2026 Joint Symposium + Workshops

Symposium

2026 Advancing Morphogenetic Biosciences & Bioengineering Symposium + Workshops was jointly hosted the week of June 22nd by the NSF EMBRIO Biology Integration Institute, the NSF RECODE project at the University of Notre Dame, and the newly formed ND-MBI (Notre Dame Morphogenetic Bioengineering Initiative). With 90 attendess from 12 universities, the purpose was to bring together visionary researchers working at the intersection of mechanobiology, morphogenesis, physiology and mechanics, and AI in biology.

The symposium fostered collaboration to explore transformative ideas in understanding how multicellular systems coordinate signals across spatial and temporal scales to build, maintain, and repair complex tissues. 

 By integrating cutting-edge experimental approaches—including advanced imaging, organoid platforms, and quantitative biosensors—with AI-enhanced computational modeling and predictive "digital twin" frameworks, the symposiu showcased interdisciplinary advances that bridge developmental biology, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine. Featuring plenary sessions, a trainee poster session, and discussions on innovations in image analysis, the symposium helped form new partnerships and define emerging directions in morphogenetic bioengineering with vast translational potential for wound healing, cancer biology, and precision health applications. 

Symposium logo by Brenda Cruz González

Event Slide Show (mp4)

Research Poster Competition Results

Tools for Cells and Tissues Team Workshop - Top Three Teams

Close to 50 trainees, research scientists, and faculty formed eight interdisciplinary teams on a two day sprint to solve problems or create new methods using AI for image analysis. Teams presented their results to a panel of judges the evening of day two, with the following top three teams being presented certificates at the symposium. Much progress was made toward solutions and new methods.

• Symposium Schedule
  address: McKenna Hall Conference Center (map): 115 McKenna Hall, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556 
  
  
• Symposium Speakers (PDF Speaker Booklet)
  Featured Speakers: Mark Alber, Sharon Gerecht, Noah Mitchell,Ed Munro, Mary Mullins, Jitao Zhang
  
  Lightning Talks: Nilay Kumar, Linlin Li, Maria Unger, Shulan Xiao, Weiwei Zhang, Donghyun Jeong, Kailee Mendio 
  
  
• Research Poster Sessions (Abstracts Booklet) Notes: Each poster presenter is assigned to a poster board - see the abstracts booklet. Poster boards are double-sided 46 " wide and 64" high
  
  
• Mini-Workshop Agendas (June 22nd, 1pm - 4/4:30 pm; McKenna Hall, rm 215/216) Descriptions below

  • AI Applications for Biological Image Analysis and Parameter Optimization (PDF)

  • Mini-Workshop: From Pixels to Pipelines: Practical Image Analysis with Fiji/ImageJ (PDF)

     • Full Workshop Tools for Cells and Tissues Design Challenge Workshop Agenda (June 23rd-24th in McCourtney Hall, 9am - 6pm). Description below

Logistics:

• Campus Map showing hotel, workshop and symposium location, parking, on campus breakfast and dinner options.
  
  
• Parking:
  For those staying at the Morris Inn, parking is available at the Inn for $18/day. A free complimentary parking at The Bookstore lot (highlighted grey along Holy Cross Dr.) is only a 5 minute walk for Morris Inn Guests is available. Hotel Guests speak to a parking attendant at the Morris Inn to obtain a pass for the lot, which allows for overnight parking at no fee.
  
  For those not staying in the hotel and using day parking, please park in the Walsh or Joyce visitor lots (an 8 min. walk to McKenna Hall). You will need to use the ParkMobile app (~$10 for full day).

• Lodging:
  The primary lodging for the event is Morris Inn on Notre Dame's campus. The address is:1399 N Notre Dame Ave, South Bend, IN 46617. Phone: (574) 631-2000. Contact Morris Inn directly for any hotel questions or lodging needs.
  
  EMBRIO and RECODE members and invited guest speakers have their bookings covered through the registration process. All others will need to book their own accommodations directly with Morris Inn.  Questions about lodging should be directed to Morris Inn.

• Questions related to registration for the events, please contact Kaylee Wolf: kwolf5@nd.edu 
  
  
• Questions related to Monday and Thursday conference rooms, IT, or meals please contact: Amber Kirk: akirk2@nd.edu 
  
  
• Questions related to travel please contact: Amber Kirk: akirk2@nd.edu 
  
  
• Questions about the symposium content or poster sessions please contact the organizers: Brent Ladd ( laddb@purdue.edu ), Jeremiah Zartman (jzartman@nd.edu ), Donny Hanjaya-Putra (dputra1@nd.edu )
  
  
• Questions about the Monday Mini-Workshops contact either Linlin Li ( li2212@purdue.edu ) for the AI workshop, or David Gazzo (dgazzo@nd.edu ) for the Fiji Workshop.
  
  
• Questions related to Tues-Wed Workshop please contact both Jeremy Zartman (jzartman@nd.edu )  and Doris Santiago ( dsantia4@nd.edu ).
  
  

Organizing Committee
Jeremiah Zartman, Notre Dame
Donny Hanjaya-Putra, Notre Dame
Brent Ladd, Purdue
David Umulis, Purdue
Doris Santiago-Lugo, Notre Dame

Sponsors
We kindly acknowledge the Bioengineering and Life Sciences Initiative (BELS) at University of Notre Dame, and Berthiaume Institute for Precision Health (BIPH) at University of Notre Dame for their additional support of this symposium and associated workshops. EMBRIO and RECODE funding through the National Science Foundation, and ND-MBI funding from BELS, enables us to offer this event. 

To contribute to or support the symposium, please contact organizing committee members by emailing the RECODE PI at Notre Dame (dputra1@nd.edu), the Morphogenetic Bioengineering Institute PIs at Notre Dame (jzartman@nd.edu or dputra1@nd.edu), or EMBRIO Managing Director at Purdue (laddb@purdue.edu).

Training and Team Workshops

T4CT (Tools4Cells&Tissues) Design Challenge Workshop, June 23-24 all day

Participants will engage in small teams of experimentalists and computationalists (students, postdocs, faculty) in a Design-Build-Test-Learn challenge using recent research biological data and images. Team formation and initial overview and data access will occur prior to the workshop to allow for initial discussion and team planning. Specific problems and data examples for each project will be posted in May. The workshop is guided by Faculty Thrust Project Leaders from EMBRIO Institute, and the RECODE Project at Notre Dame. Team Assignments |  Agenda

Concurrent mini-workshops available Monday afternoon, June 22nd

These workshops will provide new tools, methods, and insights that could be useful during the full design challenge workshop.

Mini-Workshop:  AI Applications for Biological Image Analysis and Parameter Optimization, Monday, June 22nd (1 - 5pm) 

This four hour workshop will introduce participants to practical AI methods for biological research, with a focus on image analysis using deep learning and Cellpose, and parameter optimization using invertible neural networks (INNs) and Bayesian optimization.

Lead instructors: Senior Research Scientists, Linlin Li and Nilay Kumar, Purdue University. View full workshop details and agenda (PDF).

Mini-Workshop: From Pixels to Pipelines: Practical Image Analysis with Fiji/ImageJ, Monday June 22nd (1-5pm)

This hands-on workshop introduces participants to practical image analysis using Fiji / ImageJ, moving from fundamental imaging concepts to reproducible analysis pipelines. 

Lead instructor: David Gazzo, Ph.D. Candidate, Zartman Lab, Notre Dame. View full workshop details and agenda (PDF)