Karina Nakayama, Ph.D.*

Instructor
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery
Stanford University

Wednesday, February 6, 2019
10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Georgia Tech Whitaker Bldg., McIntire Room 3115

Videoconference
Emory: HSRB E160 / Georgia Tech: TEP208
https://bluejeans.com/809850842

“The Role of ECM Spatial Patterning in Bioengineering Musculoskeletal and Cardiovascular Tissues”

ABSTRACT

Karina Nakayama is in the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Stanford University in the research laboratory of Dr. Ngan Huang. Dr. Nakayama received her Ph.D in Biomedical Engineering from the University of California, Davis. Her research is aimed at vascular regeneration in both cardiovascular and musculoskeletal tissues through the manipulation of biological, chemical, spatial, and mechanical properties of the extracellular matrix (ECM) to direct cellular behavior. In this talk, Dr. Nakayama will discuss the role of nanoscale spatial patterning of extracellular matrix proteins in modulating endothelial and myogenic cell phenotype and function to improve angiogenesis, resist atherogenesis, and promote muscle regeneration and revascularization. In one example, by complexing pathological flow profiles with nanotopographical cues, Dr. Nakayama demonstrates that nanoscale ECMs can direct endothelial cell morphology, motility, and resistance to inflammation/monocyte adhesion even in the presence of complex disturbed shear stress. In another example, to mimic the physiological composition and structure of native muscle, Dr. Nakayama employs engineered skeletal muscle using nanofibrillar aligned scaffolds to enhance muscle regeneration, vascular perfusion, and cell survival in a traumatic muscle injury model. These examples will be discussed in the context of translational vascular grafting and muscular tissue engineering to ultimately serve as functional replacements for tissues damaged by trauma and disease.

BIOGRAPHY

Karina H. Nakayama is an Instructor in the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery and the Cardiovascular Research Institute at Stanford University. Dr. Nakayama received her Ph.D in Biomedical Engineering from the University of California, Davis and performed her postdoctoral work in the research laboratory of Dr. Ngan Huang at Stanford University. Her research is currently supported by a K99 award through the NIH/NHLBI.

Host: Hanjoong Jo