Event
BIOE Seminar: Dr. Kent Leach (UC Davis)
Wednesday, June 6, 2018
9:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m.
A. James Clark Hall, Room 2132
Dr. Bhushan Mahadik
mahadikb@umd.edu
Dr. Kent Leach
Professor, Biomedical Engineering and Orthopaedic Surgery
University of California, Davis
Engineered microenvironments to guide stem cell-based therapies in tissue repair
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have tremendous potential in cell-based therapies for tissue loss due to their multilineage potential, proangiogenic capabilities, and immune regulatory and anti-inflammatory capacities. Despite the promise of MSC-based therapies, the efficacy of this approach is limited by the high death rate and poor engraftment of cells in ischemic conditions. Compared to individual cells, the formation of MSCs into spheroids enhances their survival, proangiogenic and anti-inflammatory potential. However, the fabrication and delivery of MSC spheroids to promote tissue repair is not a “one size fits all” approach, and effective strategies to optimize spheroid function for these applications are lacking. We design strategies to optimize MSC function, whether through preconditioning in specific microenvironments or transplanting with engineered materials to dictate cell function in situ. The characteristics of the material are key in guiding cell participation in tissue repair. In this talk, I will highlight ongoing efforts by our laboratory to develop MSC spheroids for use in treating large bone defects and accelerating wound closure. I will also provide examples of engineered biomaterials to enhance cell survival and instruct cell function.
About the Speaker
Dr. Kent Leach is Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Orthopaedic Surgery at University of California, Davis. His research interests are focused on developing cell-instructive biomaterials for tissue engineering, applying transport principles for growth of engineered tissues, and translation from the bench to the clinic. He was inducted into the College of Fellows of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering in 2017. He is an Associate Editor for the Annals of Biomedical Engineering, the flagship publication for the Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES), and he serves on the America’s Council for the Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society (TERMIS).
