Biological soft tissue characterisation is a key research area with broad implications in numerous fields, including the design of biocompatible devices, the development of tissue-mimicking materials, the study of interactions with external devices, and the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of pathologies and injuries. The complexity of this field stems from the inherently multiscale nature of soft tissues, which are structured through a complex hierarchical organisation. These materials also exhibit multiphysics interactions, where biological, mechanical, and biochemical processes are tightly coupled.

At the macroscale, these intricate interactions give rise to the diverse mechanical properties of soft tissues, such as non-linear hyperelasticity, heterogeneity, anisotropy, viscoelasticity, and poroelasticity. Moreover, soft tissues exhibit dynamic behaviours like growth, remodelling, and adaptation to external loads, further complicating their characterisation. Addressing these challenges requires a multidisciplinary approach integrating complementary expertise in experimental and numerical methodologies. On the experimental side, techniques span from in vitro mechanical tests to in vivo approaches such as indentation, full-field optical methods, and advanced imaging techniques. On the numerical side, methods involve optimisation algorithms, inverse problem-solving, uncertainty quantification, constitutive modelling, and multi-scale simulations. Given the breadth and complexity of this research, fostering collaborative synergies across disciplines is essential.

This colloquium will serve as a dedicated platform for interdisciplinary exchange, bringing together experts in biomechanics, materials science, computational modelling, and medical applications. Participants will discuss innovative experimental designs, cutting-edge numerical techniques, and strategies for integrating multi-scale data, with an emphasis on bridging theoretical advancements and practical applications. By transcending traditional disciplinary boundaries, this collaborative effort aims to advance our understanding of soft tissue mechanics and accelerate progress toward impactful industrial and clinical applications.

The ambitious program of this colloquium proposal (detailed below) aims to answer the following questions: How do cellular mechanics influence the macroscopic behaviour of soft tissues? How can experimental data acquisition be improved to provide more accurate, exhaustive and real-time data? What are the most advanced constitutive models describing the complex behaviour of soft tissues? How can advances in soft tissue mechanics be translated into improved clinical treatments and diagnostic tools? What are the major challenges remaining in research, and how can interdisciplinary collaborations be promoted to accelerate progress?