Harnessing Synthetic Biology Tools to Engineer Smart Cells and Materials for Musculoskeletal Repair

Wednesday, February 28, 2024

2:30 PM-4:00 PM

BIOMED Seminar

Title:
Harnessing Synthetic Biology Tools to Engineer Smart Cells and Materials for Musculoskeletal Repair

Speaker:
Tomas Gonzalez-Fernandez, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department of Bioengineering
P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science
Lehigh University

Details:
Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) offer significant potential for treating a wide range of human musculoskeletal disorders, encompassing conditions such as cartilage defects, osteoarthritis, non-healing bone fractures, and tendon and muscle injuries. This is attributed to MSC multipotency, immunomodulatory properties, and ease of extraction and in vitro expansion. However, despite over 400 ongoing clinical trials involving MSCs listed on ClinicalTrials.gov, the FDA has yet to approve any MSC therapy. To address these challenges, CRISPR-based cell engineering approaches hold promise in producing next-generation stem cells with enhanced functionality, specificity, and responsiveness. However, CRISPR broader application in stem cell biomanufacturing is constrained by the absence of suitable delivery vectors and concerns about off-target effects. Given these challenges, the main goal of the Gonzalez-Fernandez lab is to engineer MSCs to increase their therapeutic efficacy for musculoskeletal applications through novel synthetic biology tools.

This seminar will be centered on Dr. Gonzalez-Fernandez's scientific pursuits toward (1) developing safer and more effective strategies for stem cell engineering using different CRISPR systems to produce therapeutically enhanced MSCs and (2) integrating these strategies into 3D printable materials to achieve fine spatio-temporal control over their delivery.

Biosketch:
Tomas Gonzalez-Fernandez, PhD, is an Assistant Professor at Lehigh University's Department of Bioengineering in the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science. He earned his PhD in Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering from Trinity College Dublin (Ireland) in 2018, focusing on non-viral gene therapy and 3D bioprinting for tissue fabrication. After completing his PhD, Dr. Gonzalez-Fernandez joined the Leach Lab at UC Davis, researching biomaterial functionalization for bone repair and he received an American Heart Association Postdoctoral Fellowship.

During his career, Dr. Gonzalez-Fernandez has been honored with prestigious awards and fellowships, such as the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy (ASGCT) Career Development Award and the Rising Star in Engineering and Health by the University of Columbia. He also promotes DEI in science and engineering through his position at different professional societies, such as BMES and TERMIS and the Pride Center at Lehigh University.

Contact Information

Carolyn Riley
cr63@drexel.edu