Speaker: Don Sakaguchi, Iowa State University Department of Genetics, Development and Cell Biology Morrill Professor

Title: “Bridging the gap: Connecting biology and engineering to develop strategies for brain rescue and repair”

Abstract: Brain injury and neurodegenerative conditions often lead to life-long disability, reduced quality of life, and heavy socioeconomic burdens. As such, considerable effort has been directed toward the development of cell replacement strategies. Combining somatic stem cells with bioengineering approaches provides a means for manipulating microenvironmental signals to regulate cell proliferation and differentiation. Furthermore, with the advent of transdifferentiation techniques, it has become possible to implement rational strategies to generate specific cell types for tissue repair. In this presentation, I plan to discuss some of our recent studies using biomaterials-based scaffolds, electrical stimulation and microfluidic platforms to influence directed cell differentiation to improve cell-based strategies.

Meeting link: https://iastate.webex.com/iastate/j.php?MTID=mb238d165439455f48123c9a3d116aef8

March 9, 2021, GDCB Seminar flyer (Don Sakaguchi)