CATER

The Cellular Approaches to Tissue Engineering and Regeneration (CATER) program is pleased to congratulate one of our trainees, Ms. Kien Tran, on receiving an F31 grant award from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to study, “Development of Novel Testicular Tissue Organ Culture Systems to Induce in vitro Spermatogenesis.” Ms. Tran is a 4^th year PhD candidate in the Molecular Genetics and Developmental Biology Program. She is currently working with Dr. Kyle Orwig at the Magee-Womens Research Institute. The scope of her research focuses on developing next-generation tissue-base and cell-based technologies to restore fertility in male patients, specifically in childhood cancer survivors. To achieve this goal, her current studies focus on understanding developmental biology of germ cells across different species, from rodents to non-human primates to humans. Her work will contribute to development of new therapeutic methods for infertile male patients to conceive biological children.

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The McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine and the Department of Pathology is pleased to announce that the Cellular Approaches to Tissue Engineering and Regeneration (CATER) Program has been awarded a new five-year grant from the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The program, which continues to help students broaden their skills and knowledge in both life sciences and bioengineering, provides a solid foundation in the discipline of Regenerative Medicine (RM) so that trainees can eventually build a productive independent career in cell and tissue-based therapy for human disease and injury. The renewed focus of the training program will now incorporate the timely concept of synthetic biology as well.

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CATER Trainee Drew Bradshaw defended his dissertation, “Inflammation in the Tumor Microenvironment: Experimental Models of Metastatic Melanoma Therapy,” on May 7, 2020. The defense was held virtually via Zoom. Pictured here, Dr. Alan Wells introduces Mr. Bradshaw at his defense. Congratulations on doing a fabulous job!

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CATER students participated in many events at the annual McGowan Institute Scientific Retreat, which was held at Oglebay Resort in Wheeling, West Virginia earlier this month. Here are some highlights from the two day event:

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CATER trainee Alexis Nolfi, Dr. Bryan Brown, and their team have won $100,000 through this year’s PInCH challenge. Their project, called CyteSolutions Lens, is one of three to receive the award for their answer to this year’s question, “What is your bold idea to solve a health-related problem?” The CyteSolutions Lens group, which includes Dr. Mangesh Kulkarni, developed a silicone-hydrogel-based contact lens that has been coated with natural biopolymers containing an immune modifying drug for the treatment of dry eye disease. Ms. Nolfi explains, “Dry eye is an exceedingly common condition, and it’s very prevalent.  It’s only going to increase as the population continues to age.  However, there are currently no effective treatments.” For more information on the project, please see the video available here, and the Pitt News article here.

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CATER trainee Alexis Nolfi, doctoral candidate in the lab of McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine faculty member Bryan Brown, PhD, Associate Professor in the Department of Bioengineering with secondary appointments in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences and the Clinical and Translational Science Institute at the University of Pittsburgh, is a member of the research team developing a silicone-hydrogel-based contact lens that has been coated with natural biopolymers containing an immune modifying drug for the treatment of dry eye disease.  The project is named CyteSolutions Lens and the project’s video is here.

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Dr. Douglas Weber is Associate Professor in the Department of Bioengineering, with secondary appointments in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, the Department of Rehabilitation Science and Technology, and the Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition. He is the founding Director of the Rehab Neural Engineering Laboratories (RNEL) here at the University of Pittsburgh. RNEL investigators work collaboratively on a range of projects aimed at the role of sensory feedback in supporting and regulating a wide range of perceptual, motor, cognitive, and autonomic functions. Dr. Weber’s own research combines fundamental neuroscience and engineering research to understand physiological mechanisms underlying sensory perception, feedback control of movement, and neuroplasticity in sensorimotor systems.

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CATER Trainee Abby Stahl defended her dissertation, “A Study of Macrophages in the Aging Liver and in the Host Response to Engineered Lung Scaffolds,” on December 7, 2018. Pictured here, Dr. Bryan Brown introduces Ms. Stahl at her defense.

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In addition to the two new trainees, the Cellular Approaches to Tissue Engineering and Regeneration (CATER) training program welcomes a new faculty member:  Warren Ruder, PhD.  Dr. Ruder is an Assistant Professor, Engineering Living Systems Lab, Department of Bioengineering, and an affiliated faculty member of the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine.  Dr. Ruder moved his research group to the University of Pittsburgh’s bioengineering department in January 2017.  Previously, he spent 4 years as an Assistant Professor in Virginia Tech’s Biological Systems Engineering Department, where he led the Engineering Living Systems Lab.  His expertise is in synthetic biology, cellular and molecular biomechanics, and lab-on-a-chip systems.

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Christopher Mahoney is a 4th year doctoral candidate in the Bioengineering Department at the Swanson School of Engineering and works in the laboratory of McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine faculty member Kacey Marra, PhD, Associate Professor in the Departments of Plastic Surgery in the School of Medicine and Bioengineering in the School of Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh and also the Director of the Plastic Surgery Research Laboratory in the Department of Plastic Surgery in Pitt’s School of Medicine.

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A research image by Emily Bayer – a trainee in the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine Cellular Approaches to Tissue Engineering and Regeneration (CATER) Training Program  – is the cover art of the recent Tissue Engineering Part A journal.

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The Pittsburgh Liver Research Center (PLRC) Grant Review Committee has selected the awardees for the 2016-2017 grants. Congratulations to the following McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine awardees of the 1-year PLRC Pilot and Feasibility Grants:

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The Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) sponsored the 4th Pitt Innovation Challenge. This year’s challenge was focused on bold solutions in health. CTSI aims to move health-related research projects along the translational spectrum, not just to commercialization. Ideas and solutions did not need to be products ready for commercialization—basic science projects were encouraged to apply.  In addition, the program encouraged new connections within the academic community, and among universities and community organizations, to foster an ecosystem of innovation.

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The National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) Grantee Training Program Meeting was held in Bethesda, Maryland, in early July 2016.  Meeting participants included four current and one former Cellular Approaches to Tissue Engineering and Regeneration (CATER) Training Program members, the CATER Program Director, Paul Monga, MD, and co-Director William Wagner, PhD.  The CATER trainees who participated were:

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Please join us in supporting CATER trainee Ben Rothrauff, who has scheduled his PhD Dissertation Defense and Final Examination on Monday, July 25, 2016 at 3:00pm in Bridgeside Point 2, 4^th floor conference room.

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The 16th Annual Department of Pathology Retreat was held on Wednesday, May 25, 2016 at 12:00PM in Scaife Hall, 4th Floor, Lecture Room 5.  The keynote address was by Dr. Charles A. Parkos, MD, PhD, the Carl V. Weller Professor and Chair, Mucosal Inflammation and Epithelial Pathobiology, Department of Pathology, University of Michigan School of Medicine.

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Please join us in welcoming four new CATER faculty members.  They are:

Kari Nejak-Bowen, PhD
Department of Pathology
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
S414 Biomedical Science Tower, 200 Lothrop

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The poster session was effective in introducing the focus of the Retreat and interests of the faculty and the guests.  Andrew Duncan, PhD, Assistant Professor in the Department of Pathology, Division of Experimental Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, and his committee organized the session and judged the posters.

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Heidi Hofer, PhD, dissertation defense was March 17, 2015.  Dr. Hofer entered the CATER Training Program through the University of Pittsburgh, Swanson School of Engineering’s Bioengineering Graduate Program.  Her advisor was McGowan Institute associate director Rocky Tuan, PhD, professor and director of the Center for Cellular and Molecular Engineering, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery.  The title of her thesis was: “Traumatized Muscle-Derived Multipotent Progenitor Cells: Pro-angiogenic Activity, Promotion of Nerve Growth, and Osteogenic Differentiation.”  Dr. Hofer is currently employed at Gradalis, Inc., Dallas, Texas, as a Manufacturing Associate.

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Friday, October 9^th           Presentation by: Dr. Bryan Brown

Friday, October 23^rd        Presentation by: Abby Stahl

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