Dr. George Hussey is an Assistant Professor in the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Department of Pathology. Prior to joining the Department of Pathology, he was a Research Assistant Professor, McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Department of Surgery.  He was also a McGowan Institute Postdoctoral Associate in the laboratory of Stephen F. Badylak, DVM, PhD, MD, and a Postdoctoral Fellow in the laboratory of Philip H. Howe, PhD, Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology. In addition to his academic duties, Dr. Hussey is a scientific co-founder of ECM Therapeutics, a startup regenerative medicine company, and has served since 2018 as the Vice President of Research & Development. In 2019, Dr. Hussey was honored with the Innovation Award (University of Pittsburgh). He is a member of the American Society for Matrix Biology, and the Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society (TERMIS).

Dr. Hussey received his BSc in Biology at the University of Akron, Akron, OH.  He obtained his PhD in Regulatory Biology from Cleveland State University, Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute, Department of Cancer Biology, Cleveland, OH.

Dr. Hussey’s research interests are focused upon the discovery, development, and clinical translation of extracellular matrix (ECM)-based and other natural biopolymer materials for functional tissue reconstruction. These interests also extend into an in-depth understanding of the molecular mechanisms of constructive remodeling, specifically in examining the remodeling response and the effect of matrix components on stem-cell differentiation and immune modulation, with the broad goal of identifying molecular targets to modulate these responses. Cell:Matrix interactions, including the role of biopolymers, constitutive phospholipids and incorporated (extracellular) RNA on matrix biology and the host tissue response, are prime targets of his investigations. The overall objective is to understand the mechanisms of host-biomaterial interactions, and to bias those interactions for improved clinical outcomes in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications. A second arm of Dr. Hussey’s research is focused on the development of methods and processes that can advance production of ECM-based therapies from laboratory protocols to large-scale, cGMP-compatible manufacturing processes, and enable the rapid clinical translation of the next generation of regenerative medicine-based therapies.

Over the past decade, Dr. Hussey’s research pursuits have culminated in over 33 peer reviewed scientific publications and 11 patent applications that focus on development of new technologies to repair tissue after traumatic injury or disease. Dr. Hussey’s future career research will continue to build upon the in-depth molecular characterization of ECM components with a strong translational focus toward the development of matrix-based and natural biopolymer therapeutic biomaterials, and the design of transformative new technologies.

View a list of Dr. Hussey’s publications here.