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.

Regenerative medicine has been an interest of Dr. McInnes since he was 12 when saw the tissue engineering proof-of-concept Vacanti mouse on a TV show. Seeing how they grew this surgically-implanted ear using tissue engineering inspired him, and he knew there were so many more possibilities in this medical technology area.  During the McGowan Institute Summer School week, using a combination of off-the-shelf biological scaffold materials and targeted physiotherapy, Dr. McInnes learned how researchers and clinicians were able to help trauma victims and veterans wounded in combat to regrow new muscle and tendon tissue and gain a much-improved quality of life.  Dr. McInnes’ long-term career goal is to focus on regenerative medicine so he can help bring this exciting field to the bedside.

Dr. McInnes recently graduated from the University of Saskatchewan College of Medicine in Saskatoon, SK, Canada.  Before beginning his residency training, he hopes to pursue a year-long effort to learn and do research in regenerative medicine.  Currently, he has two opportunities from scientists at world-leading research institutes to study under their guidance.  One is an offer at the Medical Research Council Centre for Regenerative Medicine in Edinburgh, UK, with Pierre Bagnaninchi, PhD, and Leonard Nelson, PhD. The second offer is at the McGowan Institute with 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 McGowan Institute. For the purpose of these two research observerships, he will be considered a Visiting Scholar.

Dr. McInnes is very excited to take part in these learning opportunities and to explore his career in regenerative medicine.  To do so, however, he needs funding help to make these prospects a reality.  It is only after he meets his funding goal, will the research organizations extend to him a Visiting Scholar offer.  Any monies raised will go towards his basic living expenses, travel expenses, conference fees, work visas, etc., while in the UK and the USA.

Because no known funding mechanism exists for his situation (he is no longer a student, an employed faculty member, researcher, nor licensed physician), Dr. McInnes has created an IndieGoGo page with details on how anyone can help him reach his immediate financial goal and his long-term regenerative medicine career goal.  Additional details can be found on his Facebook page as well.  The McGowan Institute is pleased to promote these efforts of a Regenerative Medicine Summer School alumnus.

Best of luck, Dr. McInnes!