What does it take to guide scientific research and higher education at one of the world's best young universities?

In this inspiring conversation, we speak with Professor Pamela Habibović, Rector Magnificus of Maastricht University and co-founder of the MERLN Institute for Regenerative Medicine in Maastricht, the Netherlands.

The conversation touches on many turning points in her career: international research experiences, mentoring and leading scientific teams, building and shaping the MERLN Institute, and transitioning from hands-on research to academic leadership. We also discuss how to foster innovation, guide large organizations, and connect research with education and societal needs.

Beyond leadership challenges, Pamela reflects on the evolving role of women in STEM, the value of meaningful publishing, and the importance of celebrating milestones. She shares insights on how to build diverse and creative teams and maintain purpose and impact in large academic institutions.

This interview reveals an academic leader who has not only advanced science but also guided institutions and people – bridging research, education, and societal impact.

If you want to learn more about the institutes mentioned in the episode, please follow the links below:

MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine – ⁠https://merlninstitute.com⁠ 

Maastricht University – https://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl

Timestamps

00:00 – Intro to Biomed Unleashed
00:28 – Meet Prof. Pamela Habibović: Rector Magnificus of Maastricht University and co-founder of MERLN, the Netherlands
01:11 – Let’s dive in
01:24 – From Bosnia to the lab: the childhood moment that sparked her love for science
01:56 – A home filled with minerals and the beauty of curiosity
03:04 – The Philippines internship: seaweed, heavy metals, and an unexpected discovery
04:48 – A power outage that changed everything – when serendipity meets science
05:27 – From technician to scientist: the desire to be involved in the full research process
07:01 – What are osteoinductive materials and why they matter in medicine?
09:18 – “Your project is terrible, but you’re in.” The rejection that changed her career
11:12 – Life in Boston: brilliant minds, extreme competition, and key lessons learned
14:18 – Doing a PhD in a company versus a university: two different worlds
15:52 – McGill University: how the Canadian system compares to the US
17:21 – Why she returned to Europe after her North American experience?
18:17 – Mentorship and moonshots: lessons from Clemens van Blitterswijk – a pioneer in tissue engineering
20:51 – The call that started it all: founding the MERLN Institute for Regenerative Medicine in the Netherlands
23:03 – Building MERLN from the ground up: challenges, vision, and people
24:58 – Rethinking how to organize research: not by organs, but by technology
26:16 – Beyond bone: instructive biomaterials for organoids and tissue regeneration
27:47 – Advice on how to grow as a scientist
30:14 – Publishing for meaning, not for metrics: why content matters more than numbers
34:07 – Why many great ideas stop at early stages and how to bridge that gap
37:21 – The missing link in academia: connecting research with real-world needs
39:43 – Taking leadership at MERLN: from pioneering chaos to sustainable growth
42:16 – The power and challenge of diversity in science
44:45 – Becoming University Rector Magnificus: doubts, motivations, and a vision for change
47:16 – Discovering the bigger picture at the University
52:58 – Building bridges between disciplines: Brightlands and Global Studies examples
54:53 – Advice to her younger self: pause, reflect, and celebrate the milestones
56:56 – Women in STEM: what has changed and what still must change
01:01:02 – Her proudest scientific achievement
01:02:05 – What would she do if not academia – a surprising answer
01:02:55 – Closing thoughts and reflections
01:03:03 – Biomed Unleashed Outro

What does it take to build one of Europe’s leading research institutes in Regenerative Medicine? In this inspiring conversation, we speak with Professor Clemens van Blitterswijk, a pioneer in tissue engineering and founder of the MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine in Maastricht, the Netherlands.

The conversation touches on many turning points: building companies during crises, navigating the choice between academia and business, and leading a remarkable transfer of sixteen colleagues to establish a new research institute.

Clemens reflects on the right time to commercialize discoveries and how coincidental findings can lead to breakthroughs in top journals. He shares insights on helping startups through RegMed XB and the delicate art of knowing when to push forward and when to stop. We also discussed why art and science are more closely related than we think.

From biomaterials that grow bone to Clemens’ vision for high-throughput technologies, this interview reveals a scientist-entrepreneur who has not only advanced regenerative medicine but also built bridges between universities, startups, and patients – pushing regenerative medicine field forward. 

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction to Biomed unleashed

00:27 Guest Introduction

01:27 Welcome

02:00 What sparked Prof. Clemens van Blitterswijk’s interest in regenerative medicine?

03:40 How to get a job?

05:13 Differences in setting up your own lab back then and now

06:10 Founding companies

09:33 Combining research and entrepreneurship as a profession 

11:05 Clemens’ thoughts about combining academia and entrepreneurship when he was a bachelor student

12:22 Interest in science when Clemens was a child

13:10 Illusion of having everything under control

14:10 Building company during crisis

16:00 Advice to people to keep going in difficult life situation

18:11 Dilemma: academia research or business management?

21:05 Leaving one university and transferring your lab to another, why and how?

22:45 Why coming to Maastricht (the Netherlands)?

24:27 What to do when you do not agree with the situation?

25:08 Mega transfer of 16 staff members from one university to another and building the MERLN Institute for Technology Inspired Regenerative Medicine in Maastricht (the Netherlands)

27:12 Balance of freedom and structure in the MERLN Institute 

30:00 Believe or be critical? How to keep the same sense of purpose in large organizations? 

32:18 Bringing science to application to help patients

33:57 Materials that can grow bone tissue (without cells) even in skin - Kuros Biosciences

37:18 Helping new regenerative medicine companies (startups) - RegMed XB

40:16 Complexity of financing research

42:25 Fostering collaborations between universities in the Netherlands - RegMed XB

44:36 Thoughts on future collaborations between universities in Europe

45:36 Retirement and influence 

48:48 Helping university spin-offs 

49:45 What is the right time to start commercializing your research?

51:59 Coincidental findings in research that lead to publications in Nature and Advanced Materials

54:36 Serendipity and talent to see when something is special

56:03 Is it possible to develop the talent of seeing when something is special?

58:11 Being able to stop at a right moment is essential

58:34 Art and science

1:00:05 The project that Prof. Clemens van Blitterswijk is most proud of

1:02:30 High throughput technologies for research

1:05:22 Abandon fundamental scientific approach of first understanding and then applying

1:05:35 Lab and cell organization are more similar than we think

1:07:08 How to have a satisfying scientific career?

1:08:22 Last question!

1:09:09 Meet Biomed Unleashed Team

1:09:39 Biomed Unleashed Outro

Host: Alisa Ovsiannikova

Writers: Alisa Ovsiannikova, Misha Bagirov

Editor: Misha Bagirov

Promotion: Amaliya Bagdasaryan, Alba Villagrasa Martin

Coordinator: Alisa Ovsiannikova

MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine https://merlninstitute.com

What does it take to lead the future of regenerative medicine? Professor Martijn van Griensven shared the experiences that have shaped his journey from his early days as Germany’s youngest professor to his current work as a leading mind in biomedical research and head of the cBITE department at the MERLN Institute.

We explored how bones heal, and why sometimes they don’t, and what role the immune system plays when regeneration breaks down. We dove into the molecular world of RNA therapies and their potential to modulate immune responses and help tissues rebuild themselves.

We talked about the practical challenges of bringing these therapies into the clinic, the role of AI in tailoring treatments to each patient, and what the future might hold. For Professor van Griensven, it’s not just about molecules and machines, it’s about curiosity, perseverance, and asking the right questions.

If you want to learn more, please follow the links below:

MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine: ⁠https://merlninstitute.com⁠

Hannover Medical School: https://www.mhh.de/en/

Research paper on the patient case after the motorcycle accident: https://www.cureus.com/articles/246346-the-treatment-of-very-large-traumatic-bone-defects-of-the-tibia-with-a-polycaprolactone-tricalcium-phosphate-3d-printed-cage-a-review-of-three-cases#!/

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro Biomed Unleashed

00:27 Guest Introduction

00:55 Welcome

1:10 Academic background

2:20 Challenges of being the Youngest Professor in Germany – 26 years old!

3:43 What initially sparked Martijn’s interest in regenerative medicine? – US experience

6:25 Why did Martijn start working at MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine in Maastricht, the Netherlands?

8:05 Why bone cannot heal on its own when there is a large defect?

9:56 Main ways to help the bone to heal? Does immunity play a role in that?

11:47 Most promising way to regenerate bones

13:14 RNAs and RNA-based regenerative medicine therapies

15:43 What type of RNA therapies is the focus of Martijn’s research?

16:55 Differences between messenger RNAs and micro RNAs

18:56 Are messenger RNAs or micro RNAs better?

20:13 Off-target effects of micro RNAs?

21:59 Can micro RNAs help stem cells avoid immune rejection in the human body? 

25:01 If one type of micro RNAs is considered safe for human use, does it mean that other types are safe as well or are they completely different?

26:20 How can environmental factors affect micro RNAs in stem cells?

28:11 3D culture environment for micro RNAs. Is that important and is it used in research?

30:25 Microfluidic systems to study microRNA activity

32:00 Influence of specific materials for bone regeneration on micro RNA activity

34:01 Antagomirs – what are they and how are they used in regenerative medicine?

36:31 Challenges when using antagomirs

38:16 Are microRNAs specific or have multiple targets in the body?

39:52 Delivery systems of micro RNAs to cells

42:19 Gene editing tools to modify micro RNAs – is it possible?

42:39 Challenges of gene editing tools

44:21 Regenerative medicine in 5-10 years

45:39 Which countries are leading regenerative medicine research?

47:05 Exciting upcoming projects at MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine in Maastricht, the Netherlands

48:37 What is a research project that Martijn is most proud of?

49:49 How did regenerative medicine therapy heal 15 cm bone defect after a motorcycle accident?!

51:08 Minimum bone defect size that bone cannot heal anymore on its own

51:53 AI in regenerative medicine

53:30 AI in personalized medicine

54:43 Skills that students need to possess to work in regenerative medicine field

56:16 Last question!

57:30 Conclusion

57:43 Meet Biomed Unleashed Team

58:06 Outro Biomed Unleashed

Hosts and writers: Alisa Ovsiannikova, Alba Villagrasa Martin

Editor: Misha Bagirov

Promotion: Amalia Bagdasaryan

Coordinator: Alisa Ovsiannikova

MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine

How do you commercialize regenerative medicine, and why is it so challenging? 

What does it take to build a successful biotech startup? 

And are revolutionary regenerative medicine solutions closer than we think?

In this episode, our guest is Marianne van der Steen, Professor of Entrepreneurship in Healthcare and Chief Business Development Officer at the MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine in the Netherlands.

Prof. van der Steen is a founding director of REGMED XB, a translational institute with an investment of 250 million euros, which translates groundbreaking regenerative medicine technologies into commercial products and companies.

Her expertise spans across not only research in biomedical entrepreneurship, but also translation of regenerative medicine into market-ready solutions, co-founding of game-changing ventures, and bridging the gap between scientists, businesspeople, and policymakers. With over 15 years of experience in scaling regenerative medicine startups, mentoring entrepreneurs, and making transatlantic collaboration possible, she is the one shaping the future of regenerative medicine.

If you want to learn more about the companies and institutes mentioned in the episode, please follow the links below:

MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine –https://merlninstitute.com

RegMed XB –https://regmedxb.com

California Institure for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) –https://www.cirm.ca.gov 

MIRA University of Twente –https://www.utwente.nl/en/news/2010/3/116725/mira-ambitious-plan-for-the-future 

Hummingbird Biomedical –https://www.hummingbirdbiomedical.com 

ReGen Biomedical – https://www.regenbiomedical.com 

Vertex Pharmaceuticals –https://www.vrtx.com/home/

Mayo Clinic –https://www.mayoclinic.org

Nextkidney –https://nextkidney.com

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction to Biomed unleashed

00:39 Guest Introduction

01:32 Welcome

01:45 What has inspired you to focus on valorization of scientific knowledge?

03:35 Why valorization of specifically regenerative medicine projects?

05:14 Why is it challenging to commercialize regenerative medicine compared to other fields?

07:23 What is the idea behind the RegMed XB company that you co-founded?

09:34 What are the Moonshots in RegMed XB company, and why these specific Moonshots were chosen?

12:00 How do you foster international and public-private collaborations within regenerative medicine field?

14:29 What stage of product development are you typically involved in?

17:05 Do you teach scientists entrepreneurial skills?

20:08 What advice would you give to scientists who aspire to bring their knowledge to commercial applications?

22:34 How do you tackle failures, and what is a failure?

27:30 Why and how transatlantic collaboration between US and the Netherlands is important in the regenerative medicine field?

32:08 Looking into the future, how close are we to treating patients with engineered/artificial/lab-grown human tissues?

36:47 Future of in-silico trials

38:34 How can we measure success?

41:06 What is the most successful project you helped to upscale?

43:14 Last question!

45:15 Final thoughts

46:09 Meet Biomed Unleashed Team

46:37 Biomed Unleashed Outro

How do you get hold of the viruses and, with their help, cure some of the deadliest diseases known to humanity?

In this episode, David Schaffer, Professor of Chemical and Bioengineering, and Cell and Molecular Biology at the University of California, Berkeley, who was the first scientist to apply the directed evolution to engineer viruses for gene therapy, will share with us some of the most exciting parts of his academic journey in chemical and biomolecular engineering!

What is the process of directed evolution and how did it advance the field of gene therapy?

Were there any unexpected findings at David Schaffer’s Laboratory that led to groundbreaking discoveries?

How did the experience in founding and leading biotech companies affect his approach to academic research?

In this episode, discover the answers to these questions and get more insights into David Schaffer’s academic life!

Hosts and writers: Alisa Ovsiannikova, Misha Bagirov

Editors: Alisa Ovsiannikova, Misha Bagirov

Promotion: Amaliya Bagdasaryan

Coordinator: Alisa Ovsiannikova

What is personalised medicine and how it revolutionizes our understanding of classic medical approaches?

In this Episode, Professor Ali Khademhosseini, the CEO, and Terasaki Distinguished Professor at the Terasaki Institute in Los Angeles, USA, guides us through his scientific journey in bioengineering and personalized medicine.

Prof. Ali Khademhosseini was cited more than 133.000 times and has an H-index of 190. He has been honored by more than 70 major awards at both national and international levels.

What motivated Prof. Ali Khademhosseini to join Terasaki institute and reform it into a new research organisation, focusing on real-life applications of tissue engineering?

How did Ali Khademhosseini’s successful transition from academia to industry unleash?

How are hydrogels and organs-on-a-chip revolutionizing the field of personalized medicine?

Which personalized biomedical device has the highest potential to come next to clinical application?

You will find the answers to these questions and many more groundbreaking and inspiring insights on Ali Khademhosseini’s career in this episode!

Hosts and writers: Alisa Ovsiannikova, Misha Bagirov

Editors: Alisa Ovsiannikova, Misha Bagirov

Promotion: Amaliya Bagdasaryan

Coordinator: Alisa Ovsiannikova

In our new episode, tune in to one of the most influential figures in biomedical engineering, Professor Robert Langer!

This summer, Alisa Ovsiannikova and Misha Bagirov travelled all the way from the Netherlands to the US and visited MIT to conduct an incredible interview with Professor Robert Langer!

As the most cited engineer in history, with over 430,000 citations and an h-index of 326, Professor Langer's contributions to the fields of tissue engineering and drug delivery systems are unmatched. His work has created countless innovations with over 1,400 patents under Prof Langer’s name.

Join us as Professor Langer shares the journey that led him from a childhood chemistry kit to a groundbreaking career in chemical and biomedical engineering.

In this episode, Professor Langer opens up about the critical moments when his work began gaining acceptance, the challenges and triumphs of founding biotech companies like Moderna, and how his father’s wisdom shaped his unbeatable pursuit of innovation.

We also dive into the cutting-edge research happening at Langer Lab, the largest biomedical engineering lab in the world, as well as exciting advances in drug delivery systems and tissue engineering.

You can find all of that and many other exciting insights in our new episode!

Hosts and writers: Alisa Ovsiannikova, Misha Bagirov

Editors: Rossana Serlenga, Alisa Ovsiannikova, Misha Bagirov

Promotion: Amaliya Bagdasaryan

Coordinator: Alisa Ovsiannikova

What is computational modeling and how is it used in regenerative medicine? In this episode, our guest Dr. Aurélie Carlier, a tenure track associate professor at the MERLN Institute at Maastricht University, shares insights from her academic journey and sheds light on how computational modeling contributes to more effective and optimized research in regenerative medicine.

What are the various methods used to model biological processes? How do different disciplines converge within the biomedical engineering field? What essential skills and knowledge are recquired for computational modeling? What is the concept of virtual patients, and is it our potential future?

Find answers to these questions and more in our new episode!

Hosts and Writers: Elisey Melnikov and Alisa Ovsiannikova

Editor: Rossana Serlenga

In this episode, Professor Leon De Windt, co-founder of miRabilis Therapeutics at Maastricht University explains his journey of working with micro – RNA’s of the heart. He shares his path from America to Utrecht to now Maastricht and the different research carried out throughout. How are non – coding RNA’s linked to regenerative medicine? And why did COVID help in the credibility of these mRNA’s? Other than answering these questions, Professor De Windt shares his advice on entrepreneurship as well as his role in the European TRAIN-HEART association. 

In this episode, we dive into the educational side of regenerative medicine, focusing on the recent launch of Maastricht University's Bachelor of Regenerative Medicine and Technology. Our guest, Jurica Bauer, is the creator of this brand-new bachelor's program. With a background in chemistry and material science, he has an extensive career history that includes industry experience and over a decade of scientific research, some of which was conducted alongside a Nobel Prize Laureate. In his journey, he discovered a passion for education in science and technology. Jurica emphasizes the importance of having an interdisciplinary scientific education and addresses the prospective students of UM's exciting new bachelor's program.

Hosts and Writers: Elisey Melnikov and Nika Cindori

Editor: Rossana Serenga

Outreach manager: Jozefina Skrzypalik

Coordinator: Ekaterina Kasyanova