Professor Xuebin Yang, Head of Tissue Engineering Research, Leeds Dental Institute, University of Leeds, U.K. hosted the meeting at Dental Lecture Theatre. The meeting was entitled “Engineering 3D Model Tissues: Routes to Industrial Application” and was attended by 70 BRIDGE network members. Industrial attendees included 2 from Belgium, 2 from Germany and 1 from Switzerland; half were local attendees (within 100 miles) and the other half were from further afield, mainly London (200 miles from Leeds).

 The meeting was divided into 2 sessions, academic speakers in one session and Industrial/Company speakers in the other.  Both sessions complimented each other well in terms of titles and logic flow.  Verbal feedback was good from both academic and industrial delegates.    In the middle of the meeting there was a 50 minute networking session with refreshments, which generated excellent exchanges.  However, attempts to get feedback of information on items of discussion in this period, via a local group of recruited Post Docs, failed to materialise – none of the Post Docs reported back! 

 A questionnaire for students regarding the information they gained at the meeting was given out to 6 students but none were returned.  There were 3 high quality industrial presentations, one from a funding body (subsequently recruited as a constant supporter (Anthony Holmes, NC3Rs).

 Verbal feedback by the NC3Rs Body included notification of a call for funding (medical research which reduces animal experimentation).  They are also holding a public meeting in Spring 2009 in London.  There is also a funding scheme for small grants at any time.