Medicine of the future: what can machines do… and who is responsible?

This talk explores the human sense of touch, spanning from anatomy to surprising biophysics and features hands-on demonstrations of tactile illusions for the audience. I will also cover how this fundamental haptic research translates into practical applications, including wearables for interactive entertainment, assistive devices, and soft tactile sensors for robotics

3D printing has been revolutionising our industries and research laboratories for several years. Following the 2020 pandemic, its integration into hospitals became indispensable, leading to the creation of numerous European 3D printing platforms. Initially used for the emergency production of masks and visors, 3D printing continues to evolve and is enabling new innovations for both researchers and surgeons. It addresses several key challenges : personalised medicine (3D printing a prosthesis perfectly tailored to you), training junior surgeons and nurses, as well as the potential to reduce animal testing and cadaver use. By bringing together engineers, surgeons and researchers under one roof, these university-hospital 3D printing platforms aim to meet specific needs where industrial and traditional processes fall short. However, these platforms are now facing regulatory challenges, notably due to the new European Medical Device Regulation in place since 2021 and the persistent lack of clarity surrounding additive manufacturing processes.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is always closer to become an everyday reality in the healthcare sector.In recent years, AI has demonstrated remarkable reliability in terms of diagnostic and therapeutic accuracy, but it does sometimes make mistakes. What are the legal consequences if both the AI system’s output and the doctor's decision are wrong?

Elastic materials are everywhere — in our shoes, our medical devices, and increasingly, in research labs. In this talk, I'll explore what happens when you stretch, squeeze, or vibrate a polymer: how mechanical force can trigger chemical reactions, release drug molecules, and make materials move. Along the way, we'll look at how 3D printing is changing the way we design soft materials — and why the bandage of the future might do a lot more than just cover a wound.