Overview
The Multicellular Engineered Living Systems (M-CELS) Interest Group brings together researchers focused on designing and engineering complex, multicellular systems with emergent biological functions. These efforts span bottom-up approaches using chemical, genetic, and physical cues to guide cellular and tissue self-organization, and top-down strategies that assemble engineered tissues into higher-order constructs.
As part of iMPSS, the M-CELS Interest Group unites experts across developmental biology, synthetic biology, regenerative medicine, organoid and tissue engineering, biobots, and computational modeling to advance both fundamental understanding and applied innovation.
Complementing iMPSS expertise in microphysiological systems (MPS) as predictive, human-relevant tools for translational research and therapeutic development, the M-CELS Interest Group extends this frontier to include how living systems can be designed, controlled, and integrated to model or augment biological function. Together, these communities promote collaboration, education, and technology development at the interface of engineered biology and human-relevant modeling.
Chairs
Lizzy Crist, PhD (Chair)
Lizzy Crist is a biomedical engineer specializing in complex in vitro models and microphysiological systems (MPS) for cancer research. She earned her Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Minnesota and brings over a decade of experience in tissue engineering and developing organ-on-chip technology. As the Business Development Manager and US Technical Lead at AIM Biotech, Lizzy leads partnerships with biopharma, biotech, and academic collaborators to accelerate the adoption of human-relevant MPS platforms in drug discovery and development. Her work bridges scientific innovation and industry implementation, advancing standardized, predictive models that improve translation. Lizzy is also actively engaged in regulatory and industry MPS consortia, contributing to the establishment of best practices and standards for next-generation human-based research tools.
Oscar J. Abilez, MD, PhD (Co-Chair)
Oscar J. Abilez is Senior Scientist at Stanford University and Co-Founder and President of Bullseye Biotechnologies. His work combines bioengineering, human pluripotent stem cells, developmental biology, and tissue/organoid engineering to model and control the earliest stages of cardiac development and vascularization. His work aims to provide an increased understanding of complex multicellular systems and to realize applications that include modeling fundamental developmental processes, modeling diseases, discovering new drugs, and creating transplantable regenerative therapies. He trained in surgery at Stanford where he also received his PhD in bioengineering. He received his MD from Cornell University and BS in Mechanical Engineering from UT-Austin.
Short-Term Objectives (1-2 years)
- Connect and Collaborate: Join a global network of researchers, regulators, and innovators passionate about designing and applying multicellular engineered living systems (M-CELS).
- Engage and Learn: Participate in webinars, technical workshops, and professional development sessions that share the latest advances, methods, and use cases across M-CELS disciplines.
- Showcase and Contribute: Highlight your work through quarterly M-CELS spotlights in the iMPSS newsletter and at regional iMPSS meetings, helping shape the community’s early direction and visibility.
Long-Term Objectives (3+ years)
- Shape the Field’s Trajectory: Help define research priorities, identify unmet needs, and translate fundamental discoveries into impactful applications through collaboration with global iMPSS partners.
- Advance Community Integration: Contribute to organizing the annual iMPSS regional meetings and MPS World Summit, fostering stronger ties between M-CELS, MPS, and related disciplines.
- Sustain Impact and Growth: Support outreach, education, and public engagement efforts that expand participation in M-CELS and strengthen iMPSS’s role as a hub for engineered living systems innovation.