Original 2021 statement: We will soon be growing human body parts in labs for use in many major surgical procedures
What Jim has written about this
From “Daily Inspiration: “It’s time to move from triage to tomorrow!”” (January 2023)
Connected pharmaceuticals will one day soon report on how well they are working inside your body
From “Daily Inspiration: “Don’t just stay one step ahead - stay one trend ahead!”” (May 2019)
Take the concept of bio-printing of human body parts for use in surgeries. Two years ago, I spoke at one event about this trend as some sort of science-fiction like idea. Last December, I worked it into one of the key trends to watch in my ’ 19 Trends for 2019 ’. Last month, an Israeli organization announced significant advances in this particular aspect of science. It’s gone from science fiction to prototyping to reality - just like that.
Human body parts? Last week I was the opening keynote speaker for the American Association of Orthopaedic Executives. Obviously, 3D printing of human body parts as a trend was in my slide deck. Literally 10 minutes before I went on stage, I saw something in my Twitter feed that told the story of the 3d printing of a robotic enhanced 3D arm. The next trend after the current trend, unfolding in real time.
From “Daily Inspiration: “The future you think is far away will be here sooner than you realize!”” (July 2022)
With that, the entire process of watching, understanding, and interpreting the trends that might impact you is changing at a furious pace. Take the concept of bio-printing of human body parts for use in surgeries - it’s gone from science fiction to reality in just a few short years. One of my go-to slides, when I’m speaking about the acceleration of trends, is this one: At the rate research like Atala’s (Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine) is progressing, scientists predict that replacement organs will be a reality within years, not decades. The Future of Healthcare: The Body - Los Angeles Times , Sept 13, 2012
That’s from a decade ago, and I’ve watched that reality unfold in real-time. Five years ago, I spoke at one event about this trend as some sort of science-fiction-like future but predicted we would soon see real developments. Then, I worked it into one of the key trends to watch in my ’ 19 Trends for 2019 ’ because it appeared to be imminent - and since then, I’ve seen a plethora of announcements about the growth of human body parts - corneas, eardrums, dental implants and more. It’s gone from science fiction to prototyping to a limited form of reality - just like that!
In this context, planning for the future is more difficult than ever before - you don’t just need to watch for the next trend - but the trend after that! As I wrote in my 2019 trends piece: ” There is a furious rate of scientific advances with the science of biomaterials - and the use of living tissue for medical implants and procedures will be here sooner than you think! Some experts within the industry think it is only a matter of years, not decades before we can grow living arms and legs for transplant.”
Read the full pieces on jimcarroll.com:
Daily Inspiration: “It’s time to move from triage to tomorrow!”
Daily Inspiration: “Don’t just stay one step ahead - stay one trend ahead!”
Daily Inspiration: “The future you think is far away will be here sooner than you realize!”