2018 B.C. Tech Summit features 3D printed neural tissue that could fight brain diseases

The largest technology conference in Western Canada is returning is Vancouver and oneof this year'sdisplays isstraight out of a science fiction novel.

Beginning Monday and taking place at the Vancouver Convention Centre, the three-day B.C. Tech Summit will showcase new technology that can change industries.

Conference speakers includePremier John Horgan and federal Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Navdeep Bains.

The University of Victoriais sending a team of researchersto present theirnewest innovations in the fields of health, clean energy and environmental stewardship.

One researcher, Dr. StephanieWillerth, a biomedical engineer, is working towardusing3D printers to createliving, functioning human neural tissue.

"The long-term goal is to engineerreplacements fordiseased or damaged tissue," saidWillerth.

Stem cells

In the past, Willerth's research has focused on engineering neural tissue predominantly from stem cells.

Certain types of stem cells can change their cell type and beused to create newtissues, like the ones found in abrain or spinal cord.

For her new tissue printing project,Willerthteamed up withB.C. tech firm Aspect Biosystemsand is using itslatest 3D printing technology to create models of neural tissue.

Currently, the 3D prints are just models they can't replace living tissue.

But the hope is that the models will help us better understand how a brain or spinal cord works, how spinal injuries can be healed, how neural diseases can be treated and, one day, provide a new way to testdrugs.

Drug testing

Willerthsaid roughly 90 per cent of new drugs don't make it to the market due to unforeseen side effects in humans that don't occurin test animals such as rodents.

When her work does create printedneural tissues, pharmaceuticals won't need to be tested onanimals, saidWillerth. Instead, drugscan be tested on the 3D printed cells.

"With your brain, not only is there a structural element, there are also these chemical and electrical signals that you have to replicate as well," saidWillerth, smiling.

"So it's quite a challenging engineering problem."

Along with Willerth'sprinting, convention goers will be able to see groundbreaking innovations in heart disease research, brain wave monitoring, energy-conserving insulation, and more.

The B.C. Tech Summit runs May 14-16.

With files from North by Northwest