Over 4,000 delegates from 70 countries will congregate in The Convention Centre Dublin for the 8th World Congress of Biomechanics (WCB2018) which takes place from Sunday, 8 to Thursday, 12 July.

WCB2018 will be co-hosted by RCSI and Trinity College Dublin in partnership with AMBER, the Science Foundation Ireland-funded materials science and bioengineering research centre. The Congress is held once every four years and will bring together engineers and scientists from various disciplines including biology, physics, mathematics, computer science, chemistry and a range of clinical specialties.

Prof. Fergal O’Brien, RCSI Professor of Bioengineering and Regenerative Medicine, AMBER Deputy Director and Co-Chair of WCB2018 said: “Winning the WCB 2018 bid means we are in effect bringing the World Cup of Biomechanics to Dublin. With an interdisciplinary focus spanning engineering, medicine, life sciences and industry, this event will be a significant boost for Ireland’s growing international reputation for bioengineering research as exemplified by the research at RCSI and AMBER which is partnering with industry to translate world class scientific research to the benefit of patients and society. We are honoured that over 400 of the world’s leading researchers in the field have accepted our invitation to speak here this week.”

Prof. Cathal Kelly, Chief Executive/Registrar, RCSI who will deliver an address at the Congress’s opening ceremony commented: “RCSI is delighted to be co-hosts of this prestigious meeting of the World Congress of Biomechanics. A key focus of RCSI’s research mission is to translate world-class scientific research for the benefit of patients and society. It is particularly encouraging to see that so many world-leading clinicians and industry representatives will come together at this event – partners who are key to ensuring that this translation of research, to new patient treatments and medical devices, takes place effectively.”

The five-day scientific programme at the WCB2018 will cover speakers from across a wide spectrum of the sector including: Imaging and Device Biomechanics; Biofluid and Biotransport; Multiscale Biomechanics; Organ Biomechanics; Tissue Biomechanics; Cellular Biomechanics; Molecular Biomechanics and Whole Body Biomechanics. Applications range from basic biology to medical devices and the latest technologies. Exhibitions will highlight the latest technologies, publications, and medical devices.

Prof. Daniel Kelly, Trinity Professor of Tissue Engineering, AMBER Investigator and Co-Chair of WCB2018 said: “The field of biomechanics sits at the interface of engineering and medicine, and research in the field has revolutionised medicine, particularly in the area of medical devices. Ireland’s medical technology sector has evolved into one of the leading clusters globally. 18 of the world’s top 25 medical technology companies have a base in Ireland and 50% of the over 400 medtech companies based here are indigenous. Ireland is therefore the ideal location for a congress that aims to enhance links between the clinical and academic research community and industry in the medical technology sector.”

Further details of the event programme are available on the Congress website.

About AMBER

AMBER (Advanced Materials and BioEngineering Research) is a world-leading SFI-funded Research Centre headquartered in Trinity College Dublin, which provides a partnership between leading researchers in materials science and industry to develop new materials and devices for a range of sectors, particularly the ICT, medical devices and industrial technology sectors. Working in collaboration with CRANN (Trinity’s Centre for Research on Adaptive Nanostructures and Nanodevices), the Trinity Centre for Bioengineering and with University College Cork and the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.

About RCSI

RCSI is an international not-for-profit health sciences institution, founded in 1784, with its headquarters in Dublin. It is focused on education and research to drive improvements in human health worldwide. It is ranked among the top 250 (top 2%) of universities worldwide in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings (2018) and its research is ranked first in Ireland for citations. It is a signatory of the Athena SWAN Charter.