Congratulations to Luai Huleihel, PhD, who won the Stimulating Pittsburgh Research in Geroscience (SPRIG) Scholar’s Pilot Project Award for his project entitled, “The Role of Matrix-Bound Nanovesicles from Old and Young ECM Scaffolds upon Macrophage Polarization.”  This Award is in the amount of $10,000/year for 2 years.  Dr. Huleihel works in the laboratory of McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine Deputy Director Stephen Badylak, DVM, PhD, MD, Professor in the Department of Surgery and Director of the Center for Pre-Clinical Tissue Engineering within the Institute.

Dr. Huleihel’s project is to identify MBVs embedded within old and young ECM scaffolds and their effect upon macrophage polarization, as well as to evaluate the effect of young and old ECM-microvesicles on the in vivo host response and remodeling potential in a rodent model of acute traumatic muscle injury.

The objective of the SPRIG Scholars Program is to provide multi-faceted support for graduate students and post-doctoral fellows through the establishment of four activities. The specific immediate goals of this program are to increase attendance at monthly seminars, build stronger collaborative research teams, and provide an exceptional environment of training and mentoring with an eventual goal to procure a T32 training grant in the biology of aging.

Congratulations, Dr. Huleihel!