Growing Spare Parts: The Promise of Tissue Engineering (In-person)

Growing Spare Parts: The Promise of Tissue Engineering (In-person)

Winter (4 - 8.5 hours) | Registration opens 11/23/2026 12:00 AM EDT

One Court Street Lebanon, NH 03766 United States
Classroom 3A
1/19/2027-2/9/2027
3:30 PM-5:30 PM EDT on Tue
$70.00

Growing Spare Parts: The Promise of Tissue Engineering (In-person)

Winter (4 - 8.5 hours) | Registration opens 11/23/2026 12:00 AM EDT

Imagine a world where a worn-out knee, a failing heart valve, or damaged skin could simply be regrown; there would be no donor list, no rejection, no waiting. That world is arriving faster than most of us realize.

This course looks at how scientists are learning to repair and regenerate the human body using engineered tissue, and what it might mean for how we age, heal, and receive medical care in the years ahead. We'll trace the ~50-year history of this field, from early skin grafts to today's headline-making lab-grown organs, and consider both the promise and the hype.

No scientific background is needed, just curiosity and a willingness to share your own perspectives and questions. Occasional short readings and brief videos (provided) will support our discussions. Participants will come away with a clearer understanding of where medicine is headed and their own informed opinions about the ethical and personal implications of these advances. Formats will include lecture, group discussion, and short videos. No textbooks will need to be purchased.

 

  • There are no required books for this course.
Amritha Anup

Amritha is a fourth-year PhD student at the Thayer School of Engineering, originally from Connecticut. She has been involved with tissue engineering research for the past five years. Her research involves manipulating biomaterials (specifically silk) to make scaffolds that can be used to support and understand tissue healing, with a special focus on bone and tendon healing.