Xingdong Zhang

It has been more than 30 years since the first “Definitions in Biomaterials” consensus conference was held in Chester, UK, in 1986. Over these thirty-two years, new concepts, materials and technologies in the field of biomaterials have emerged while some controversies surfaced concerning some traditional terms in the field. This urged the leaders of the International Union of Societies for Biomaterials Science and Engineering (IUSBSE) to organize a global conference to reexamine scientific terms and formulate new definitions.

Chaired by Professor Xingdong Zhang of Sichuan University (CAE, NAE, FBSE, FAIMBE), the President of the IUSBSE, the conference will be held on June 11 and 12, 2018 in Chengdu, China. The conference will attract more than 50 world-renowned experts and consist six subject-specific sessions, including General Biomaterials, Biocompatibility, Implantable and Interventional Devices, Drugs and Genes, Regenerative Medicine and Emerging Biomaterials and Technologies. The general format of each session includes a plenary speaker, a moderator and a reporter. The terms raised by each session will be extensively discussed by all attendees and then reviewed by the Executive Committee of the Conference. Definitions that have achieved consensus of at least 75% of the votes from all representatives will be included and published as the conference proceedings in a book entitled “Definitions of Biomaterials for the Twenty-First Century”. This book will be co-edited by Prof. David Williams (FREng, FBSE, FAIMBE), the editor of the first edition “Definitions in Biomaterials” (Elsevier 1989). The former IUSBSE President, Nicholas Peppas (NAE, CAE, NAM, AAAS, FBSE, FAIMBE), is working closely with the two editors and other Executive Committee members, Professors James Anderson, Kristi Anseth, Xiaobing Fu, Kazunori Kataoka, Cato Laurencin, Keith McLean, and Buddy Ratner, for the preparation of this upcoming international conference.

Definition of biomaterials is a standardized expression of the connotation of biomaterials science and engineering, which not only has important guidance to the academia and industry, but also has significant influence on the policy-making of the administration. The Consensus Conference of the biomaterials terms and the standardization of the definition will be a milestone achievement of the field, which will impact and lead the global development of biomaterials science and Engineering in the future.

WASHINGTON, D.C.— The American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) has announced the pending induction of Xingdong Zhang, Honorary Director and Professor, National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, Sichuan University, , Sichuan University, Chengdu, China, to its College of Fellows. Mr. Zhang was nominated, reviewed, and elected by peers and members of the College of Fellows For pioneering contributions to musculoskeletal medical therapies and leadership in biomaterial product development and professional service in China and worldwide.