Dr. Rosalyn Abbott is an Assistant Professor in the Departments of Biomedical Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering (courtesy) at Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA.  Her research focus is integrating systems-based modeling with natural biomaterials, tissue engineering, perfusion bioreactors, and mechanical systems to study metabolic regulation during the complex transition of obesity to insulin resistant type II diabetes.

Dr. Abbott received her BS and MS in 2008 from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and her PhD in 2012 from the University of Vermont.  She conducted her Postdoctoral Research from 2012-2017 at Tufts University.  At Tufts, she worked with Dr. David Kaplan and developed tissue engineered models of adipose tissues (white and brown) and skin substitutes. Also, bioreactors and silk scaffolds were explored to enhance the longevity of cultures.

In the Abbott lab, human adipose microenvironments are being developed and tested for responsiveness to stimuli hypothesized to alter disease mechanisms (i.e. the transition of obese tissues to insulin resistant type II diabetic tissues) and metabolic behavior. The long-term goal is to use these adipose tissue systems to inform preventative and therapeutic measures for patients affected by the metabolic syndrome. The lab focuses on integrating tissue engineering with biomaterial engineering.

Dr. Abbott serves as a journal reviewer for these publications:

• Journal of Biomaterials Science: Polymer Edition
• Journal of Biomechanical Engineering
• Acta Biomaterialia
• ACS Biomaterials
• Journal of Orthopaedic Research

View a list of Dr. Abbott’s publications here.