Remedi: A research consortium applying engineering strategies to establish regenerative medicine as a new industry

Regenerative medicine is a growing field that aims to develop therapies that restore, maintain or improve tissue function. Although a number of regenerative therapies are biologically effective the vast majority of them are lacking in commercial viability. In order to translate the laboratory based biological success of regenerative medicines to large scale production capable, economic and scaleable approaches to manufacturing need to be implemented. To this end the remedi consortium are applying engineering strategies to assist in establishing regenerative medicine on a commercial footing. This paper details the application of quality engineering approaches to two stages in the manufacture of regenerative therapies: tissue scaffold fabrication and cell culture. The utility of the engineering strategies implemented is demonstrated. © 2009 Springer Berlin Heidelberg.