ABC Graduate Program Trainers
Artificial Organs Biomaterials and Cellular Technology
Click on a faculty member's name to access their full profile or follow the links to the right for more options
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- Roy Aaron
- Professor of Orthopaedics
- Clinical interests center on joint diseases and bone circulation, in OA and osteonecrosis. Recent studies have involved delineating the role of arthroscopy in OA, elucidating the role of bone marrow edema in joint pain, and studying the more>> use of anti-resorptive therapy in osteonecrosis.
In the laboratory, Dr. Aaron is investigating aspects of the
pathophysiology of OA focusing on circulatory disturbances in subchondral bone and the relationship of bone and
cartilage abnormalities.
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- Wayne Bowen
- Dept Chair, Professor of Biology, Co-director of MPP Graduate Program
- We study sigma receptors, proteins found throughout the body. They bind several classes of psychoactive drugs. Activation of sigma-2 receptors causes programmed cell death (apoptosis). We are trying to understand the underlying more>> mechanisms for this. Because they are highly expressed in cancer cells, we are targeting sigma-2 receptors for development of new antineoplastic agents. Also, antipsychotic drugs such as haloperidol damage neurons via sigma-2 receptors. Blocking sigma-2 receptors might prevent the irreversible motor side effects caused by typical neuroleptic agents.
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- Deborah Ciombor
- Associate Professor (Research)
- Dr. Deborah McK. Ciombor's research focuses on cell-based tissue engineering to create a transplantable biocomposite cartilage replacement that may be able to restore function lost to trauma or disease. A stem cell population has been more>> identified in joint lining tissues (synovium) that can be differentiated into cartilage cells by exposure to specific sequences of growth factors.
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- Joseph Crisco
- Professor of Orthopaedics
- Our work is focused on the in vivo study of the normal, pathological, and healing musculoskeletal joint. Measurement of biomechanical variables such as 3D kinematics, ligament strain, and joint contact are performed with our novel in vivo more>> methods using sequential CT scans. Earlier studies on ligament impact biomechanics and muscle contusion injuries examined the basic science of injuries. Applied work on injuries has led to the development of a telemetry system for measuring head acceleration in athletes and to a study of the performance differences between wood and aluminum baseball bats. Current studies are aimed at in vivo cartilage strains, mechanotransduction of chondrocytes, and the multi-directional biomechanics of the spine.
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- Diane Hoffman-Kim
- Associate Professor
- The goal of the Hoffman-Kim laboratory is to understand axon guidance in complex environments and inform biomaterial and tissue engineering strategies for promoting nerve regeneration. We apply engineering techniques to biological systems more>> in vitro to challenge growing neurons with multiple guidance cues, including diffusible factors, substrate-bound molecules, electrical cues, and topographical surface features.
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- Gideon Koren
- Professor of Medicine
- Gideon Koren's research focuses on the regulation of expression voltage-gated potassium channels and mechanisms of sudden death. One of his current research projects involves rabbits expressing dominant negative transgenes that suppress more>> the expression of repolarization currents in the heart. Transmitters are implanted to monitor the heart rhythm to help determine when and why they might die of ventricular arrhythmias. In addition, Koren's group is studying the transcriptional regulation and trafficking of these channels.
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- John Marshall
- Professor
- In response to hormonal or synaptic stimulation, excitable cells (including smooth muscle, cardiac muscle, and neurons) undergo a diversity of changes in their electrical properties. My lab is studying the trafficking and localization of more>> glutamate receptors and calcium channels to synapses, and their modulation by protein kinases.
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- Edith Mathiowitz
- Professor
- Research in our laboratory focuses on the polymer science-medicine interface. Areas of interest include development and modeling of novel drug delivery systems, particularly for the release of insulin and growth factors; designing more>> small-diameter vascular grafts with better compliance; development of novel bioadhesive polymers for oral delivery systems; liquid crystals as smart sensors; the use of nanoparticles as novel therapeutic delivery systems (nanomedicine), tissue markings, DNA delivery.
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- Ulrike Mende
- Associate Professor of Medicine
- Ulrike Mende is interested in the functional role of G proteins (GTP-binding proteins) and their regulators (Regulators of G protein Signaling) in the heart. They are crucial for the transmission of signals from the cell surface to the more>> inside. Changes in their amount or function often lead to compromised cardiac function and disease, such as hypertrophy and failure. Our goal is to delineate the underlying molecular mechanisms and devise new therapeutic strategies.
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- Jeffrey Morgan
- Associate Professor of Medical Science and Engineering CoDirector Center for Biomedical Engineering
- Research in the lab is focused on understanding the molecular and cellular biology of the skin with an eye towards new therapeutic approaches to wound healing, the repair of the skin and the improvement in the performance of percutaneous more>> medical devices. We are also working on novel devices containing living cells to profile gene expression, monitor the toxicity of nanomaterials, and to study the dynamics of the cell adhesion process.
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- Sharon Swartz
- Associate Professor
- My primary research interest is the function and evolution of the vertebrate skeletal system. I seek to better understand and interpret the tremendous diversity and range of adaptation in design of vertebrate, particularly the mammalian more>> skeletons.
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- Anubhav Tripathi
- Assistant Professor of Engineering
- My research focuses on understanding biochemical and biomolecular processes in microchip environments. Projects include: developing continuous flow DNA and RNA amplification processes, rapid identification of Influenza subtypes, fast more>> screens for protein folding and unfolding buffers, separation of protein isoforms, developing micro-bubble shells for detecting pathological conditions, and developing nanoparticle induced pathogen lysis.
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- Herman Vandenburgh
- Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (Research)
- Autologous adult human skeletal muscle cells have numerous potential cell transplantation applications, including regenerating heart and skeletal muscle, and for therapeutic protein delivery when genetically engineered to express a more>> recombinant protein. Our research examines the survival and functionality of human muscle cells transplanted in vivo for the development of improved methods for the treatment of numerous endocrine, neuromuscular, and cardiovascular disorders.
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Biomed Division
MPPB Faculty
Providence, RI 02912