Regenerative Medicine Today

Listen to show #52 here!
RegenMedToday_052_Jun2008.mp3 [11.9 MB 00:20:44 80kbps]

Regenerative Medicine Today welcomes Latha Satish, Ph.D.  Dr. Satish is a Research Assistant Professor, Scarless Wound Healing Program at the Allegheny-Singer Research Institute.

Her focus is on the biology of scarless wound healing, with specific interest on identifying novel genes that are responsible for scarless wound healing. 

As she describes, wound healing is a complex biological process that involves migration and proliferation of cells to repopulate the defect, synthesis of extracellular matrix proteins and remodeling of scar to re-establish the organ integrity. Further complicating this is that to regenerate functional skin, the dermal and epidermal layers should act in an orchestrated manner. How the major cells of each layer, fibroblasts in the dermis and keratinocytes in the epidermis coordinate their response is unknown.

Click Here to learn more about Dr. Satish’s program.

For more information about the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, visit:

• McGowan Institute Patient Site
• McGowan Institute Research Site

Host John Murphy

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Posted by RMT Editor in Podcast at 11:30

Listen to show #51 here!
RegenMedToday_051_Jun2008.mp3 [11.9 MB 00:29:27 80kbps]

Regenerative Medicine Today welcomes Jörg C. Gerlach, M.D., Ph.D.

Dr. Gerlach is Professor of Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh. Prior to his current appointment Dr. Gerlach founded the Charité Institute for Transplantation and Organ Regeneration (CITO) at the Charité Medical Faculty of the Humboldt University Berlin, Germany.

His specialties lie in surgery, hepatology, intensive care and experimental transplantation medicine. Additionally, he has an engineering background with expertise in artificial organ development, hybrid system research and preclinical trial efforts.

Dr. Gerlach discusses his work on the development of tools such as bioreactors for the expansion of cells so that sufficient cells are available for cell-based therapies.  Areas of focus include pancreas, and liver.  He also explores the development of “cell factories” for the production of cells from a patient’s bone marrow.

Another of Dr. Gerlach’s interests is cell-based burn therapy, which is described on the interview.

Click Here to learn more about Dr. Gerlach’s Bioreactor Group

For more information about the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, visit:

• McGowan Institute Patient Site
• McGowan Institute Research Site

Host John Murphy

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Posted by RMT Editor in Podcast at 15:01

Listen to show #50 here!
RegenMedToday_050_Apr2008.mp3 [11.6 MB 00:20:03 80kbps]

Regenerative Medicine Today welcomes Dr. Kacey Marra

Dr. Marra is an Assistant Professor of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh and Director of the Plastic Surgery Lab at the University of Pittsburgh.  Dr. Marra’s research is focused on the use of adipose derived stem cells for the regeneration of nerve, bone, adipose and cartilage.  The lab uses adipose-derived stem cells for these bioengineering applications.

The Lab is combining basic science and clinical research to turn innovative ideas into realities through the use of adult stem cells derived from fat. Fat, or adipose tissue, contains an abundant number of adult stem cells, over 10 times more than in bone marrow. These cells not only regenerate adipose tissue, but they can reconstruct a variety of injuries and defects by being coaxed to develop into nerves, bone, or cartilage.

Finally, Dr. Marra discusses her strong commitment to mentoring women and minorities in the career opportunities that are available in science and medicine.

Adipose Stem Cell Center, click here

Click Here for more information on the Plastic Surgery Research program

Click Here for Research Opportunities for High School Students (ROHSS)

For more information about the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, visit:

• McGowan Institute Patient Site
• McGowan Institute Research Site

Host John Murphy

Subscribe to the Podcast Feed.

Posted by RMT Editor in Podcast at 14:30

Listen to show #49 here!
RegenMedToday_049_Mar2008.mp3 [14.9 MB 00:25:56 80kbps]

Regenerative Medicine Today welcomes Steve Winowich

Steve Winowich is the Director of Clinical Bioengineering with the Artificial Heart Program at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) and he is also the Chief Operating Officer of Vital Engineering, Inc.

Mr. Winowich describes a unique partnership between the clinical staff and a team of bioengineers and nurses who are a key component of a very successful program that provides mechanical circulatory support to patients that are waiting for a heart transplant.  Supplemental circulatory support has been traditionally used as a bridge to a transplant, but there are also cases where the circulatory support has also been used as a bridge to recovery.

The discussion includes a synopsis of the current state-of-the-art and a review of how artificial heart technology has improved over the years.  The program at UPMC has matured and through Vital Engineering, Inc. bioengineering support for mechanical circulatory support is now provided around the world.

Click Here for more information on the Artificial Heart Program

For Clinical Applications

Click Here for more information about Vital Engineering

For more information about the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, visit:

• McGowan Institute Patient Site
• McGowan Institute Research Site

Host John Murphy

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Posted by RMT Editor in Podcast at 08:52

Listen to show #48 here!
RegenMedToday_048_Mar2008.mp3 [21.8 MB 00:37:56 80kbps]

Regenerative Medicine Today welcomes Joan Schanck

Ms. Schanck is the Director, Education and Workforce Development at the Pittsburgh Tissue Engineering Initiative (PTEI).  PTEI’s educational programs provide a range of experiences and tools for those who are interested in science education.  Beginning with K-12 and continuing through undergraduate and postdoctoral research, PTEI is helping to prepare a trained workforce to support a growing regenerative medicine industry. Through its programs PTEI provides hands-on opportunities to explore the many educational and career paths available to next-generation scientists and those who will work with them.

Ms. Schanck discusses the range of established programs and new initiatives at PTEI that provide opportunities to enhance the understanding and appreciation of the capabilities and opportunities that tissue engineering and regenerative medicine offer.

Click Here for more information on the PTEI Education Programs.

For more information about the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, visit:

• McGowan Institute Patient Site
• McGowan Institute Research Site

Host John Murphy

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Posted by RMT Editor in Podcast at 09:10

Listen to show #47 here!
RegenMedToday_047_Feb2008.mp3 [18.5MB 00:32:14 80kbps]

Regenerative Medicine Today welcomes Dr. Phil G. Campbell

Dr. Campbell is a Research Professor, Institute of Complex Engineered Systems, Carnegie Mellon University (CMU).  Also he has academic appointments in the Departments of Biomedical Engineering, Biological Sciences, Materials Science and Engineering, and the Molecular Biosensor and Imaging Center at CMU.

Dr. Campbell’s research is focused on the development of “tool sets” that will be resources for regenerative medicine research and clinical therapies.  In the podcast he discusses his work on methodologies and systems that will be required for cell expansion on a commercial vs. a research basis, and how his research is addressing those needs.

He also shares some insight into the use of inkjet printing technologies to print tissue engineered constructs using “bio-inks” vs. the traditional inks used in such printers.  These tool sets are proving to be a significant resource in the study of cell growth on tissue engineered constructs.

Finally, Dr. Campbell discusses his strong commitment to science-based education: from elementary students to senior citizens.

Click Here for more information on Dr. Campbell's research.

Click Here for PTEI Educational Initiatives

For more information about the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, visit:

• McGowan Institute Patient Site
• McGowan Institute Research Site

Host John Murphy

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Posted by RMT Editor in Podcast at 14:59

Listen to show #46 here!
RegenMedToday_046_Jan2008.mp3 [16MB 00:28:04 80kbps]

Regenerative Medicine Today welcomes Alan Wells, MD, DMS

Dr. Wells is the head of Cell Biology at the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine. At the University of Pittsburgh, he is Vice-Chair and Thomas J Gill III Professor of the Department of Pathology. In addition, Dr. Wells is the Medical Director of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) CSLI, and the Staff Pathologist at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Dr. Wells discusses his pioneering studies on tumor biology and wound healing.  He shares insight into the basic science and to future clinical applications of his research. One of his interests is in the development of custom therapies, patient-by-patient, for certain illnesses, such as cancer.

Click Here for more information on Dr. Well's research.

For more information about the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, visit:

• McGowan Institute Patient Site
• McGowan Institute Research Site

Host John Murphy

Subscribe to the Podcast Feed.

Posted by RMT Editor in Podcast at 16:11

Listen to show #45 here!
RegenMedToday_045_Jan2008.mp3 [16MB 00:27:48 80kbps]

Regenerative Medicine Today welcomes Eric Lagasse, Pharm.D., Ph.D.

Dr. Eric Lagasse is an associate professor in the Department of Pathology and the Director of the Cancer Stem Cell Center, a joint venture between the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine and the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute.

Dr. Lagasse discusses his pioneering research on the use of stem cells for liver therapy.  He also describes his research on the identification of cancer stem cells, and possible alternative cancer therapies if the hypothesis is affirmed that cancer stem cells are the source of the tumors and the reason for metastasis.

Click Here for more information on Dr. Lagasse’s research.

For more information about the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, visit:

• McGowan Institute Patient Site
• McGowan Institute Research Site

Host John Murphy

Subscribe to the Podcast Feed.

Posted by RMT Editor in Podcast at 10:08