Co-PIs: Marina Kameneva, William Wagner, Jörg Gerlach, Mark Yazer
Title: Large Scale Human Placenta Progenitor Cell-Derived Erythrocyte Production – Continuous Red Blood Cell Production
Co-PIs: Marina Kameneva, William Wagner, Jörg Gerlach, Mark Yazer
Title: Large Scale Human Placenta Progenitor Cell-Derived Erythrocyte Production – Continuous Red Blood Cell Production Read More
Co-PIs: Eric Lagasse, William Saunders, and Youjun Li
Title: Function of a Glycoprotein Ibα, a Subunit of the Von Willebrand’s Factor Receptor as a Transforming Oncoprotein Read More
Co-PIs: Alan Russell, PhD and William Wagner, PhD
Title: Percutaneous Respiratory Assist Catheter
Description: Each year several hundred thousand Americans suffer short term lung failure requiring respiratory support within the intensive care unit. The objective of this proposal is to develop a percutaneous respiratory assist catheter (PRAC) that can be inserted into the venous system to provide supplemental breathing support, independent of the lungs, for patients requiring short-term (~ 4-7 day) respiratory assistance. Read More
Co-PIs: Gregory M. Constantine, PhD (Pitt—Mathematics); Steve Chang (CEO of Immunetrics); Drs. Gary Nieman and Kris Maier (SUNY-Syracuse) Read More
Co-PIs: William Wagner, PhD
Title: Engineered Early Embryonic Cardiac Tissue
Description: We have developed an Engineered Early Embryonic Cardiac Tissue, termed EEECT, using embryonic cardiac cells isolated during the period of primary morphogenesis in order to investigate the regulation of embryonic CM proliferation and differentiation and to generate tissues with optimal properties for cardiac repair. Our EEECT construct uses a simple cylindrical geometry which is reproducible, scalable, and preserves the unique proliferative and contractile properties of developing myocardium. Using EEECT we can investigate the regulation of CM proliferation and maturation within a functioning in vitro 3D environment. EEECT proliferation and force production increases in response to cyclic mechanical stretch. With prolonged culture EEECT acquires a post-natal myocardial phenotype (reduced proliferation, increased calcium and β-adrenergic sensitivity, and increased force production). Preliminary data show that cylindrical EEECT can be implanted onto recipient injured adult myocardium as part of a cardiac repair/recovery strategy. Implanted EEECT survive, proliferate, and functionally contribute to recipient cardiac functional recovery. Read More
Title Research Training Group Award
Summary Will provide resources to develop training programs for mathematics students to work with physicians and biologists to help resolve complicated medical problems through mathematics. A variety of computer models will be produced based on differential equations to create immune system models to plot the various chemical and physical changes that occur as the body battles influenza, inflammation, sepsis, necrosis, and wounds. The researchers hope to be able to plot and pinpoint the origin of uncontrollable inflammation and infection that can occur as complications following surgery.
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Title Four Projects Funded by CR Bard, Inc.
Summary In vivo and in vitro evaluation of porcine dermal product for pelvic floor and body wall (hernia) reconstruction. ($90,000)
Manufacturing process review and modification. ($96,000)
In vitro characterization of porcine dermis ECM and products in development. ($118,000)
Evaluation of gel form of porcine dermal matrix. ($60,130) Read More
Title Function of a Glycoprotein lba, a Subunit of the von Willebrand’s Factor Receptor as a Transforming Oncoprotein Read More
Co-PI(s) Joerg Gerlach
Title Ovarian Cancer, Stem Cells and Bioreactors
Summary Addressing the needs of new approaches for anti-cancer therapies by combining stem cell biology, cancer biology and bioengineering. Our central hypothesis is that cancer stem cells are initiating and sustaining the growth of ovarian cancer. In consequence, the identification of the cancer stem cells represents a major step forward in the elucidation of ovarian cancer hierarchy and could hold the key to understanding the origin and maintenance of ovarian cancer, the relapses and possibly the metastases in advanced cases. Another problem facing cancer cell biology is the access of in vitro culture models for research and study of cancer development and its pathophysiology. Here we propose to adopt bioreactors used for bioartificial livers (BAL) to provide tumor cells with a 3-D perfusion culture instrument that recapitulate vasculature and microenvironment. Read More
Title Armed Forces Institute for Regenerative Medicine
Summary The University of Pittsburgh’s McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine and the Institute for Regenerative Medicine at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center have been selected as co-leaders of a national $85 million program to use the science of regenerative medicine to develop new treatments for wounded soldiers. Read More
Title Advanced Regenerative Medicine (ARM) Therapies for Combat Injuries
Summary Badylak: Digit regeneration using porcine derived scaffolds
Gerlach: Wound cap for tissue regeneration
Gerlach: Skin gun for burn therapy Read More
Title Levitronix Phase II SBIR
Summary Development of a magnetically levitated, bearingless pump for a pediatric ventricular assist device. Read More