Tissue engineering is a fast growing area of research that aims to create tissue equivalents of blood vessels, heart muscle, nerves, cartilage, bone, and other organs for replacement of tissue either damaged through disease or trauma. As an interdisciplinary field, principles from biological, chemical, electrical, materials science, and mechanical engineering are employed in research and development. Concepts and discoveries from the fields of molecular and cell biology, physiology and immunology are also readily incorporated into research activities for tissue engineering. Recent advancements in stem cell research provide exciting opportunities of using stem cells for regeneration of tissues and organs. Understanding and directing stem cell differentiation and functions are new frontiers in cell and tissue engineering.
Many faculty members at UCB and UCSF are active in the area of tissue engineering, with the goal of creating the equivalent of native tissue or reparative components in the laboratory for ultimate use in medical therapies. Current efforts in tissue engineering at UCB/UCSF focus in the areas of biomaterials synthesis and biological performance evaluation, biomimetic nanomaterials, stem cell engineering, drug delivery, and the characterization of the physical, chemical and biomechanical behavior of these tissues. To improve these “engineered tissues,” substantial effort is also placed on understanding the physical properties of native tissues they aim to replace. Critical challenges in this area include understanding the interaction between the cells and novel materials and the effect of physical and chemical stimuli on cell function, including cell growth, migration and differentiation.
Tissue Engineering & Regenerative Medicine faculty in the Graduate Group:
J. Christopher Anderson, UCBAdam Arkin, UCB
Irina Conboy, UCB
Tejal A. Desai, UCSF
Daniel A. Fletcher, UCB
Zev Gartner, UCSF
Xiaohua Gong, UCB
Kevin Healy, UCB
C. Anthony Hunt, UCSF
Tony Keaveny, UCB
Sanjay Kumar, UCB
Patricia Leake, UCSF
Seung-Wuk Lee, UCB
Randall Lee, UCSF
Song Li, UCB
Hao Li, UCSF
Jeffrey Lotz, UCSF
David M. Rempel, UCSF/UCB
Shuvo Roy, UCSF
David Schaffer, UCB
David Sretavan, UCSF
Francis Szoka, Jr., UCSF
William Young, UCSF