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SUMMARY:Engineering Biomaterials to Enhance Stem Cell-based Tissue Regener
 ation: from 'outside-in' and from 'inside-out' - Dr Fan Yang\, Associate P
 rofessor\, Stanford University
DTSTART:20180208T140000Z
DTEND:20180208T150000Z
UID:TALK99775@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:46601
DESCRIPTION:Stem cells are attractive cell sources for tissue regeneration
  due to their unique capacity of differentiation\, as well as their abilit
 y to contribute to tissue repair via paracrine signaling. Unlike conventio
 nal biologics and drugs\, stem cells are natural "biological sensors" and 
 can dynamically change their fates and paracrine signals in response to th
 e niche stimuli. In addition\, stem cell have been reported to possess hom
 ing capacity towards multiple wound signals such as inflammation\, ischemi
 a\, and cancer. On one hand\, the unique ability of stem cells to dynamica
 lly sense and alter phenotype in response to niche signals poses a great c
 hallenge for controlling stem cell fate towards desirable fates in situ af
 ter transplantation. On the other hand\, if harnessed appropriately\, the 
 unique ability of stem cells to migrate towards wound site and produce par
 acrine signals in response to wound site can be a great blessing for promo
 ting tissue regeneration. In this talk\, I will discuss examples of our re
 search on how to employ biomaterials to engineer stem cells from “outsid
 e-in” by developing novel hydrogels with macroporosity or molecular mobi
 lity to enhance desirable cell fates and tissue formation\, or from inside
 -out by harnessing stem cells as drug delivery vehicles to catalyze tissue
  regeneration or eradicate infiltrating cancer cells. Potential applicatio
 ns for treating musculoskeletal diseases\, cardiovascular diseases\, and c
 ancer will be demonstrated using relevant animal models.
LOCATION:Oatley 1 Meeting Room\, Department of Engineering
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