Principles and Applications of Regenerative Rehabilitation in Musculoskeletal Disease and Injury

Nick Willett, Ph. D.
Department of Orthopedics
School of Medicine
Emory University

Abstract
The field of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine has long integrated fundamental principles of stem cell biology, biomaterials and mechanical engineering to better design new tissues. As regenerative technologies become more prevalent in the clinic, however, it is becoming increasingly apparent that the rehabilitation regimen and management of the intervention after the delivery/implantation is just as critical to the success of the implant as the fundamental technology itself. The research of the Willett lab focuses on a systems integration approach to musculoskeletal disease and regenerative engineering by applying novel imaging and engineering techniques to clinical motivated challenges. The lab’s current work has three main thrusts: (i) cell and biologic therapies for the healing of large bone and muscle defects, (ii) multi-scale mechanical regulation of bone regeneration, and (iii) intra-articular therapeutic delivery for post-traumatic osteoarthritis. This seminar will discuss fundamental principles to Regenerative Rehabilitation and show how we utilize these rehabilitation principles to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of regenerative and tissue engineering therapies.

About the Speaker
Nick Willett is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Orthopaedics at Emory University and runs a research lab with a focus on engineering strategies for musculoskeletal regeneration and rehabilitation. Nick has a secondary appointment in the joint Biomedical Engineering Department between Emory University and Georgia Institute of Technology as well as an appointment in the Research Division at the Atlanta VA Medical Center. Nick performed his postdoctoral training at the Georgia Institute of Technology working with Prof. Robert Guldberg in Mechanical Engineering. He received his Ph.D. (2010) in Biomedical Engineering from the joint program between Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University. Prior to his graduate work he received his B.S. (2005) in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Nick has been an active member of TERMIS since 2011 and is a member of the TERMIS thematic group on Regenerative Rehabilitation. He is the Emory Representative for the International Consortium on Regenerative Rehabilitation and was on the scientific organizing committee for the 2016 Alliance for Regenerative Rehabilitation Research and Training, Regenerative Rehabilitation Symposium. He has received numerous awards and honors including the Gandy Diaz Teaching Fellowship from Georgia Tech, the Young Investigator Award from the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research, and the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award Postdoctoral Fellowship from the NIH. Nick has published 24 peer reviewed manuscripts—including multiple in Tissue Engineering—and 4 book chapters. He has served as a reviewer for grant proposals for the Arthritis Foundation and applications for the Petit Scholars program at Georgia Tech. He currently reviews for numerous journals including Tissue Engineering, Biomaterials, and Acta Biomaterialia, among numerous others. The research of the Willett lab focuses on a systems integration approach to musculoskeletal disease and regenerative engineering by applying novel imaging and engineering techniques to clinical motivated challenges. The lab’s current work has three main thrusts: (i) cell and biologic therapies for the healing of large bone and muscle defects, (ii) multi-scale mechanical regulation of bone regeneration, and (iii) intra-articular therapeutic delivery for post-traumatic osteoarthritis. The Willett lab sits at the interface between the engineering and clinical disciplines and is composed of engineering students, medical students, residents, and fellows.

Physiology Brownbag Seminars
The Physiology Group in the School of Biological Sciences hosts Brownbag Lunchtime Seminars twice a month on Wednesdays at noon in room 1253 of the Applied Physiology Building located at 555 14th Street NW, Atlanta, GA 30318. You are welcome to bring a lunch and join us as we ruminate with us on topics in Physiology! A full listing of seminars can be found at http://pwp.gatech.edu/bmmc/physiology-brownbag-seminars-fall-2018/.

Host: Young C. Jang, Ph.D.

Event Details

Date: 
Wednesday, November 14, 2018 - 12pm

Location:
Room 1253, 555 14th Street NW

For More Information Contact

Young C. Jang, Ph. D.