Approaches to engineer and characterize scalable, three-dimensional stem cell differentiation and morphogenesis in parallel with the development of stem cell biotherapeutics will yield novel insights into stem cell and developmental biology, facilitate new regenerative therapies, and create novel microtissue diagnostic and pharmaceutical platforms.
While stem cell differentiation in 3D recapitulates aspects of embryonic development and stem cell niches, current approaches lack spatial and temporal control of morphogenesis and patterning. We are working to engineer methods that enable precise control of the biophysical and biochemical environment.
In order to generate physiologically relevant in vitro tissue models, we use three dimensional cell cultures of stem cells and/or their differentiated progeny to develop platforms for pharmaceutical testing and models to recapitulate tissue development, tissue homeostasis, and disease progression.
The translation of stem cells into viable regenerative and diagnostic technologies is dependent on reproducible techniques to produce defined cell populations with high yields. Our work aims to develop novel tools and technologies that are capable of being directly integrated into bioprocessing systems.
In parallel with engineering approaches, we are working to develop a multi-scale understanding of the mechanisms governing stem cell fate, including physiochemical, genetic, and epigenetic regulation of self-renewal and differentiation, in order to inform the development of novel stem cell technologies.
Based on the potential of stem cells to induce repair of injured and diseased tissues, we aim to harness the intrinsic therapeutic potential by delivering stem cells, stem cell-derived materials and secreted morphogenic factors to explore applications in immunomodulation and tissue regeneration.
