Monday, February 8, at 12:10 p.m. in the CUE 419
Dr. Nathan Schiele, Assistant Professor, Dept. of Biological Engineering, University of Idaho
Identifying mechanical and biochemical factors in tendon development
Long-term research goals of the lab are to develop effective therapies to prevent tendon injury and improve tendon repair. Tendon is a strong, collagenous tissue that transfers force from muscle to bone. Due to high mechanical loads, overuse, and an aging population, tendon injuries are frequent and their incidence of injury is on the rise. Unfortunately, tendons have poor healing ability and the mechanical function of tendon does not return to pre-injury levels. There are few treatment options, which motivate the need for engineered tendon replacements using stem cells, regeneration strategies, and therapies. A significant challenge for these approaches is an incomplete understanding of the factors that influence normal tendon formation and tendon cell behavior. To address this, our research has focused on investigating engineered tissues that mimic key aspects of embryonic tendon development and identifying factors involved in this development. Current and future studies are aimed at identifying mechanical and biochemical factors that influence tendon cell mechanobiology. Successful outcomes of our research will inform strategies aimed at preventing tendon injury, engineering replacement tissues, and improving tendon regeneration.
