Building Bridges in Regenerative Medicine
Regenerative medicine is well-organized in Utrecht. This interdisciplinary field brings promising medical innovations from the lab to the patient. We spoke with Associate Professor Bart Spee and Professor Jos Malda, chair and vice-chair of the thematic community. Spee is known for his contributions to veterinary pathology and regenerative medicine and has a strong passion for finding solutions to medical problems. Malda is a globally recognized expert in biofabrication and regenerative medicine, with an impressive track record in both fundamental and applied research.
Regenerative medicine is a relatively young field. Yet, the Utrecht community around this topic has existed for more than ten years. “It shows that thematically organized communities work well,” Malda begins. "The close collaboration between different research groups within the Utrecht Life Sciences community is characteristic of Utrecht," Spee adds. An important aspect of this collaboration is promoting continuity. “A smooth transfer of knowledge and ideas,” Malda calls it.
Connections are not forged only between professors
The community strongly emphasizes a bottom-up approach, focusing on gathering insights from the entire Regenerative Medicine community. Spee and Malda acknowledge the value of this perspective: "We often physically work together at one location. The coffee machine, the corridors, these are the places where real interdisciplinary interaction and innovation occur. With the new layout of the thematic community, Spee and Malda want to ensure that these insights find a place in the Life Sciences board. Looking ahead to the community's role, Malda reflects: "We keep thinking about how we can continue to evolve and respond to the needs of our members and the wider community." An example of this is that young researchers now also have a place on the community board. “Connections are not forged only between professors,” Malda comments.
Regenerative medicine covers the entire Life Sciences, and the community is transdisciplinary by default. “Because of the word medicine in the title, people often think that the research only takes place in the hospital,” Spee says. But nothing could be further from the truth. Human medicine and veterinary medicine collaborate within Life Sciences to provide translational solutions, with a crucial role for fundamental science and technology in the beta faculty. For regenerative medicine, 'team science' is the standard.
In line with this vision, the Innovation Center for Advanced Therapies (ICAT) in Utrecht is considered a crucial tool. "ICAT is a place where scientists and clinicians collaborate to bridge the gap between research and clinical applications. With the move to a dedicated facility on the horizon, we continue to grow and succeed," Spee adds. Physical collaboration has proven very successful for regenerative medicine in Utrecht in getting innovations off the ground quickly. Yet Spee and Malda certainly do not see the community as a closed box. The ICAT is part of a larger, national, and international ecosystem. “Regenerative medicine is a very large sphere, with various circles within it that partly overlap and partly fall outside, thereby creating an extra connection with the outside world,” Malda concludes. “As long as we keep our eyes on the ball and the conversations about the science, this way of working is effective.”
On the route from the lab to the actual patient, you need a team of competencies
Working on the science, that's why both Malda and Spee came to Utrecht. The overarching goal of actually getting innovations and therapies to the patient is an important driving force in their work. “At the same time, different types of people are needed for this,” says Malda. That's why scientists and supporters work together as a team. “If you as a researcher don't think about applications for patients from the start, it could very well be that halfway or even later in the process you see that something is not going to work at all,” Spee says. This way of thinking is becoming increasingly common. Malda cites Regmed XB as an example. “There, important thought steps are being taken on which research agendas are aligned.” The combination of thinking about the process at that level, with scientific content, is an attractive aspect of their work for both Spee and Malda. In this way, they can effectively continue to drive the community. “And that is a continuous process,” Malda concludes.
One thing is certain: the community is proud of their unique Utrecht ecosystem and the impact they have on the field of regenerative medicine in Utrecht and beyond. "This pride is noticeable in every aspect of our work, from the day to day realities of research to the interdisciplinary collaboration that allows us to continue innovation in this exciting field," Spee concludes.