Appendix C
Statement of Task
The emerging and multidisciplinary field of regenerative engineering aims to repair, regenerate, or replace damaged tissues in the body using a combination of principles and technologies from advanced materials science, developmental/stem cell biology, and immunology. The term “regenerative engineering,” used here to encompass regenerative medicine and tissue engineering, reflects the growing number of research and product development efforts that incorporate elements from both fields. Because regenerative engineered therapies rely on live cells and/or scaffolds, there are inherent challenges in quality control associated with variability in source and final products. Each patient recipient, tissue donor, and product application is unique and therefore the field faces complexities in the development of safe and effective new products and therapies that are not faced by developers of more conventional therapies. To further explore the various factors that contribute to successful regenerative engineering products, an ad hoc committee will plan a 1-day public workshop in Washington, DC. Invited speakers and participants may discuss factors and sources of variability in the development and clinical application of regenerative engineering products, characteristics of high-quality products, and how different clinical needs, models, and contexts can inform the development of a product. Speakers may also discuss ways to reduce variability and ensure consistent, high-quality products and improve patient outcomes, share lessons learned, and highlight opportunities for collaboration. A broad array of stakeholders may take part in the workshop, including academic and industry experts, regulators, clinicians, patients, and patient advocates.
The ad hoc committee will develop the workshop agenda, select and invite speakers and discussants, and may moderate the discussions. Proceedings of the workshop will be prepared by a designated rapporteur in accordance with institutional policy and procedures.
