Highlights of upcoming events:

Next TCBC Seminar on Tue May 29th, will close the seminar serie of this academic year. The seminar with a seminar lunch will be arranged according to the tradition at TPS (Turun Pursiseuran paviljonki, Ruissalo). Preregistration is required.

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From Capital of Culture to Capital of Science (BioCity Turku) was arranged in the Maunio Koivisto Centre on April  11-12, 2012.

All of the Research Programs, including Biomaterials Reserach Program and Core-facility laboratory TCBC presented their activities.

For more information: http://www.biocity.turku.fi

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The 40 Years Anniversary seminar of Nordic Institute of Dental Materials: Nanotechnology, Biology and Reconstructive Biomaterials
was arranged in the Arje Scheinin Auditorium, March 14th 2012. More info.
Special guest speaker: Professor Samuel S. Stupp (Institute for Bionanotechnology in Medicine, Northwestern University, USA)

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Professor William Bonfield - Honorary Doctor of Faculty of Medicine

Professor William Bonfield from the University of Cambridge was awarded by the Honorary Degree of the University of Turku. Professor Bonfield is the one of the most eminent biomaterials scientist in the world and he is member of the Royal Society. He has made significant contributions to the field of science as founder and editor-in-chief of scientific journals, lecturer and in promoting commercialization of biomaterials. His contribution for biomaterials research activity at the University of Turku started in early 1990´s when the research of bioactive glass became main topic of the Turku biomaterials research. Since then, he has supported and directed e.g. development bioactive composite materials based on Turku origin components.

Degree Ceremonies were taken place in May 2011 and Professor Bonfield gave Studia Generalia lecture on Thu 26 of May in the Osmo Järvi Auditorium. Program.
More info.

Introduction

In the City of Turku, which boasts the longest history of academic research in Finland, achievements in science have led to scientific and technological innovations. An example of this is biomaterial research. A multidisciplinary approach to biomaterials science is required in order to develop medical and dental sciences and patient treatments. The ultimate goal of biomedical research is to fulfill the needs of physicians and dentists. Together with the BioCity Turku organization, the University of Turku and its Faculty of Medicine have nominated research in the field of biomaterials to be one of the profiling research programs in the city and southwestern part of Finland.

There are over 50 doctoral candidates completing their PhD studies and specializing in e.g. medicine, dentistry, chemistry, biochemistry, and engineering sciences. Many of the doctoral candidates work in national doctoral programmes (such as FINDOS – Finnish Doctoral Program in Oral Sciences and TBDP – National Doctoral Programme of Musculoskeletal Disorders and Biomaterials). A modern core-facility laboratory, the Turku Clinical Biomaterial Centre – TCBC, has recently been established for students and senior researchers.

 Research in the BioCity Turku Biomaterials Research Program is based on strong previous research in bioactive materials and dental biomaterials with a revised focus on non-metallic composite implant materials, tissue engineering and bone biology. This enables the development of modern adhesive dentistry and biomimetic durable implant devices for orthopaedics and head and neck surgery.

What are biomaterials?

Medical and dental biomaterials are used to replace missing or severely damaged tissue or parts of organs. Artificial materials have been used for this purpose in medicine for thousands of years. Developments in basic natural and engineering sciences with medicine and dentistry have improved our ability to create tailor-made biomaterials for various purposes. Biomaterials are used as reconstructive devices in the human body and as scaffolds for regenerative medicine which utilize tissue engineering.

Join the international team!

TCBC is a core-facility laboratory where you can carry out research with top-class infrastructure. We have expertise in non-metallic biomaterials in medicine and dentistry. If you are interested in working at the TCBC, please consider PhD studies at the University of Turku www.med.utu.fi, or consult your home university about research collaboration. Please contact research group leaders at www.biomaterials.utu.fi.

Pekka Vallittu
Professor of Biomaterials Science
Director of the Biomaterials Research Program