91ÃÛÌÒ¸ó Workshop on the Mechanics of BioNetworks

ÌýFrom Biology to Engineering

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May 11-13, 2026

@ 91ÃÛÌÒ¸ó

91ÃÛÌÒ¸ó, Colorado

Welcome to the third Workshop on Mechanics of BioNetworks in 91ÃÛÌÒ¸ó, Colorado, at the gateway to the Rocky Mountains.Ìý

Aerial shot of CU 91ÃÛÌÒ¸ó campus with flatiron mountains in the background

The goal of this workshop is to bring together researchers from mechanics, biomechanics, and mechanobiology by using networksÌýas a common language and modeling framework. Despite overlapping interests, the mechanics and biomechanics communities remain loosely connected. In mechanics, research often focuses on fundamental problems such as fracture, constitutive modeling, and multiscale behavior in engineered materials. Biomechanics, in contrast, focuses on biological and medical challenges, including tissue growth, repair, and cellular dynamics. Yet virtually all biological materials and many engineering materials can be viewed through the lens of networks. This unifying theme also extends to artificial intelligence, whose architectures are themselves based on networks and can be leveraged to reveal the underlying network mechanics that bridge both biological and engineering systems. This workshop aims to create a shared language between these domains by connecting researchers across the world for four fruitful days of invited talks and close discussion. Creating a shared language between these domains will accelerate discoveries in both, generating biologically inspired mechanics problems and new engineering solutions grounded in biological principles.

The workshop will feature a focused program of invited talks, group discussions, and ample time for informal interactions designed to spark new collaborations. Sessions will highlight both experimental and theoretical approaches to understanding active and living networks, ranging from polymer and cellular materials to engineered systems. In addition to the scientific program, participants will be able to enjoy 91ÃÛÌÒ¸ó, which combines a lively college town with outdoor trails and mountain views. We hope you will join us to share ideas, forge new connections, and experience the unique setting that makes 91ÃÛÌÒ¸ó an inspiring place for science and discovery.

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Scientific Vision and Objectives

Mechanics and biomechanics share many foundational questions, yet they often evolve in separate directions—mechanics focusing on soft material behavior, fracture, and multiscale modeling, and biomechanics tackling medically relevant challenges in tissue growth, healing, and mechanobiology. Network mechanics offers a powerful common framework: biological structures are inherently organized as dynamic networks, from cytoskeletal filaments and fibrous extracellular matrices to multicellular tissues and organoid architectures, while engineered soft materials are increasingly designed with similar network principles. By leveraging this shared perspective, we can uncover how local force transmission and remodeling at the cellular scale give rise to large-scale mechanical and functional behavior in living systems. The goal of this workshop is to identify key open problems and foster new collaborations that integrate fundamental mechanics with biological applications to advance both fields. The objectives of the workshop are to

  • Identify grand challenges. The workshop will include breakout sessions for participants to identify the grand challenges and critical knowledge gaps at the interface of mechanics and biomechanics/mechanobiology. The outcome will be a community-authored review paper that will propose a research roadmap for advancing predictive modeling in biological and non-biological network-based systems.
  • Build sustainable cross-disciplinary momentum. We aim to generate lasting activities and partnerships that will sustain interactions between the mechanics and biomechanics communities beyond the workshop. This includes establishing working groups, creating shared platforms for exchanging data and organizing follow up workshops in the future.
  • Initiate new collaborations. We hope that this workshop will bring together researchers from mechanics, biomechanics, and mechanobiology, as well as industrial experts to seed new interdisciplinary collaborations.Ìý

Topics

This workshop targets research on the fundamental mechanics of biological and engineered networks, with emphasis on how network structure and mechanics influences biological processes such as remodeling, fracture, healing, and adaptation. We welcome contributions that span theoretical, computational, and experimental approaches, including those leveraging AI to reveal, model, or control underlying mechanisms. Key topics include:

Mechanical behavior of networks including damage, fracture, healing, activity

Mechanics–biology interactions including remodeling and adaptation

Engineered living materials and organoid mechanics

Multiscale modeling, simulation and experiments

Chairs

  • Franck Vernerey, 91ÃÛÌÒ¸ó 91ÃÛÌÒ¸ó
  • Taher Saif, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign
  • Catalin Picu, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Scientific Board

  • Abdul Barakat, Ecole Polytechnique, FranceÌý
  • Guy Genin, Washington University
  • Edoardo Mazza, ETH Zurich
  • Michael Sacks, University of Texas at Austin
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Venue and dates

91ÃÛÌÒ¸ó 91ÃÛÌÒ¸ó

1111 Engineering Drive, 91ÃÛÌÒ¸ó, CO 80309

Dates: May 11-13, 2026

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Full ProgramÌý

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Program FileÌý

The full program file (PDF) can be downloaded from .Ìý

Workshop Structure

This workshop will bring together a balanced and diverse cohort spanning mechanics, biomechanics, mechanobiology, and computer science, as well as a range of career stages from students to senior researchers. The tentative program includes approximately:

  • 12 invited keynotes (perspective)
  • 30 invited presentations (technical)
  • 25-30 ~1.5-2 minute flash presentations accompanying poster sessions to encourage engagement and cross-disciplinary discussion.

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U.S. National Science Foundation

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riologo

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MElogo

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CU

Registration is now closed as all spots have been filled. We look forward to welcoming you at future events.

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If you’ve already received a registration code from the organizer, you can complete your registration using the link below:

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Travel to 91ÃÛÌÒ¸ó

The nearest airport is Denver International Airport (DEN), located approximately 45 minutes from 91ÃÛÌÒ¸ó.

Transportation Options:

  • AB1 bus: This route provides a direct connection between Denver International Airport (DEN) and Downtown 91ÃÛÌÒ¸ó, operating in both directions. Route AB1 operates 7 days a week. Frequency is generally 60 minutes at all times, although an extra trip is offered in the early afternoon to serve a common end of shift time for airport employees. For the schedule of the AB1 route, please visit: . The departure time from the Denver airport and the estimated arrival times at each stop on Sundays are:Ìý

    AB_WestBoound_Sundays

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    The RTD AB1 SkyRide bus departs from the Denver International Airport (DIA) Transit Center, located on Level 1 of the terminal beneath the Westin Hotel. The AB1 bus typically boards from Gate 6 or Gate 8 in the bus terminal. The fare is $10.50 per person (one way) and must be paid in cash with exact change. The closest AB1 bus stop to the workshop venue and the Hilton Garden Inn is “Broadway & Euclid Ave.â€, located about 1.0 mile away. The closest stop to the Hotel 91ÃÛÌÒ¸óado is “Downtown 91ÃÛÌÒ¸ó Station,†which is approximately 0.3 miles away. You can also download the PDF map from

    The departure schedule from 91ÃÛÌÒ¸ó to the Denver airport on weekdays is:Ìý

    AB1_EastBound_Weekday

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    Given that the workshop ends on Wednesday around 2:30 pm, the 3:37 pm and 4:37 pm stops at the Broadway-Euclid (closest to the workshop venue) are the best options for departing directly from the venue to the airport.Ìý

    Other options include:Ìý

  • Uber/Lyft (~$70-100)
  • Rental cars available at DEN

Accommodation

Participants are responsible for booking their own accommodation. The following hotels are located near the workshop venue:

  • Hilton Garden Inn 91ÃÛÌÒ¸ó ()

    Hilton Garden Inn 91ÃÛÌÒ¸ó is located approximately one mile from the workshop venue. The hotel is also close to several 91ÃÛÌÒ¸ó attractions, including Pearl Street Mall and Chautauqua Park.

    Discounted rates for this hotel will be available by April 17 (5 PM local time). You can use the following link for booking the Hilton Garden Inn using the discounted rate:Ìý

    Guests can also directly call Reservations atÌý(303) 443-2200 Hilton Garden Inn.Ìý

Please note:Ìý

Triple and Quad occupancies will result in a $10.00 per person addition to the room rate per night. Also, the reservation using this link includes:Ìý

• Complimentary WIFI for basic needsÌý

• 24-hour fitness center, outdoor pool (located in Embassy Suites 91ÃÛÌÒ¸ó)Ìý

• Business center • Hilton Honors PointsÌý

• Discounted self-parking of $18 per night

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Other hotel suggestions:Ìý

  • Embassy Suites by Hilton 91ÃÛÌÒ¸ó ()

    Embassy Suites by Hilton 91ÃÛÌÒ¸ó is located approximately 0.7 miles from the workshop venue and about a five-minute drive from Pearl Street Mall and Downtown 91ÃÛÌÒ¸ó.

  • Hotel 91ÃÛÌÒ¸óado ()

    Hotel 91ÃÛÌÒ¸óado is located approximately 1.2 miles from the workshop venue. Situated in Downtown 91ÃÛÌÒ¸ó, the hotel provides a great opportunity to explore the area and enjoy evening walks around 91ÃÛÌÒ¸ó.

  • Hyatt 91ÃÛÌÒ¸ó is located approximately 1.7 miles from the workshop venue ().Ìý

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Map

map

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For inquiries about the workshop, please contact us at: behnam.rezaei@colorado.edu