BRP Investigators


	Samuel I. Stupp, Principal Investigator Board of Trustees Professor of Materials Science, Chemistry, and Medicine Director of the Institute for BioNanotechnology in Medicine Northwestern University
Stupp is an expert in self-assembling and nanostructured materials. One of the main targets of his research is the development of biomaterials that promote regeneration and healing of human tissues. Other targets include electronic, photonic, and magnetic materials. Stupp recently discovered a family of biomaterials composed of nanofiber networks that can be used to design bioactive extracellular matrices to regenerate human tissues. The targets of interest include spinal cord, cartilage, bone, heart, and retinal tissue.

Annelise E. Barron, Co-investigator
Adjunct Professor, Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering
McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science
Northwestern University

Barron's research focuses on designing, creating and applying novel families of synthetic and biological polymers for applications in medicine and biotechnology. Her integrated approach to creating new and useful biomimetics and bioconjugates involves molecular design, chemical and/or biological synthesis, physical characterization, and rigorous in vitro and in vivo testing of the new oligomers or polymers for their intended medical or biotechnological use. The work intersects the domains of synthetic bioorganic chemistry, biophysics, protein mimicry or modification, polymer, biopolymer and hydrogel engineering, and finally the invention of new microscale bioseparations technologies.

Dixon Blake Kaufman, Co-investigator
Fowler McCormick Professor of Surgery
Department of Surgery
Feinberg School of Medicine
Northwestern University

Kaufman’s research focuses on human islet transplantation for treatment of diabetes. He investigates the immunobiology of islet transplantation and the development of non-invasive imaging modalities of the transplanted islet and bioactive tissue engineering for islet implantation. His clinical work focuses on kidney, pancreas and islet transplantation. He currently directs the pancreas and islet transplantation programs of Northwestern Memorial Hospital and serves on the steering committees of the Islet Cell Resources and Clinical Islet Transplant consortia as site principal investigator.

John Kessler, Co-investigator
Benjamin Boshes Professor
Department of Neurology
Feinberg School of Medicine
Northwestern University

Kessler’s research focuses on the biology of embryonic stem cells and neural stem cells. His lab explores how stem cells can be given the right molecular signals to transform them into neural stem cells. The goal of this research is to devise techniques to regenerate the spinal cord after injury and brain cells after stroke. In the spinal cord regeneration project, he works with the Stupp group to combine nanotechnology with stem cell biology. Kessler is investigating nanofibers that promote healing and could potentially be used to trigger stem cells to become spinal neurons or specific organ cells.

William L. Lowe, Jr., Co-investigator
Professor, Department of Medicine
Feinberg School of Medicine
Northwestern University

Lowe's research focuses on various aspects of growth factors and metabolism. He has a longstanding interest in the insulin-like growth factors and has recently investigated the role of the insulin-like growth factors in pancreatic islet cell biology, especially in the context of islet cell transplantation. Other research interests include the generation of insulin-secreting cells from embryonic stem cells and the genetics of complex diseases. Research topics under current investigation include the regulation of islet cell growth and apoptosis, embryonic stem cells and pancreatic islets, islet cell transplantation, and molecular genetics of type 2 and gestational diabetes, obesity, and birth weight.

Phillip B. Messersmith, Co-investigator
Professor, Departments of Biomedical Engineering
and Materials Science and Engineering
McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science
Northwestern University

Messersmith's research focuses on new biomaterials and tissue engineering approaches for the repair, replacement or augmentation of human tissue. He directs one of the leading research groups seeking to understand the mechanism of mussel adhesive proteins and to exploit this information to design new adhesive synthetic polymers for use in wet environments. Messersmith is developing strategies and innovative techniques by exploring the following areas: biomimetic materials, adhesive biomaterials, antifouling surfaces, and nanotechnology.

Lonnie David Shea, Co-investigator
Associate Professor, Departments of Biomedical Engineering
and Chemical and Biological Engineering
McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science
Northwestern University

Shea's research focuses primarily on combining biomaterials and drug delivery to develop systems that can promote and direct cellular processes, which can be employed to stimulate new tissue formation or tissue regeneration. Biomaterials are processed into three-dimensional structures that provide a support for cell growth and an architecture that physically organizes the cells. These biomaterials also serve as vehicles for the delivery of proteins or genes, which can promote the cellular processes that lead to new tissue formation. Shea is currently applying these systems toward neural tissue engineering (spinal cord regeneration), islet transplantation for diabetes, and ovarian follicle maturation to preserve fertility for women with cancer.