Tissue Engineering
Research > Tissue Engineering
Tissue engineering is a rapidly emerging field, in which combinations of cells, materials and molecules are used to create functional tissues. Stem cells are an ideal ingredient for tissue engineering, since these cell types are largely responsible for forming natural tissues.
However, natural tissue growth involves highly complex interactions that have been difficult to understand and recreate.
UW-Madison researchers are at the forefront of studies that use cutting edge engineering technologies to understand how stem cells create new tissues, ranging from nerve to heart tissues, with the ultimate goal of building tissues for transplantation.
UW engineers are using novel bioreactors and micro/nano-technologies to identify the signals that strongly influence stem cell activity. In addition, they are building new materials that can be used as "scaffolding" for stem cells as they form new tissues.
These technologies are being used to both understand and mimic formation of complex tissues, including heart, bone, skin, muscle and nerve.
Faculty: Lynn Allen-Hoffmann, David Beebe, William Murphy, Brenda Ogle, Sean Palecek, Aseem Ansari, Laura Kiessling, Eric Shusta, Ray Vanderby, Tom Keenan, Susan Thibeault, Wan-Ju Li, Mark D. Markel, Justin Williams, Randolph Ashton, Ben Graf, John Wilson, Stacey Brickson. Shaoqin 'Sarah' Gong