Welcome to the Golden Gate Polymer Forum

The GGPF is a non-profit educational and scientific organization dedicated to the study of polymeric materials and devices.

About GGPF

The GGPF is a non-profit educational and scientific organization dedicated to the study of polymeric materials and devices. We sponsor monthly dinner lectures and occasional short courses and symposia with events based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Our participants are individuals working in both industry and academia from a variety of disciplines. All interested in the study of polymers are welcome to attend. Please visit our event archives or view future scheduled events.

pexels-jakubzerdzicki-18296466

Events

Upcoming Events

Reprogramming How We Interface with the Human Body: How High-Resolution 3D Printing Can Make the Unmakeable by Prof. J. M. DeSimone, Stanford University

A GGPF & Silicon Valley ACS joint hybrid presentation

 

Reprogramming How We Interface with the Human Body: How High-Resolution 3D Printing Can Make the Unmakeable

Prof. Joseph M. DeSimone

Departments of Radiology and Chemical Engineering

Stanford University

This seminar presentation will be on Monday, June 8, Starting at 6:00 PM Pacific time.

An in-person networking hour on the Stanford campus precedes the live presentation from 5:00 - 6:00 PM.

Abstract:

Throughout my career, I’ve been guided by the belief that transformative advances in medicine don’t arise solely from new molecules, but equally from rethinking how those molecules are formulated and delivered to the body. This mindset has led to a series of unconventional dosage and delivery innovations—from biodegradable drug-eluting stents (BVS, Inc., acquired by Guidant and now part of Abbott; co-founded with Bob Langer), to precisely engineered microparticles for inhalation (Liquidia Technologies; NASDAQ: LQDA), to iontophoretic platforms for localized chemotherapy (Focal Medical; IND approved by the FDA, with patients treated beginning March 2026)—each opening new therapeutic frontiers.

Today, advances in high-resolution 3D printing are enabling a new chapter in this journey: the ability to engineer the skin as a programmable biological interface. Using microscale additive manufacturing, we can create intradermal delivery systems that precisely control where and how therapeutics are introduced, while simultaneously enabling access to rich biological information through interstitial fluid.

This bi-directional paradigm—delivering therapies while sampling biology—opens a fundamentally new approach to medicine. By targeting the skin and its underlying lymphatic network, we can more effectively engage the immune system, access early disease signals, and move beyond traditional blood-based diagnostics toward continuous, minimally invasive liquid biopsy.

Importantly, this is not simply a new device or formulation—it represents a scalable platform. Rather than building a traditional therapeutic pipeline molecule by molecule, these technologies enable a delivery-centric model that can be applied broadly across vaccines, biologics, and diagnostics.

In this talk, I will outline how focusing on new dosage delivery forms and new devices for liquid biopsies—now powered by high-resolution 3D printing—is redefining our interface with the human body, transforming both how we treat disease and how we measure health.

Speaker Background:

Joseph M. DeSimone

Sanjiv Sam Gambhir Professor of Translational Medicine and Chemical Engineering

Departments of Radiology and Chemical Engineering

Department of Chemistry (by Courtesy)

Department of Materials Science & Engineering (by Courtesy)

Graduate School of Business (by Courtesy)

Stanford University

Prof. DeSimone is widely known by the Bay Area polymer science community and the academic world, and his background, interests, and accomplishments are extensive and wide-ranging, and far too long to fit in this note. For further information, please see Stanford links:

Stanford Profile: https://profiles.stanford.edu/joseph-desimone

Research Group Website: https://desimonegroup.stanford.edu

 

EVENT DATE: Monday, June 8

Registration deadline: Sunday, June 7, 1:00 PM.

 

Special notes when registering for this joint webinar:

Please fill out the survey question as to whether your primary affiliation is to GGPF, SVACS, both, or neither.

Silicon Valley ACS is hosting the presentation for this hybrid meeting on the Stanford campus, along with a networking hour beforehand. If you are interested in attending, select the Yes answer to that question when registering, and you will be contacted by SVACS with more information.

 

Registration may close earlier than the nominal deadline if capacity is reached.

This event will be FREE OF CHARGE, but we still require you to fill out the registration form. In particular, we need to have your name and email address for you to be able to participate. Please provide affiliation also if you can, as it helps us judge audience interests.

If you can spare a small amount, GGPF requests an optional donation of $5 (or more) but this is not required to register and attend the webinar.

To register for free, use the pull-down toggle to select "All registrants ($0.00)" choice.

To donate, use the pull down toggle to select "GGPF donation ($5.00)". This will direct you to a secure link where you can use PayPal or any credit or debit card. For larger donations, use the "Donate to GGPF" link on the front page GGPF.org

Presentation Timing: 6:00 PM.

(Zoom meeting room will open earlier)

Attendees who complete the registration form will receive information by email for how to participate. It is requested that people join the meeting invitation well before 6:00 PM to avoid delays.

Registrants will receive the information needed to join the webinar within a day of the event in an email from “events@ggpf.ccsend.com” To be certain of seeing the note, please add events@ggpf.ccsend.com to your safe mail senders list, and/or look in your spam, updates, or other mailbox locations in addition to your primary In Box.

Please register on the web page.

You should receive email confirmation of your registration; if not, please contact us again.

Do not reply to email from events@ggpf.ccsend.com

For questions or other assistance, contact:

Clayton Henderson

macro2nano@verizon.net

Attendees will be added to the GGPF email announcements list unless they request otherwise.

Reminder:  if you are interested in the SVACS hosted in person presentation on the Stanford campus, remember to click the YES button below when registering.

Price: $5.00

Date: June 8, 2026 calendar link

Available Spaces: 934


Latest News

GGPF and SVACS win the special Partners for Progress and Prosperity (P3) Award

Marinda Wu, a past president of the ACS and the creator of this award (center), presents the P3 award to…

GGPF Email Distribution List

GGPF email announcements are now provided through the Constant Contact email service.  You can add yourself to the list by…

January 2019 GGPF Dinner Meeting has been cancelled

The GGPF regrets to announce that the January 9, 2019 Dinner Meeting, “Covalent Plasticizers by Thermal Huisgen Cyclization with PVC-azide”…

Stay Connected with GGPF

Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest updates on events, research, and opportunities in polymer science.