Biotechnology Conference: Can Regenerative Medicine Improve the Way We Live, Play, and Feel?

The College of Engineering and Computing Sciences’ annual Biotechnology Conference took place on March 16, with a focus on Regenerative Medicine: Improving the Way We Live, Play, and Feel.

New York Tech faculty, industry leaders, medical professionals, and students gathered in the 11th floor auditorium of New York Tech’s New York City campus—as well as virtually—to discuss the latest state-of-the-art innovations and cutting-edge research transforming and improving the human condition. In addition, government officials and investors spoke about how to tap into financial resources to fund startups and accelerate company growth.

Dean of the College of Engineering and Computing Sciences Babak D. Beheshti, Ph.D., welcomed attendees and introduced New York Tech President Hank Foley, Ph.D., who offered introductory remarks.

“It is through these innovative forums that New York Tech brings together the leading researchers and practitioners in the field, not only to educate the larger community of the latest advancements in select areas of biotechnology but also to provide a fertile ground for new collaborations to form and thrive,” said Beheshti.

The keynote address was given by Hina W. Chaudhry, M.D., professor and director of cardiovascular regenerative medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. She spoke about her research on human heart regeneration, saying there is great promise in regenerating damaged heart tissue by introducing cells expressing the marker CDX2 (a protein) from end-gestation placentas of mice to the area of an injured heart to regenerate the muscle. Martin Gerdes, Ph.D., New York Tech professor and chair of biomedical sciences, also spoke about human heart regeneration but from an adult mammalian perspective. He explained there is existing technology that can be used to replace damaged human heart tissue with selected pig heart tissue.

The conference featured several speakers, including Azhar Ilyas, Ph.D., assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering, who spoke about nanobiotechnology and biomaterials in medicine. Ilyas is working on several projects at New York Tech, including point-of-care devices to identify tumor cells in the bloodstream for early detection. And Associate Professor of Biomedical Sciences Randy Stout, Ph.D., gave a talk on “Super-Resolution Microscopy for Discovery at the Frontier of Cell Biology.”

The first panel discussion, moderated by Beheshti, focused on startups and how to make financially sound decisions. Panelists include: 

• David Lewandowski, director of business development, cell and gene therapy at Azenta Life Sciences
• Filippos Tourlomousis, Ph.D., founder of Biological Lattice Industries
• Ross O. Youngs, chief executive officer and founder of BioSortia Microbiomics
• Paul Marshall, chief executive officer and co-founder of Rapid Fluidics Ltd.

The second panel, moderated by Michael Nizich, Ph.D., director of New York Tech’s Entrepreneurship and Technology Innovation Center, touched on intellectual property, venture capital, finances, funding, and taxes. Panelists include:

• Carmella Stephens, Ph.D., Esq., partner at Carter, DeLuca & Farrell LLP
• James (Jimmy) Lu, founder and managing director of EOS Bio Innovation
• Charles Goulding, Esq., CPA, president of R&D TaxSavers
• John Pennett, CPA, partner, Eisner Advisory Group at  EisnerAmper 

Chad Bouton, M.D., vice president of advanced engineering at the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research at Northwell Health, offered the closing remarks. Directing his attention to the students who attended the conference, Bouton advised them to push for the truth and not lose heart if their scientific claim and findings are shunned. 

At a reception following the conference, College of Engineering and Computing Sciences students presented their projects.

By Sarah Hessasta