University of Minnesota biomedical engineering professor to present “Bio ink Development to Advance 3D Bioprinting & Organoid Development” at MiniTec Conference at MD&M Midwest

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — September 23, 2026 — The SPE Medical Plastics Division (MPD) is pleased to announce Brenda Ogle, PhD, Professor of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Minnesota, as the keynote speaker for the MiniTec Conference at MD&M Midwest 2026.

Dr. Ogle will present “Bio ink Development to Advance 3D Bioprinting & Organoid Development,” highlighting advances in cardiac tissue engineering and the development of novel bio ink formulations for creating complex, living cardiac tissues through 3D bioprinting.

The MiniTec Conference takes place October 28, 2026, in conjunction with MD&M Midwest and brings together experts in medical polymers, materials science, medical device development, advanced manufacturing, regulatory compliance, and healthcare innovation.

Advancing Cardiac Tissue Engineering

Cardiac tissue engineering seeks to create living human cardiac tissue outside the body. In the near term, engineered tissues can provide model systems for studying heart function, disease, therapeutics, and medical technologies. Longer term, this research could contribute to new approaches for replacing diseased or damaged cardiac muscle.

Dr. Ogle’s laboratory studies the relationship between stem cells, cardiac cell types, and the extracellular matrix to understand how these interactions can guide tissue engineering. Her research interests include stem cell differentiation, extracellular matrices, and 3D bioprinting.

During her MiniTec keynote, Dr. Ogle will share some of her laboratory’s most surprising mechanistic insights and explain how these discoveries are guiding the development of novel bio ink formulations for 3D bioprinting complex cardiac tissues.

Her team’s work demonstrates the potential for combining materials science, biology, and engineering to create increasingly sophisticated living tissue models. The Ogle Lab has previously developed 3D-bioprinted cardiac patches and continues to advance 3D cardiac bioprinting and engineered heart tissues.

From Bio inks to Organoids

Bio inks are a critical component of 3D bioprinting because they must provide an environment capable of supporting living cells while also enabling fabrication into useful three-dimensional structures.

Dr. Ogle’s research investigates how extracellular matrix proteins influence stem cell behavior and how these insights can be translated into engineered tissues. Current work within her laboratory includes ECM-based bio inks, cardiac organoids, engineered heart tissues, and 3D-printed chambered cardiac constructs.

This intersection of advanced polymers and biomaterials, 3D printing, stem cell biology, and regenerative medicine makes Dr. Ogle’s keynote especially relevant to the MiniTec 2026 theme, “Polymers: The Material Platform Behind Modern Healthcare.”

About Brenda Ogle, PhD

Brenda Ogle, PhD, is a Professor of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Minnesota. Her research focuses on understanding the conditions that govern stem cell fate and using those insights to enhance the regenerative capacity of biological systems, particularly the cardiovascular system. Her research interests include stem cell differentiation, extracellular matrices, tissue engineering, and 3D bioprinting.

Her laboratory combines stem cell biology with engineering principles to develop technologies for repairing or replacing damaged tissues. Recent University of Minnesota research also involves the development of stem-cell-derived cardiac models that mimic aspects of heart function and can serve as platforms for studying disease, therapies, and other biological effects.

About MiniTec 2026

The SPE Medical Plastics Division MiniTec Conference at MD&M Midwest brings together professionals working at the intersection of polymers, healthcare, engineering, manufacturing, and medical technology.

The 2026 program explores five major areas shaping the future of healthcare:

• Advanced Materials for Healthcare Applications
• Next-Generation Medical Devices and Therapies
• Advanced Manufacturing and Processing Technologies
• Sustainable Healthcare Materials and Manufacturing
• Regulatory Compliance, Testing, and Standards

Attendees will have the opportunity to learn from technical experts, explore emerging technologies, and connect with colleagues working to advance polymers and materials for healthcare applications.

MiniTec Conference at MD&M Midwest
October 28, 2026
Keynote: Bio ink Development to Advance 3D Bioprinting & Organoid Development
Speaker: Brenda Ogle, PhD

View the MiniTec keynote session details and Brenda Ogle’s speaker profile.

About SPE Medical Plastics Division

The SPE Medical Plastics Division connects professionals involved in the development, manufacture, testing, and application of polymers and plastics for medical and healthcare products. Through technical conferences, educational programs, professional networking, and knowledge sharing, the division helps advance polymer technology and its application throughout the medical industry.

Medical technology continues to advance at a remarkable pace. New materials, smarter manufacturing processes, artificial intelligence, personalized devices, and evolving regulatory requirements are changing not only what medical products can do, how they are designed and manufactured.

On October 28, 2026, the SPE Medical Plastics Division will bring together experts from across the medical plastics and healthcare industries for the Medical Polymers MiniTec Conference at MD&M Midwest. The one-day technical conference runs from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CDT and focuses on the theme “Polymers: The Material Platform Behind Modern Healthcare.”

The program gives engineers, scientists, manufacturers, product developers, and other healthcare professionals to learn about innovations shaping the next generation of medical products.

1. Advanced Materials for Healthcare Applications

Materials are at the foundation of medical device innovation. As healthcare products become smaller, smarter, more durable, and more personalized, material requirements are becoming increasingly demanding.

Attendees will explore developments in smart, self-healing, bioinspired, and antimicrobial medical polymers that may advance device performance and enable new applications.

The program examines biocompatibility, biomaterials, and material performance, including how materials can improve safety, longevity, and performance.

Advanced polymers are also opening possibilities beyond traditional medical devices. New material technologies are helping enable wearables, drug delivery systems, and emerging therapeutic approaches, creating new opportunities for engineers and materials scientists to influence the future of healthcare.

2. Next-Generation Medical Devices and Therapies

The medical device industry is increasingly combining materials science with digital technologies.

Artificial intelligence and machine learning are creating new opportunities to advance healthcare innovation, product development, and medical device performance. At the same time, wearable technologies, advanced drug delivery systems, and increasingly personalized devices are changing how patients interact with healthcare products.

Attendees will learn about developments involving next-generation medical devices, advanced materials, digital health solutions, personalized products, and patient feedback. These technologies can help medical device companies move toward products designed around individual patients rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.

3. Advanced Manufacturing and Processing Technologies

Innovative materials must ultimately be transformed into reliable, manufacturable products.

That makes manufacturing technology an essential part of medical polymer innovation.

We will examine additive manufacturing, including 3D and 4D printing, and its expanding role in producing sophisticated medical products. Advanced polymer processing and micro-fabrication technologies are also enabling increasingly complex components, smaller features, and new device architectures.

Artificial intelligence is also beginning to influence the factory floor as well. AI-enabled manufacturing, process control, and quality assurance can help manufacturers analyze process data, identify potential problems earlier, optimize production, and improve consistency.

Together, these technologies are creating new possibilities for moving promising concepts from the laboratory into scalable production.

4. Sustainable Healthcare Materials and Manufacturing

Healthcare products must meet demanding requirements for safety, sterility, reliability, and performance. At the same time, manufacturers are facing growing pressure to consider environmental impact throughout the product lifecycle.

Industry experts will address design for sustainability, circularity, and lifecycle management for healthcare products.

Topics include recycling, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), and circular economy strategies for medical plastics. These discussions are particularly important as companies consider how material selection, manufacturing methods, packaging, product use, and end-of-life strategies interact.

The program will also explore microplastics, including their environmental impact, potential sources, and mitigation strategies related to healthcare materials.

The challenge is not simply to use less material. It is to find practical ways to increase sustainability while continuing to meet the stringent performance and patient-safety requirements of healthcare applications.

5. Regulatory Compliance, Testing, and Standards

Innovation in medical polymers must ultimately operate within an increasingly complex regulatory environment.

Attendees will also learn about biocompatibility testing, material characterization, and performance evaluation, critical activities for understanding whether materials will perform safely and reliably in their intended applications.

Regulatory discussions will include evolving requirements and standards involving ISO 10993, the European Medical Device Regulation (MDR), PFAS, and related regulatory considerations.

Understanding these developments early can help engineering teams make better material and design decisions before regulatory issues become expensive development problems.

Where Materials, Manufacturing, Devices, and Regulation Meet

What makes MiniTec particularly valuable is the opportunity to look beyond any single technical discipline.

Developing a successful medical product requires understanding how materials, product design, manufacturing processes, sustainability, testing, and regulatory requirements interact. A promising polymer must be manufacturable. A manufacturing innovation must deliver consistent quality. A new device must satisfy patient needs. And every innovation must ultimately demonstrate safety and performance.

The SPE Medical Plastics Division MiniTec Conference brings these conversations together in one place.

The October 28 program will feature experts addressing five major areas: advanced medical polymers; next-generation medical devices and therapeutic delivery; manufacturing innovations and process control; regulatory compliance and testing; and sustainability and lifecycle considerations.

Importantly, MiniTec provides an opportunity to connect with colleagues and experts working on many of the same technical and business challenges across the medical plastics industry.

Join Us at Medical Polymer MiniTec 2026

Whether you work in materials science, medical device development, manufacturing, quality, regulatory affairs, sustainability, research, or product development, MiniTec offers an opportunity to explore the technologies and ideas influencing the next generation of healthcare.

Medical Polymer MiniTec Conference at MD&M Midwest
October 28, 2026 | 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. CDT

Explore the MiniTec 2026 event page for conference information, the full schedule, program materials, and registration.

Come learn how polymers are enabling safer products, smarter manufacturing, new therapies, and the future of modern healthcare.