"Crafting Regeneration: the Art of Controlling Bacteria and Repurposing the Matrix"

ABSTRACT:

This talk explores the combination of functional tissue restoration with translational science, between microbiome-mediated regenerative repair and repurposing of extracellular matrices for tissue replacement. Although bacteria are commonly perceived as infection-causing pathogens, we know that commensal bacteria play an essential role in preserving human health. My group is among the first to study how we can leverage the local microbiome to promote scarless healing in a child's airway. We propose the novel concept of engineering the immune response to injury by modulating the airway microbiome and we are excited to share our most recent findings in humans and in animal model. At the same time, we have been focusing on providing an engineered alternative to autologous cartilage grafts for children and infants in need of laryngotracheal reconstruction. Pressed by the stringent requirements of translation in children, we have re-imagined the creation of scaffolds based on decellularized extracellular matrix, repurposing decellularized meniscal fibrocartilage to create a hyaline cartilage substitute. I will be sharing the success of this approach in medium and large animal models of the pediatric airway as well as our findings in using cartilage-resident progenitor cells as an exciting, minimally invasive cell source for repair. The dance between precision and translation in repairing the damaged pediatric airway represents a unique source of inspiration and I will discuss how the canvas we have painted provides new perspectives for general problems of regeneration.

BIOGRAPHY:

Riccardo Gottardi, PhD, is an Assistant Professor at the University of Pennsylvania and the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. He founded the Bioengineering and Biomaterials Laboratory where he leads an NIH funded program focused on engineering solutions for otolaryngology (ENT) disorders. He has published over 60 manuscripts and filed for 10 patents, and has been recognized with several awards from professional societies, including most recently the CMBE Rising Star Award. He serves on the council of TERMIS-AM and in the DEI committee of the Society for Biomaterials.