Medical Polymers Innovations, Challenges, and Opportunities

ANNUAL CALL FOR SPEAKERS

DEADLINE July 1, 2025

SPE’s Medical Plastics Division (MPD) is currently seeking submission of titles and abstracts for technical presentations for its 2025-2026 conference programing. Presentations are eligible for acceptance at one of the following technical sessions:

• MD&M Minneapolis MiniTec – Minneapolis, MN · October 21, 2025
• MD&M West MiniTec – Anaheim, CA · February 2-3, 2026
• SPE ANTEC®, March 2-5, 2026 (location and date TBD)

Topics are interest include the following:

1. Advanced Medical Polymers

• Smart, self-healing, bioinspired, and antimicrobial medical plastics
• Material biocompatibility
• Materials & technologies critical for next generation medicines & therapeutic delivery systems

2. Next-Generation Medical Devices & Therapeutic Delivery

• Next generation medical devices and therapeutic delivery systems
• Personalization in materials, manufacturing, devices, and measurements
• Development of hybrid devices to reduce single-use plastic waste and OEM end-of-life responsibilities

3. Manufacturing Innovations & Process Control

• Additive manufacturing in medical devices (3D and “4D” printing)
• Innovations in polymer processing and device manufacturing
• AI and machine learning-driven tools for medical plastics manufacturing

4. Regulatory Compliance & Testing

• Testing and validation of medical plastics (evolving standards and regulations: ISO 10993 updates, MDR, PFAS)
• Interactions between medical plastics and sterilization methods (e.g., ethylene oxide limitations)

5. Sustainability & Lifecycle Considerations

• Sustainability in healthcare materials and manufacturing
• Design considerations for balancing safety, convenience, and lifecycle impact

Presentation Submission Next Steps

We are seeking early submissions  by July 1, 2025. Please complete the information on the conference link below.

MPD Speaker Requirements for Selected Speakers

• Submit proposed title & abstract by July 1, 2025. Your proposal will be reviewed and you will receive an email from the MPD Technical Programming Committee.
• Accepted topics: submit a high resolution color headshot – 2 weeks after acceptance as speaker.
• Submit your PowerPoint presentation for committee review no later than:
  • MD&M Minneapolis MiniTec – Minneapolis, MN | September 1, 2025
  • MD&M West MiniTec – Anaheim, CA | November 1, 2025
  • SPE ANTEC® | December 1, 2026
• Participants will attend the on-site event
• Consent to conference partner speaker agreement and distribution of a PDF version of your presentation to conference attendees

For additional information, please contact us.