Regenerative Biology & Tissue Engineering
- Researchers
- Problem
- Research
- Benefits
- Early Successes
Regenerative Biology & Tissue Engineering Video - Lawrence Schook (DivX Player Needed, download here)
Researchers
Faculty: Paul J. A. Kenis (Theme Leader, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering), Jo Ann Cameron (Cell and Developmental Biology), H. Rex Gaskins (Animal Sciences), Brendan A. Harley (Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering), Marie-Claude C. Hofmann (Veterinary Biosciences), Hyun Joon Kong (Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering), Deborah E. Leckband (Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering), Lawrence B. Schook (Animal Sciences), Karen E. Sears (Animal Biology), Tetsuya Tanaka (Animal Sciences), Fei Wang (Cell and Developmental Biology), Matthew B. Wheeler (Animal Sciences)
Affiliate: Rashid Bashir (Electrical and Computer Engineering), Stephen A. Boppart (Electrical and Computer Engineering), Richard D. Braatz (Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering), Richard W. Burkhardt (History), Thomas G. H. Diekwisch (University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Dentistry), Sharon M. Donovan (Food Science and Human Nutrition), Nicholas X. Fang (Mechanical Science and Engineering), Michael S. Goldwasser (New Hanover Health Network), Jonathan J. Henry (Cell and Developmental Biology), Rex A. Hess (Veterinary Biosciences), Iwona M. Jasiuk (Mechanical Science and Engineering), Kevin Kim (Electrical and Computer Engineering), Ripan S. Malhi (Anthropology), Jayesh Mehta (Northwestern University Medical School), Phillip A. Newmark (Cell and Developmental Biology), Daniel W. Pack (Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering), Christopher V. Rao (Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering), Allison A. Stewart (Veterinary Clinical Medicine), Matthew C. Stewart (Veterinary Clinical Medicine), David L. Stocum (Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis, Biology), Gregory L. Timp (Electrical and Computer Engineering), Amy J. Wagoner Johnson (Mechanical Science and Engineering), Yingxiao Wang (Bioengineering), Michael E. Welge (NCSA), Sheng Zhong (Bioengineering)
Problem
How can genomic information lead to treatments for chronic health problems? Diseases such as diabetes, osteo- and rheumatoid arthritis, and osteoporosis present daunting challenges to current clinical practices. Research in the Regenerative Biology and Tissue Engineering Research Theme will focus on creating custom devices based on the patient’s unique genome and therapies that enhance the body’s regenerative powers.
Research
The theme brings together scientists in nanotechnology, bioengineering, cell biology, genomics, biomaterials, and computer sciences, and links with clinical programs at Carle Hospital and the University of Illinois College of Medicine.
The theme will examine the specific genes involved in normal tissue formation and regeneration, as well as the pathogenic changes in the same tissues that underlie most chronic diseases. Researchers will isolate and manipulate bone marrow, bone and soft tissue, and gastrointestinal stem cells, and will seek a better understanding of bone and cartilage regeneration. Research questions include:
- How can micro- and nano-environments be created to optimize tissue development and engineering?
- How can new therapies for chronic conditions or tissue and organ replacement be developed from understanding healthy tissue regeneration?
- How can design rules for simple cell-based systems and devices be applied to more complex biological systems and devices?
- How can cost-effective clinical treatments be derived from the manipulation of stem cells to treat chronic conditions?
Benefits
Theme research will lead to the design of drugs and devices that restore the body’s own mechanisms of natural regeneration. Initial work with maxillofacial surgeons at Carle Hospital may yield devices that will replace bone, cartilage, and soft tissue for use in reconstruction of the head and face after traumatic injury. Ultimately, the theme will seek to develop novel biomaterials, micro- and nano-devices, and drugs for tissue and organ replacement.
Early Successes
Five proposals totaling nearly $2.5 million were funded from the Illinois Regenerative Medicine Institute to support new technologies for stem cell therapies, the regeneration of musculoskeletal tissues, and the development of cell-based therapies to treat muscular dystrophy. Theme members also received NIH funding to support the development of microfluidic chambers to study cell differentiation. Finally, theme members, in collaboration with IUPUI, have received $600,000 from the W.M. Keck Foundation to use an amphibian model to improve mammalian limb regeneration. The theme has also established formal clinical collaborations with regional hospitals, businesses, and universities.
