{"689904":{"#nid":"689904","#data":{"type":"event","title":"Bioengineering Seminar","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cem\u003ECo-hosted by Georgia Tech\u0027s Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience and the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory University.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bme.utoronto.ca\/faculty-research\/core-faculty\/michael-sefton\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMichael V. Sefton\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EUniversity Professor Emeritus\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EUniversity of Toronto\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gatech.zoom.us\/webinar\/register\/WN_IDZWosaKSNi0JvrmBCJLCg\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003ERegister Here\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E to participate virtually\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EABSTRACT\u003Cbr\u003E\u03b2-cell replacement (BCR, e.g., stem cell derived or mature islet transplantation), via the portal vein, is a promising regenerative, curative treatment that would restore the body\u2019s ability to regulate glucose without reliance on insulin injections, for the millions living with type 1 diabetes (T1D). We have shown that by using MAA-PEG (poly(methacrylic acid-co-polyethylene glycol), 20 mol% MAA) as a vascular regenerative injectable hydrogel, the subcutaneous space becomes an attractive, minimally invasive site for pancreatic islet transplantation. Without the vessels induced by MAA-PEG, the avascular nature of the transplant site and its unique immune response normally precludes islet survival. MAA-PEG also modulates the immune response, so that many islets (but not all) withstand the hypoxia of the first few days before vessels form. Building on work by Babensee, we are focused on using tolerogenic dendritic cells to induce tolerance, while also taking another look at the key features of a host response that results in the generation of vessels and nerves, without fibrosis.\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EI will also introduce the concept of Regenerative Healing, derived from conversations with indigenous knowledge holders in Canada. This will lead into a discussion of public engagement and a highlighting of selected global challenges.\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EFaculty host: \u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:alexander.vlahos@bme.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EAlexander Vlahos\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Ch5\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0022Subcutaneous Islet Transplantation with Methacrylic Acid (MAA) Biomaterials\u0022 \u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E- Michael Sefton, University of Toronto\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h5\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"\u0022Subcutaneous Islet Transplantation with Methacrylic Acid (MAA) Biomaterials\u0022 - Michael Sefton, University of Toronto"}],"uid":"27195","created_gmt":"2026-04-20 18:12:37","changed_gmt":"2026-10-15 13:11:37","author":"Colly Mitchell","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","field_event_time":{"event_time_start":"2026-11-03T11:00:00-05:00","event_time_end":"2026-11-03T12:00:00-05:00","event_time_end_last":"2026-11-03T12:00:00-05:00","gmt_time_start":"2026-11-03 16:00:00","gmt_time_end":"2026-11-03 17:00:00","gmt_time_end_last":"2026-11-03 17:00:00","rrule":null,"timezone":"America\/New_York"},"location":"Petit Biotechnology Building, 315 Ferst Drive NW, Suddath Seminar 1128, Atlanta, GA 30332","extras":[],"groups":[{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"},{"id":"1254","name":"Wallace H. Coulter Dept. of Biomedical Engineering"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"},{"id":"189814","name":"go-researchevents"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[{"id":"1795","name":"Seminar\/Lecture\/Colloquium"}],"invited_audience":[{"id":"194945","name":"Alumni"},{"id":"78761","name":"Faculty\/Staff"},{"id":"177814","name":"Postdoc"},{"id":"78771","name":"Public"},{"id":"174045","name":"Graduate students"},{"id":"78751","name":"Undergraduate students"}],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:connect@ibb.gatech.edu\u0022\u003Econnect@ibb.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}