Talk title:
Engineering human tissues for medical impact
Talk abstract:
Tissue engineering involves an integrated use of human stem cells, biomaterial scaffolds (providing a structural and logistic template for tissue formation) and bioreactors (providing environmental control, dynamic sequences of molecular and physical signaling, and insights into the structure and function of the forming tissue). In general, our engineering designs are based on biological principles, in order to enable and direct the cells to perform specific functions, by recapitulating the environmental milieu of tissue development, regeneration and disease. In regenerative medicine applications, this approach allows us to tailor the tissue grafts to the patient and the condition being treated. Another tissue engineering paradigm is emerging in recent years, with the development of “organs on a chip” platforms for modeling integrated human physiology. These platforms use micro-sized human tissues that can be functionally connected by vascular perfusion. Derivation of all component cells (tissue specific, supporting, vascular and immune) iPS cells to allow individualized approaches to modeling of disease. To illustrate the state of the art in the field and reflect on the current challenges and opportunities, this talk will discuss some recent advances in bioengineering of anatomically correct bone, whole lung and patient-specific “organs on a chip” for studies of human patho/physiology.
Gordana Vunjak-Novakovic is University Professor, the highest academic rank at Columbia University and the first engineer at Columbia to receive this distinction. She is also the Mikati Foundation Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Medicine. The focus of her lab is on engineering functional human tissues for use in regenerative medicine and in patient-specific “organs-on-a-chip” for studies of human pathophysiology. She is well published and highly cited (52,300 citations, h=128), mentored over 150 trainees, licensed numerous patents, and launched four start-up companies with her students. Gordana is currently serving on the NIBIB Council and the HHMI Scientific Review Board. Among her many recognitions, she was decorated by the Order of Karadjordje Star – Serbia’s highest honor, and elected to the Academia Europaea, Serbian Academy of Arts and Sciences, US National Academy of Engineering, US National Academy of Medicine, US National Academy of Inventors, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.