Dr. Stephen Badylak: Award Winning Paper

Each year the Annals of Biomedical Engineering journal recognizes the article published in the journal that has the most citations for all papers published in the preceding year. For 2020, the winning paper is “Extracellular Matrix-Based Biomaterials and Their Influence Upon Cell Behavior” by Madeline C. Cramer and Stephen F. Badylak, DVM, PhD, MD. Dr. Badylak is a Deputy Director of the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, a Professor in the Department of Surgery, and Director of the Center for Pre-Clinical Tissue Engineering within the Institute. The award will be presented during the Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES) annual meeting, October 2021, with a $500 honorarium for the award.

The abstract of the winning paper follows:

Biologic scaffold materials composed of allogeneic or xenogeneic extracellular matrix (ECM) are commonly used for the repair and remodeling of injured tissue. The clinical outcomes associated with implantation of ECM-based materials range from unacceptable to excellent. The variable clinical results are largely due to differences in the preparation of the material, including characteristics of the source tissue, the method and efficacy of decellularization, and post-decellularization processing steps. The mechanisms by which ECM scaffolds promote constructive tissue remodeling include mechanical support, degradation and release of bioactive molecules, recruitment and differentiation of endogenous stem/progenitor cells, and modulation of the immune response toward an anti-inflammatory phenotype. The methods of ECM preparation and the impact of these methods on the quality of the final product are described herein. Examples of favorable cellular responses of immune and stem cells associated with constructive tissue remodeling of ECM bioscaffolds are described.

Congratulations, Dr. Badylak and Ms. Cramer!