The Gazit laboratory conducts research on skeletal tissue engineering by using adult stem cell–based and gene therapy approaches, with the goal to develop innovative biological tools for organ/tissue repair. The Gazit lab has recently combined genetically-modified mesenchymal stem cells with Extracel® to improve bone formation in mouse models for future orthopedic applications.

Dr. Gerlach’s lab has successfully developed bioreactors for high-density culturing of primary cells and stem cells. His lab’s goals are to develop cell system devices for the production of regenerative mediators by cells for drug therapy, systems for the production of cells for transplantation therapy, and bioreactors for extracorporeal temporary organ support. The Gerlach lab has recently differentiated mouse neural stem cells with HyStem® in a hollow fiber-based bioreactor to prepare neurons.

The Hutmacher lab’s primary focus is in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering, specifically for bone repair and regeneration. They have electrospun Heprasil® in conjunction with a poly(ε-caprolactone)-collagen blend to make a new material that is suitable for the in vitro cultivation of several primary cell types (MSC’s, osteoblasts, endothelial cells etc.). The Hutmacher lab has recently moved from the National University of Singapore to Queensland University of Technology.

The Cell Therapy Facility collaborates with facilities nationwide that bank cord blood (National Cord Blood Bank). They assist in the ethical banking and treatment of cord blood samples. Additionally, they serve as a stem cell incubator for the University of Utah. They apply their extensive knowledge of stem cell cultivation to develop new technology for companies. The CTF and Glycosan have a long standing collaboration for developing a method to cultivate non-adherent CD34+ stem cells derived from cord blood or bone marrow. It was initially funded with a generous grant (Virtual Incubator Projects) from the University of Utah’s Technology Commercialization Office.

The Kuhn lab is working to develop biomaterials suitable for in vivo drug and cell delivery with a focus on bone repair. They have used Heprasil® combined with ECM proteins to cultivate human embryonic stem cells. The Kuhn lab plans to pursue the controlled differentiation of these stem cells into specific lineages and then examine their use for tissue engineering applications.

The Prestwich lab and the Center for Therapeutic Biomaterials developed the Extracel® technology. They continue to find novel applications and develop cutting edge improvements to the hydrogel technology. They are currently focused on Extracel’s use for tumor xenografts, in vivo angiogenesis, and in vivo liver regeneration.

The Reid lab has long been interested in how the liver regenerates and how it can be recreated ex vivo. They have pioneered the culturing of adult hepatic stem and progenitor cells in defined conditions. They have used HyStem® hydrogels to culture hepatic progenitor cells for over 4 weeks without differentiation.

The Wen lab has used Extracel® hydrogels to grow human embryonic stem cells and neurons derived from human embryonic stem cells. They have also used Extracel® hydrogels in conjunction with several growth factors to recruit endogenous stem cells in in vitro and in vivo studies. The Wen lab focuses on cell/tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.