{"660652":{"#nid":"660652","#data":{"type":"event","title":"BioE PhD Defense Presentation- Michael Hunckler","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAdvisor: \u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EAndr\u0026eacute;s Garc\u0026iacute;a, PhD (Georgia Institute of Technology)\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECommittee Members:\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EEdward Botchwey, PhD (Georgia Institute of Technology)\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EKrishnendu Roy, PhD (Georgia Institute of Technology)\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EAnkur Singh, PhD (Georgia Institute of Technology)\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003ECristina Nostro, PhD (University of Toronto)\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESynthetic Hydrogels for the Maturation and Engraftment of Stem Cell-Derived Beta Cells\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EStem cell-derived \u0026beta;-cells are positioned to be a transformative cure for type 1 diabetes (T1D) by replacing the insulin-producing \u0026beta;-cells destroyed by the autoimmune system. Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) can differentiate into insulin-producing cells that phenotypically and functionally resemble immature \u0026beta;-cells. While promising, fully functional \u003Cem\u003Ein vitro\u003C\/em\u003E differentiation of these hiPSCs into mature \u0026beta;-cells remains elusive. Current \u003Cem\u003Ein vitro \u003C\/em\u003Edifferentiation protocols of hiPSCs cannot provide the precise microenvironmental cues necessary for complete maturation. Consequently, \u003Cem\u003Ein vivo \u003C\/em\u003Eimplantation is often used to direct end-stage maturation of stem cells, resulting in an uncontrolled environment to direct \u0026beta;-cell maturation. Furthermore, there are few suitable delivery vehicles for transplantation to clinically-translatable extrahepatic sites. These challenges highlight the need for strategies that enhance the \u003Cem\u003Ein vitro\u003C\/em\u003E maturation of the hiPSC-derived \u0026beta;-cells and improve their engraftment and function in a clinically-translatable transplant site. The objective of this project is to engineer advanced synthetic hydrogels to direct \u003Cem\u003Ein vitro\u003C\/em\u003E maturation of hiPSC-derived \u0026beta;-cells and enhance engraftment in an extrahepatic murine site. In Aim 1, I demonstrate that engineered synthetic hydrogels support the viability and differentiation of encapsulated hiPSCs to a mature \u0026beta;-cell stage. In Aim 2, I demonstrate that an engineered vasculogenic synthetic hydrogel supports the engraftment of pancreatic progenitors and immature \u0026beta;-cells into the mouse fat pad. In Aim 3, I develop a novel hydrolytic hydrogel that demonstrates tunable \u003Cem\u003Ein vivo \u003C\/em\u003Edegradation kinetics to promote enhanced stem cell engraftment and vascularization. This project will provide a significant foundation for translation of hiPSC-derived \u0026beta;-cells into more clinically-relevant sites and establish innovative materials that promote survival, engraftment, and function of hiPSC-derived \u0026beta;-cells.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","summary":null,"format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EBioE PhD Defense Presentation- \u0026quot;Synthetic Hydrogels for the Maturation and Engraftment of Stem Cell-Derived Beta Cells\u0026quot; - Michael Hunckler\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"\u0022Synthetic Hydrogels for the Maturation and Engraftment of Stem Cell-Derived Beta Cells\u0022"}],"uid":"27917","created_gmt":"2022-08-29 18:20:13","changed_gmt":"2022-08-29 18:20:13","author":"Laura Paige","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","field_event_time":{"event_time_start":"2022-09-06T14:00:00-04:00","event_time_end":"2022-09-06T16:00:00-04:00","event_time_end_last":"2022-09-06T16:00:00-04:00","gmt_time_start":"2022-09-06 18:00:00","gmt_time_end":"2022-09-06 20:00:00","gmt_time_end_last":"2022-09-06 20:00:00","rrule":null,"timezone":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"groups":[{"id":"65448","name":"Bioengineering Graduate Program"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"172056","name":"go-BioE"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[{"id":"10377","name":"Career\/Professional development"}],"invited_audience":[{"id":"78761","name":"Faculty\/Staff"},{"id":"78771","name":"Public"},{"id":"78751","name":"Undergraduate students"}],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}