Bioactive Materials Innovation Award Ceremony: Milica Radisic Honored for Pioneering Vascularized Organ-on-a-Chip and Biomanufacturing Technologies

The first Westlake Advanced Regenerative Medicine Engineering Conference kicked off on May 6 2025 at Westlake University's Yungu Campus, highlighted by the 2025 Bioactive Materials Innovation Award Ceremony. Hosted by Prof. Jian Yang, co-Editor-in-Chief of Bioactive Materials, the ceremony convened over 200 global experts in regenerative medicine and biomaterials to celebrate Prof. Milica Radisic of the University of Toronto, who was awarded for her groundbreaking innovations in vascularized tissue engineering and biomanufacturing.

Dr. Milica Radisic, Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Organ-on-a-Chip Engineering and Senior Scientist at the Toronto General Research Institute, received the honor for her transformative work bridging engineering and medicine. As Scientific Lead of the Human Organ Mimicry Lab at the Accelerate Consortium and Co-Lead of the Center for Research and Applications in Fluidic Technologies, she has been pivotal in advancing organ-on-a-chip systems and biomaterials for healing and scar reduction.

A distinguished fellow of the Royal Society of Canada (Academy of Science), Canadian Academy of Engineering, and American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering, Radisic boasts an illustrious career marked by accolades such as the MIT Technology Review “35 Under 35,” Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, NSERC E.W.R. Steacie Fellowship, and Humboldt Research Award. Her research includes pioneering electrical stimulation methods to mature induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cardiac tissue, a breakthrough with critical implications for cardiac disease modeling and regenerative therapies.

Beyond academia, Radisic has driven innovation as an entrepreneur and leader. She co-founded TARA Biosystems (acquired by Valo Health), which uses engineered human cardiac tissue for drug safety testing, and Quthero, focused on regenerative hydrogels. Her influence extends to editorial roles at ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering (Executive Editor), eLife (Reviewing Editor), and 10+ journals, alongside organizing major conferences like Keystone Symposia and EMBO meetings. With over 260 publications, 24,000 citations, and an h-index of 78, her work appears in top journals including Bioactive Materials, Cell, Nature Materials, and PNAS.

Global Recognition for Visionary Leadership

Four eminent scholars praised her contributions in video addresses:

• Prof. Molly S. Shoichet (University of Toronto): “Milica leads transformative projects at the engineering-medicine interface, delivers market-ready innovations, and nurtures the next generation of scientists—she is a role model for us all.”
• Dr. Ali Khademhosseini (Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation): “Milica's outstanding research, mentorship, and dedication to excellence inspire women in science globally and exemplify Canadian ingenuity.”
• Prof. Gordana Vunjak-Novakovic (Columbia University): “Her leadership in biomaterials and organ engineering continues to reshape cardiovascular research and therapy.”
• Prof. Jason A. Burdick (University of Pennsylvania): “By integrating novel materials and technologies in tissue engineering, Milica has accelerated translation through publications, patents, and startups—solidifying her role as a field leader.”

Advancing Innovation Toward Clinical Impact

Held during Bioactive Materials' 10th anniversary, the Innovation Award recognizes “disruptive technologies with clinical translation potential,” awarding up to two scholars annually. This year's ceremony underscores the maturation of biomanufacturing, as technologies like vascularized organ chips transition from lab benches to industrial development, promising breakthroughs in personalized medicine and drug discovery.