Education

As pioneers in the field of regenerative medicine, McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine faculty and staff are both obligated and delighted to contribute to the growth of the field by participating in the career development of young scientists.  McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine faculty member Julie Phillippi, PhD, Assistant Professor in the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, School of Medicine, with a secondary appointment in the Department of Bioengineering, Swanson School of Engineering, recently participated in a panel discussion for sophomore and junior girls from the Fox Chapel Area High School sponsored by the American Association of University Women (AAUW).  Students were encouraged to interact with Dr. Phillippi and other panel experts in an effort to expand their horizons while considering career options.

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The McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine Educational Outreach Program takes its researchers many places.  Recently, McKnight Elementary School Science in McCandless, PA, held a science night for its students and families.

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This first-ever open-to-the-public session of the annual scientific retreat was organized by McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine faculty members based on general questions they receive from the public almost on a daily basis.  The purpose of the event is to provide an honest discussion with stem cell therapy and science communication experts on what is hope, what is hype, what is experimental, and what is therapeutic relative to various advertisements and promises regarding stem cells.  The program’s conversation aims to sort out the alternative facts and the fake news surrounding the medical science of stem cells.  Many factors determine the safety and efficacy of stem cell treatments.  Simply put, you need the right cells, to the right patient, at the right time, in the right way.  If scientists do not ensure the field of stem cells research is credible through good science and ethical practice, the field will quickly become unbelievable.

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McGowan Institute faculty member J. Peter Rubin, MD, professor and chair of the University of Pittsburgh Department of Plastic Surgery, and William R. Wagner, PhD, professor and director of the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, shared their optimism and concerns over the substantial expansion of stem cell-based therapies in an Op Ed published in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on March 10, 2019.

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The McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine has racked up some impressive numbers in its 25-year existence. Researchers affiliated with the McGowan Institute have had 140 patents issued, filed more than 900 invention disclosures; had their technology licensed more than 170 times and have spun out nearly 30 companies from the University.

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Christopher Bettinger, PhD, associate professor of materials science and biomedical engineering at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) and an affiliated faculty member of the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, spends much of his time thinking about how to improve the ways we take medicine.  Dr. Bettinger recently spoke with Benjamin Mikek of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette for its occasional series, “Patented in Pittsburgh,” about his work on an oral, electrical method of drug delivery and the associated patent process.  Excerpts from that article follow.

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According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, buttocks augmentation procedures with fat grafting have increased 10 percent from 2016 to 2017.  As many as one in 3,000 people who undergo the procedure die, many from a fatal fat embolism. This surgery has the highest rate of death of all aesthetic procedures.

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LifeX™ celebrated the opening of its first headquarters, where it will provide expertise and working space to aid the growth of biotechnology companies.  McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine affiliated faculty member Dietrich Stephan, PhD, professor and chairman of the Department of Human Genetics at the University of Pittsburgh, is CEO and founder of LifeX which was launched in December 2017.  LifeX is a biotechnology commercialization platform that empowers scientist entrepreneurs to create and deliver new solutions to alleviate suffering and premature death across the globe. Founded by the University of Pittsburgh, LifeX’s initial cohort of companies will focus on unmet health needs related to cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, multidrug-resistant bacterial infections, obesity and diabetes and rare genetic diseases.

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This year’s Pittsburgh Life Sciences Week (April 16-20) brought together a diverse mix of life sciences groups, researchers, entrepreneurs, large corporations, and investors to connect and engage across the spectrum, from development in the lab to delivery in the marketplace, and to foster the integration of science and business that will accelerate innovation and translate research into commercial opportunities.

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In response to repeated calls for an integrated and coordinated emergency and trauma care system in the U.S., University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine scientists and UPMC physicians—including McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine affiliated faculty member Derek Angus, MD, MPH, who is a co-author on the study—rose to the challenge and divided the nation into hundreds of referral regions that describe how patients access advanced care, in a way that respects geopolitical borders. Dr. Angus is Chair of the Department of Critical Care Medicine of both the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and the UPMC Healthcare System. At the University, he holds the rank of Distinguished Professor and the Mitchell P. Fink Endowed Chair in Critical Care Medicine with secondary appointments in Medicine, Health Policy and Management, and Clinical and Translational Science and he directs the CRISMA (Clinical Research, Investigation, and Systems Modeling of Acute Illnesses) Center. He also co-directs the UPMC ICU Service Center, responsible for the provision of ICU services across the 20-plus hospital system.

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After winning two Emmys and multiple other awards, John Pollock, PhD, a Duquesne University professor earned further recognition with his newly released educational app.

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Playing an adventure video game featuring a fictitious, young emergency physician treating severe trauma patients was better than text-based learning at priming real doctors to quickly recognize the patients who needed higher levels of care, according to a new trial led by the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine affiliated faculty member Derek Angus, MD, Chair of the Department of Critical Care Medicine of both the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and the UPMC Healthcare System and a Distinguished Professor and the Mitchell P. Fink Endowed Chair in Critical Care Medicine with secondary appointments in Medicine, Health Policy and Management, and Clinical and Translational Science, was a member of the study team.

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White blood cells are like the “assassins” of systems biology. Some destroy viruses by swallowing them whole, others lie ready to sound the alarm with inflammation, while “natural killer” white blood cells hose down infected cells with a toxin that causes immediate cell death. The human immune system is an intense, fast-paced game of cat and mouse on a cellular level, and thanks to researchers at the University of Pittsburgh, now the game can take place on a cell phone.

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The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has renewed funding for the University of Pittsburgh Department of Bioengineering’s Cardiovascular Bioengineering Training Program (CBTP). The program – which educates students who are interested in cardiovascular research and pursuing a PhD in bioengineering – will receive nearly $1.9 million over the next 5 years.

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The McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine held its fourth annual Regenerative Medicine Summer School 2017 the week of June 4, 2017.  The Summer School week, endorsed by the Society for Biomaterials and the Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society (TERMIS), was initiated and led by McGowan Institute faculty member Bryan Brown, PhD, Assistant Professor with the Department of Bioengineering at the University of Pittsburgh with a secondary appointment in Pitt’s Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences. Dr. Brown is also the Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women’s Health Scholar (NIH K12), Magee Women’s Research Institute at the University of Pittsburgh, and an Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University.

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The Alliance for Regenerative Rehabilitation Research and Training (AR3T) is looking to support faculty who are developing novel technology projects that will enable cutting-edge investigations in Regenerative Rehabilitation research. The ideal proposal will lead to a research tool that will enable further Regenerative Rehabilitation investigations.

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Two team members from the laboratory of McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine deputy director Stephen Badylak, DVM, PhD, MD, recently represented the McGowan Institute at an educational outreach activity held at McKnight Elementary School in the North Allegheny School District.  Michelle Scarritt, PhD, and Abby Stahl explained to students and their families how different human anatomy systems function.

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The upcoming 2017 Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) on Elastin, Elastic Fibers & Microfibrils will provide a unique forum for graduate students, post-docs, and other early-career scientists to present and exchange new unpublished data and cutting edge ideas on elastic matrix biology and applications. Presentations will be selected to reflect the diverse investigative directions and approaches in the field, from the molecular structure, function, and organization of elastic fiber components, to their mechanistic interactions with vasculature, skin, lung, and other elastic tissues, and their bio-engineering potential for cell repair and regeneration. McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine affiliated faculty member Marie Billaud, PhD, Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, and in the Thoracic Aortic Disease Research Lab of the McGowan Institute, is a co-organizer of this GRS being held July 29-30, 2017, at the University of New England in Biddeford, ME.

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Robert Kormos, MD, the Brack G. Hattler Professor of Cardiothoracic Transplantation, Professor Cardiothoracic Surgery, Bioengineering, and the McGowan Institute, recently delivered the Provost’s Inaugural Lecture entitled “Will Engineering Conquer Biology? Lessons from 30 Years of Mechanical Support for the Failing Heart.”

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As reported by Casey Adams for Inside UPMC, 20 students from North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University (NC A&T) who are enrolled in University of Pittsburgh’s distance learning class, “Artificial Organs,” recently made a 7-hour trek from their university to visit the Procirca Perfusion Simulation and Education Center at UPMC Shadyside.  The course is conducted by McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine faculty member Harvey Borovetz, PhD, Distinguished Professor and former Chair (2002-2013) in the Department of Bioengineering, Swanson School of Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh, the Robert L. Hardesty Professor in the Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, a Professor of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, a Professor – Clinical and Translational Science Institute, a University Honors College Faculty Fellow, and within the McGowan Institute, the Deputy Director of Artificial Organs and Medical Devices.

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The McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine held its 2017 Scientific Retreat March 5-7, 2017. The retreat provided many opportunities to explore collaborative endeavors with other researchers, participating guests, and external partners who are working to bring regenerative medicine technologies to clinical use.  The 2017 Retreat program included technical and strategic planning sessions. The program was designed to facilitate insightful discussions and to identify opportunities for partnerships and new initiatives.

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Pediatric research is prospering in Pittsburgh through the unique, multi-institutional Pediatric Device Initiative (PDI). Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh (CHP) and the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine have formed a partnership that combines the clinical strengths of one of the nation’s leading pediatric healthcare providers (CHP) and the research strengths of a global translational research and development enterprise (McGowan Institute).  Together this partnership aims to transform the status of the pediatric population that has been underserved by recent advances in treating tissue and organ failure.

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The University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (UPCI) Academy, now in its 9th year, will expand its summer medical research program for high school students to include additional research experiences for academy alumni currently attending college.  Three McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine affiliated faculty members will participate as mentors in the 2017 program:

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In celebration of his appointment, McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine affiliated faculty member Simon Watkins, PhD, Distinguished Professor of Cell Biology, School of Medicine, will present his inaugural lecture on September 15, 2016, at 4:00 pm in Scaife Hall, Lecture Room 6.  The title of his presentation is “From Little Animals to Moving Molecules.”

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The McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine held its third annual Regenerative Medicine Summer School 2016 the week of June 20, 2016.  The Summer School week, endorsed by the Society for Biomaterials and the Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society (TERMIS), was initiated and led by McGowan Institute faculty member Bryan Brown, PhD, Assistant Professor with the Department of Bioengineering at the University of Pittsburgh with a secondary appointment in Pitt’s Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences. Dr. Brown is also the Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women’s Health Scholar (NIH K12), Magee Women’s Research Institute at the University of Pittsburgh, and an Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University.

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With the goal of advancing regenerative medicine therapies, a partnership between the University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) and Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) has received a 5-year, $1.4 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to provide training in biomechanical engineering principles and biology to students pursuing a doctoral degree in bioengineering.

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University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine reports the creation of a new Multidisciplinary Liver Center under the leadership of Satdarshan (Paul) Singh Monga, MD, a McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine faculty member.  In combination with UPMC’s longstanding commitment to state-of-the-art clinical care for patients with an array of liver diseases, the School of Medicine is leading novel translational and basic research in many aspects of hepatic pathobiology.  Building on these existing strengths, the mission of the Liver Center will be to promote transdisciplinary research in Hepatology with a focus on liver development, growth, metabolism, injury, and repair with the expressed goal of improving the health of patients with liver disease. The Liver Center will provide a platform to enhance, enrich, and synergize scientific interactions and collaborations between various investigators in the field of liver pathobiology that are currently residing in diverse departments. The Liver Center will provide mentoring and career development opportunities, especially to early career investigators studying liver health and disease.

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McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine affiliated faculty member Julie Phillippi, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, is the principal investigator of a National Institutes of Health R56 “Bridge Award.”  The project is entitled “Engineered Neovascularization of Vasa Vasorum” and includes McGowan Institute faculty co-investigators Thomas Gleason, MD, associate professor of Surgery, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Vera Donnenberg, PhD, associate professor of cardiothoracic surgery in Pitt’s School of Medicine, Phil Campbell, PhD, research professor at the Institute for Complex Engineered Systems at the Carnegie Institute of Technology (School of Engineering) at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), and Lee Weiss, PhD, research professor in the Robotics Institute at CMU.

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Adam McInnes, MD, was a 2014 participant in the inaugural McGowan Institute “Regenerative Medicine Summer School.” The Summer School week, endorsed by the Society for Biomaterials and the Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society (TERMIS), was initiated and continues to be led by McGowan Institute faculty member Bryan Brown, PhD, Research Assistant Professor with the Department of Bioengineering at the University of Pittsburgh with a secondary appointment in Pitt’s Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences.

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CMU’s Biomedical Engineering Department to Create Heart Science Program

“This program also focuses on cardiovascular medicine,” Dr. Keith Cook said. “But it’s unique in that it focuses on the application of biomedical engineering to cardiovascular medicine.”

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Massive Weight Loss Surgery Highlighted

University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Life After Weight Loss program is nationally and internationally recognized for its innovative body contouring surgical techniques following massive weight loss.  Headed by McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine faculty member J. Peter Rubin, MD, chair of the Department of Plastic Surgery, UPMC Endowed Professor of Plastic Surgery, and Professor of Bioengineering at the University of Pittsburgh, who is one of the nation’s top doctors in the field and the author of a text book on the subject, the UPMC Life After Weight Loss team performs a wide range of body contouring surgeries.

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As reported by HealthLeaders magazine’s Cheryl Clark, Dr. Angus has distinguished himself as an expert in the operations, cost, and efficiency of the intensive care unit, especially as it cares for patients with sepsis and septic shock, which strikes more than a million Americans a year.

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McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine Distinguished Lecture October 10, 2013

The McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine’s Fall Distinguished Lecturer is Glenn Prestwich, PhD, Presidential Professor of Medicinal Chemistry and Research Professor of Biochemistry, University of Utah.  Dr. Prestwich’s lecture is entitled “The Entrepreneurial Ecosytem and Its Role in Translating Hyaluronan Materials to the Clinic.”

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2013 Wiegand Intern Completes Assignment

The Wiegand Summer Internship provides an opportunity for a high school senior, who resides in Allegheny County and who graduated in the spring of 2013, to spend 4 weeks learning first-hand about regenerative medicine research and scientific investigations in general.

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Promoting research to advance medicine for the military is the focus of a newly established center at the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences, and McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine associate director Rocky Tuan, PhD, the Arthur J. Rooney Sr. Chair in Sports Medicine and the executive vice chair for research and director of the Center for Cellular and Molecular Engineering, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, is its founding director with support from McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine affiliated faculty member Peter Strick, PhD, distinguished professor, Department of Neurobiology.

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Advancing the Next Generation of Plastic Surgeons

Plastic Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine has been granted department status, completing its evolution from a division under the Department of Surgery. The new department will be led by J. Peter Rubin, MD, UPMC Professor of Plastic Surgery and McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine faculty member.

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Regenerative Medicine Focus of TEDx Presentation in Argentina

McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine affiliated faculty member Alejandro Nieponice, MD, PhD, is currently a research assistant professor of the department of surgery at University of Pittsburgh. He is also the director of minimally invasive esophageal surgery at Fundación Favaloro in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Dr. Nieponice recently participated in a TEDx held in Buenos Aires, Argentina.  The focus of his presentation was regenerative medicine, tissue engineering, and their uses in surgical applications.

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McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine Affiliated Faculty Member Leads Newest NSF REU Site at Pitt’s Chemical and Petroleum Engineering Department

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UPCI Summer Academy Receives Grant

McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine affiliated faculty member Michael Lotze, MD, vice chair, Department of Surgery with the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, is pleased that the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (UPCI) has been awarded $194,400 over 3 years by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation (DDCF) to expand minority high school student participation in summer research programs. With the foundation’s funds, the UPCI Summer Academy will be one of five high school programs at Pitt recruiting students into clinical research positions. The Summer Academy prepares rising high school seniors to further their studies in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics and to consider careers in cancer care and research.

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Regenerative Medicine as Veterinary Career Path Option

The Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) provides leadership for and promotes excellence in academic veterinary medicine to prepare the veterinary workforce with the scientific knowledge and skills required to meet societal needs through the protection of animal health, the relief of animal suffering, the conservation of animal resources, the promotion of public health, and the advancement of medical knowledge.  The AAVMC website sponsors a series of “veterinary spotlights” to show students the vast array of careers that are available to veterinarians.  The career path of McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine deputy director Stephen Badylak, DVM, PhD, MD, professor in the Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, and director of the Center for Pre-Clinical Tissue Engineering within the McGowan Institute, was recently the subject of the series.

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