Organisers: Prof. T. Pandelani & Prof. H. Ngwangwa, University of South Africa ; Prof. F. Nemavhola, Durban University of Technology, South Africa ; Dr. D. Modungwa, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, South Africa ; Prof. D. Desai, Tshwane University of Technology, South Africa

Emails: epandet@unisa.ac.za ; ngwanhm@unisa.ac.za ; fulufhelon1@dut.ac.za ; dmodungwa@csir.co.za ; desaida@tut.ac.za

Summary: The purpose of this special session is to bring together researchers in the field of modelling and optimization of soft tissues. The focus of the session will be on the following aspects: understanding the fundamentals of biomedical tissue; modelling and characterisation of soft tissue and biomaterials; cell biomechanics; functional tissue engineering; biomaterials. Contributions are invited on any aspect of soft-tissue characteristics. Papers may be experimental, empirical, analytical or computational in nature (or any combination of these). There will be opportunities for round table discussions on future research directions in the biomechanics field.