News: Advancements in the Field and University Appointments - June, 2016

Latest University Positions

Professor Paul H. Krebsbach, D.D.S., Ph.D. (University of Michigan), has been named new dean of the UCLA School of Dentistry. Professor Krebsbach, an accomplished researcher in tissue engineering and stem cell biology, has conducted extensive research on the cell and molecular biology of mineralized tissues.

Recent Advancements in Industry, Academia, & Philantrhopy

Organovo collaboration with University of California

Organovo, the California-based 3D biotech company,launched a collaboration with the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) with the goal of developing advanced 3D bioprinted tissues for skeletal disease applications. This partnership has been funded by Methuselah, which previously funded Organovo’s partnership with Yale for bioprinting transplant tissues. The use of 3D bioprinting will develop better in vitro models to investigate cures for musculoskeletal disorders which are the second leading cause of disabilities around the world.

Advancements in Academia

University of Toronto Scientists Develop perfusable Scaffold

Scientists at the University of Toronto have designed and fabricated AngioChip, a biodegradable, perfusable scaffold that isable to generate both in vitro vascularized cardiac and hepatic
tissue models in a scalable manner and in vivo implants with rapid and direct surgical anastomosis. This technology can overcome previous limitations in the field of tissue engineering to produce millimeter-sized tissues by inducing tissue endothelialization without delay while enable to integrate different tissues on a single device. This powerful platform technology was reported in Nature Materials.

Columbia University Devlop Maxillofacial Reconstructive Strategy 

Scientists at Columbia University have developed a maxillofacial reconstructive strategy by utilizing stem cells, decellularized bone and a perfusion bioreactor to overcome previous limitation of using autografts. Living grafts were engineered by using an image-guided personalized approach, and cells were cultured in perfusion in a bioreactor to form immature bone tissue. The engineered graft was successfully integrated with host tissue, formed new bone, and was vascularized extensively after implementation. This translational study was published in Science Translational Medicine.