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13 March 2026
Journal of Functional Biomaterials | Interview with Dr. Lidy Fratila-Apachitei—Session Chair of the 2nd International Online Conference on Functional Biomaterials


We recently had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Lidy Fratila-Apachitei, who will be serving as one of the Session Chairs for the upcoming 2nd International Online Conference on Functional Biomaterials. Dr. Fratila-Apachitei, from Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, will chair the session “S7. Bioprinting and Bio-Fabrication”, bringing her valuable insight and expertise in the field of biomaterials, bioprinting, and biofabrication research.

1. Could you introduce your current research direction and share some recent progress?
My research is currently focused on the effects of biomaterial physical cues on the adaptation and functions of multiple cell types in the context of osteoimmunomodulation.

2. Have you encountered any challenges in your research?
One of the main challenges is related to the very limited availability of relevant in vitro coculture models involving biomaterials and associated methodologies to capture the spatiotemporal changes in cell behavior quantitatively.

3. How did you overcome them? Could you share your experience?
We addressed these challenges by starting to develop our own models. For example, establishing workflows for 2D and 3D data acquisition and processing at a single-cell level, based on confocal fluorescence microscopy imaging of cells cultured on biomaterials with specific physical cues, such as curvature or physical patterns.
Another example is related to developing direct and indirect coculture models for specific research questions, starting with the composition of the coculture media, seeding procedures, and functional assays that are compatible with the biomaterials used as substrates.

4. Looking ahead, what do you believe will be the hot topics in the field of bioprinting and bio-fabrication research in the next few years? Please share some examples and briefly explain why.
The field would benefit from advances related to:

  • Scaling-up of the technologies that are able to fabricate biomaterials with controlled features at multiple length scales;
  • Platforms integrating (bio)printing with in situ evaluation of the constructs;
  • Generative and predictive AI models.

5. As the Session Chair of IOCFB 2026, could you briefly describe what kind of meeting you are looking forward to?
An inspiring meeting in which the speakers can share and discuss their findings with the community in a fruitful manner.

6. With numerous conferences being organized each year, do you have any suggestions for making our conference more meaningful for scholars and students?
Firstly, I would like to congratulate the organization committee on their excellent planning and preparation, and the options that are already available. As a suggestion, I consider that including clinicians in the program would have significant added value and mutual benefits.

Introduction of IOCFB2026

Conference date: 8–10 July 2026;
Deadline for abstract submission: 20 March 2026;
Deadline for registration: 2 July 2026;
Conference chair: Prof. Dr. Pankaj Vadgama (School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK).

For more details, please visit the conference website: https://sciforum.net/event/IOCFB2026.
For any inquiries regarding the event, please get in touch with ⁠iocfb2026@mdpi.com.

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