Abstract:

The musculoskeletal system is the framework for movement, posture, and stability, and defects or disorders in musculoskeletal tissues impair quality of life. My research is directed toward incorporating cues from the native environment and natural extracellular matrix (ECM) into the design of cell culture platforms and musculoskeletal tissue engineered constructs. By applying fundamental principles in cell and molecular biology, biomaterials, and biotransport phenomena, we are developing materials-based strategies to direct the behavior of transplanted or host cells within bone and muscle defects and interrogate the behavior of various cell populations in more physiologically relevant conditions. In this talk, I will present examples of our recent work in designing biomaterials from cells and natural and synthetic polymers to instruct cell fate and enhance tissue formation and function with applications in musculoskeletal tissue regeneration and repair. In particular, I will highlight our use of cell spheroids as alternatives to other cell delivery approaches and the utility of instructive cell-secreted matrices to guide cell fate.

Biography:

Kent Leach’s research interests are focused on developing cell-instructive biomaterials for tissue engineering of replacement tissues and cultivated meat, applying transport principles for growth of engineered tissues and modeling cancer, and translation from the bench to the clinic. He is the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A, the official journal of the Society for Biomaterials (SFB). He is a Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) and the Biomedical Engineering Society. He is the Program Director of one of eight NIH-funded predoctoral training grants focused on musculoskeletal health nationally. He has received multiple teaching and mentorship awards at UC Davis, and he holds various leadership roles in his scientific communities including presently serving as the Treasurer of the Biomedical Engineering Society.

- Hosted by Taimoor Qazi

Zoom Link: https://purdue-edu.zoom.us/j/97910415249

Students registered for the seminar are expected to attend in-person.

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