Theme 1:                Special Topics

Theme Chair:                   James Goh, National University of Singapore

In this theme, we wish to highlight the diversity in the application of biomechanics to the study of plants and animals, as well as human activities such as sports, workplace, materials handling, man-machine interface etc. It will also feature exciting topics relating to regeneration of functional tissues using physical and other form of stimulus. This will be an excellent platform for multidisciplinary interaction and exchanges that may lead to fruitful collaborative development.

Theme 2:               Organ Mechanics

Theme Chair:                            Yong Tian Chew, National University of Singapore, Singapore

Organs are immediate subsets of human.  Under the theme of Organ Mechanics, the mechanics of various organs such as heart, lung, spine, limbs, eye, etc. and their functions are investigated and presented under different tracks.  Replacement of organs, sustaining of injuries and rehabilitation of functions are also included.

Theme 3:              Tissue Mechanics

Theme Chair:                          Martin Buist, National University of Singapore, Singapore

Tissue mechanics is the study of biological materials, their properties, interactions and control systems at a scale greater than that of a single cell. These tissues form the building blocks from which organs and other structures are made. Through gaining an understanding of the mechanics of tissues we can better understand their functional roles under normal and pathological conditions. At this scale, theory and experiment are often intertwined and as such both experimental and theoretical investigations are encouraged.

Theme 4:              Cell Mechanics

Theme Chair:                          Masaaki Sato, Tohoku University, Japan

Many cells in our body are exposed to various mechanical stimulations such as tensile and compressive forces, shear stress, and hydrostatic pressure, and are responding and functioning. Cells are composed of many organelles including cytoskeletons in their structures. “Cell mechanics” is a research field to investigate the biological functions (how cells generate, sense and respond to mechanical forces) and structural rationality from mechanical points of view.

Theme 5:              Molecular Mechanics

Theme Chair:                          Markus J. Buehler, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA

Molecular mechanics is fundamental in defining larger-scale mechanical properties of tissues, organs and organisms. The study of molecular mechanics is facilitated by the integration of theoretical, numerical and experimental tools such as statistical mechanics, molecular dynamics, multi-scale modeling, atomic force microscopy, optical tweezers, nanoindentation, and other methods. The consideration of chemistry and mechanics in formulating models of the behavior of biological materials and systems is crucial for our ability to advance our understanding of physiological conditions, disease etiology, as well as the progression of diseases that involve a breakdown of materials that begins at the molecular level.

Theme 6:              Materials, Tools, Devices & Techniques

Theme Chair:                          Siew Lok Toh, National University of Singapore, Singapore