarhus University, Denmark and heads ‘Printed Electronics Technology’ laboratory. Her research is interdisciplinary and has a strong translation flavor. Her vision is to build sustainable electronics through biodegradable electronic materials. Her research group is using printing route to enable flexible and bio-electronic device with applications in healthcare, wearables, smart textiles and soft robotics. She obtained her Master's at Nanyang Technological University (Singapore) and later defended PhD at National University of Singapore (Singapore). She was a postdoc at the Energy Research Institute in Singapore, and later went to Singapore Centre for 3D Printing to pursue research in printed electronics before travelling to Denmark. Shweta is author of more than 70 peer-reviewed papers published in internationally renowned journals, books and conferences. She serves as the chair of IEEE Women in engineering Denmark section.
Keynote: Additive Technologies for Medicine and Health: from sinter simulation of filigree dental parts to microphysiological systems for testing of radiopharmaceuticals
Dr.-Ing. Elena Lopez, Head of Division Additive Manufacturing Fraunhofer IWS, Germany
Metal additive manufacturing for medicine has so far focused on laser-based processes (LPBF especially). These are characterized by a high technical maturity, but do not meet all the requirements in terms of materials, geometries and productivity. The industry is therefore increasingly focusing on sinter-based AM. These offer advantages such as processing materials that are difficult to weld, high productivity or high surface quality. As an example, clasp prostheses are a health insurance benefit and therefore give around half a million patients in Germany access to dentures every year. Their conventional production using model casting processes also requires an innovative alternative from an ecological point of view, as it is currently energy, time and labour-intensive and produces many by-products, some of which are harmful to health. Near-net-shape production of clasp prostheses using AM can reduce the consumption of resources, as well as the amount of hazardous waste produced. The conventional method is currently not economically viable for dental technicians due to the cost structure of production and the fees that health insurance companies pay for this service. Further examples covering a wide range of AM technologies will be presented and discussed economically and technically in this paper. An overview of expected developments for the next years will be also given.
Dr.-Ing. Elena Lopez studied chemical engineering at the Universidad de Valladolid in Spain and Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg in Germany. She finished her PhD thesis on the topic of plasmachemical etching of silicon solar wafers at the Technische Universitaet Dresden. She is Head of Department for Additive Manufacturing at the Additive Manufacturing Center Dresden (AMCD) at Fraunhofer IWS and teaches AM as an adjunct professor. She also represents Women in 3D Printing as Regional Director Europe.
Keynote: Translating innovation to the Point of Care: Medical 3D printing for personalized treatment solutions
Dr. Neha Sharma, PhD, Deputy Head, Medical Additive Manufacturing (Swiss MAM) / 3D Print Lab, Clinic of Oral and Craniomaxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital Basel, Switzerland
Point-of-care medical 3D printing is revolutionizing healthcare by enabling the creation of personalized treatment solutions directly within clinical settings. This talk delves into the transformative potential of this technology, focusing on its application in producing patient-specific models, prosthetics and customized implants. The presentation will highlight the latest advancements in the realm of medical 3D printing and discuss the practical aspects of its integration into clinical digital workflows, including regulatory challenges, quality assurance, and material considerations. Through compelling case studies, the talk will illustrate how point-of-care medical 3D printing enhances surgical precision, reduces recovery times, and improves patient outcomes, paving the way for a new era of personalized medicine.
Dr. Neha Sharma, PhD, is the Deputy Head of the Medical Additive Manufacturing (Swiss MAM) Research Group and the 3D Print Lab at University Hospital Basel, Switzerland. With a background in Craniomaxillofacial (CMF) Surgery from India and a PhD in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Basel, Switzerland, Dr. Sharma brings extensive expertise in CMF trauma, reconstructive, and orthognathic surgeries. Her work focuses on integrating digital technologies like medical 3D printing and VR/AR into clinical practice, pioneering computer-assisted virtual surgical planning, and exploring novel biomaterials for reconstructive surgeries. She completed her PhD in 2021, specializing in customized implants using Polyetheretherketone (PEEK), and her research earned the Dirk Schäfer Science Award in 2022. Additionally, she is the co-founder and Chief Medical Officer of a startup called POCAPP, advancing point-of-care 3D printing applications in healthcare. Dr. Sharma engages in innovative clinical research and interdisciplinary collaboration to advance CMF surgery and enhance patient care.