Delivering Next Generation Regenerative Medicine

Delivering the Next Generation of Regenerative Medicine Through Bioengineering 

Regenerative medicine is at a critical inflection point. While scientific advances in cell therapy, biomaterials, and neurotechnology have expanded what is technically possible, the challenge facing the field today is one of delivery: how to translate innovation into scalable, clinically viable solutions that can meaningfully transform patient care. 

This challenge formed the focus of Oxford Global’s thought leadership webinar, Delivering the Next Generation of Regenerative Medicine, which brought together leaders from bioengineering, neuroscience, and regenerative medicine to explore how emerging technologies can reshape the treatment of Parkinson’s disease and other central nervous system (CNS) disorders. 

Moderated by Dame Molly Stevens, John Black Professor of Bio-nanoscience at the University of Oxford, the session combined a thought leader interview with a multidisciplinary panel discussion, offering both strategic vision and practical insight into the future of regenerative medicine. 

Setting the Vision: Bioengineering at the Interface of Biology and Technology 

Opening the session, Dame Molly Stevens reflected on her work at the University of Oxford, where she leads a highly interdisciplinary research group spanning chemistry, engineering, cell biology, medicine, physics, and computer science. Central to this work is the biointerface—the design of materials and systems that interact intelligently with biology. 

She described how regenerative medicine is increasingly moving toward hierarchically structured materials, advanced bioelectronics, and data-driven design. These technologies allow therapies to deliver precise biological signals at the right time and location, fundamentally changing how tissues repair and regenerate. 

Equally transformative, Dame Molly noted, is the growing role of artificial intelligence and machine learning. Predictive modelling and advanced data analysis are enabling scientists to better understand complex biological systems and design more effective therapeutic interventions. 

From Discovery to Impact: Translational Bioengineering in Practice 

A key theme of the discussion was translation—ensuring that groundbreaking science leads to real-world outcomes. Dame Molly shared tangible examples from her research that illustrate this pathway.  

One such example is CE-mark approved Sparta, an automated single-particle nanoparticle characterisation platform that enables detailed analysis of therapeutic nanoparticles. Commercialised through Sparta Biodiscovery, the technology is now supporting improved design and quality control of advanced therapeutics—demonstrating how enabling tools can have broad impact across regenerative medicine. 

This example and others underscored a critical message: translational success depends not only on scientific novelty, but on early consideration of regulation, scale-up, and end-user needs. 

Rethinking CNS Therapies: Beyond Symptom Management 

The panel discussion broadened the conversation to the clinical challenges of treating CNS disorders. Professor Roger Barker, Professor of Clinical Neuroscience at the University of Cambridge, outlined how conventional approaches to Parkinson’s disease largely focus on managing symptoms rather than addressing underlying neuronal loss. 

While cell therapies and regenerative strategies offer the promise of restoring function, he emphasised that delivery remains a major hurdle. Therapies must be safe, reproducible, and supported by robust clinical evidence—particularly in a field where regulatory scrutiny is high. 

Integrating Neurotechnology and Regenerative Medicine 

Professor George Malliaras, Prince Philip Professor of Technology at the University of Cambridge, discussed how technologies originally developed for the semiconductor industry are now being adapted for neurotechnology applications. Flexible electronics and advanced materials offer new possibilities for interfacing with neural tissue, monitoring activity, and delivering therapeutic signals. 

However, combining electronics with living cells introduces significant technical and regulatory challenges. Devices must integrate intimately with tissue while remaining stable, safe, and, where necessary, explantable. These constraints demand close collaboration between engineers, clinicians, and regulators throughout the development process. 

Building Human-Relevant Models for Translation 

Dr Andrea Serio, Reader in Neural Tissue Engineering at King’s College London and Group Leader at the Francis Crick Institute, highlighted the importance of in vitro human neural models. These systems enable researchers to study human-specific neural circuits, test regenerative strategies, and reduce reliance on animal models.