The Society for Biomaterials has selected Charlie Drinnan and Lonnissa Nguyen to receive the organization’s Student Travel Achievement Recognition (STAR!).
The Society for Biomaterials has selected Charlie Drinnan and Lonnissa Nguyen to receive the organization’s Student Travel Achievement Recognition (STAR!). The recognition is given to the top-ranked abstracts and papers that are submitted to the Society for Biomaterials Annual Meeting.
Both Drinnan and Nguyen will be recognized and present their papers during the Society For Biomaterials Annual Meeting and Exposition in Seattle, Washington on April 21.
Drinnan’s paper titled “Endothelial Tube Stabilization and SMC Differentiation by TGF-β1 Loaded PEGylated Fibrin Gels” focuses on stabilizing new capillary formation from adult stem cells within protein-based materials by loading and controlling the release of another protein from the material. Drinnan is currently working in Dr. Laura Suggs’ research lab focusing on the development of biologically active materials and their use and behavior in cardiovascular tissue engineering. He will graduate with his Ph.D. in May 2010.
Nguyen’s paper is titled “ECM Mimicking Hydrogel Scaffolds for Efficient Differentiation for Bone Marrow Stromal Cells (BMSCs) into Various Zones of Articular Cartilage.” Her research findings have led her to work on developing a single multilayer hydrogel scaffold with the capability of stimulating the formation of functional and structurally relevant cartilage-like tissue. If successful, this may be incorporated with current minimally invasive techniques such as microfracture surgery and serve as an alternative for cartilage repair. Nguyen conducts tissue engineering research under the direction of Dr. Krishnendu Roy. She anticipates graduating with her Ph.D. in August 2010.
