Matson and Shikanov Receive IBNAM-Baxter Early Career Awards

The Institute for Bionanotechnology
in Medicine (IBNAM) at Northwestern University announces the 2009 IBNAM-Baxter Career Development Award recipients, John B. Matson and Ariella Shikanov. This award supports young researchers in the field of bioengineering who work on interdisciplinary research dedicated to accelerating medical discovery and breeding scientific collaboration in clinical medicine, engineering, physical sciences, and life sciences.

Early Career Award recipients must begin their projects within two years of earning their doctoral degrees and one or more Northwestern faculty members from the Feinberg School of Medicine, McCormick School of Engineering, or Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences must sponsor the young researchers.

Matson completed his PhD in organic and polymer chemistry at the California Institute of Technology in September 2009 where his mentor is Robert H. Grubbs, professor of chemistry and Nobel laureate. Matson’s Northwestern postdoctoral appointment will be in the Weinberg Department of Chemistry where he will join the group of Samuel I. Stupp, board of trustees professor of materials science and engineering (McCormick), chemistry, and medicine (Feinberg).

"...the collaborative and interdisciplinary nature of IBNAM coupled with the industrial strength of Baxter offers a strong foundation for my research..."

Shikanov finished her PhD in medicinal chemistry and pharmaceutics at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem in June 2008, where her adviser was Abraham J. Domb, professor of medicine. Shikanov, currently holds a postdoctoral position at Northwestern working with Lonnie D. Shea, professor of chemical and biological engineering at McCormick. Shikanov’s Early Career Award project involves a collaboration sponsored by Shea and Teresa K. Woodruff, professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Feinberg and of biochemistry, molecular biology and cell biology at Weinberg. Woodruff is also chief of fertility preservation and director of the Institute for Women’s Health Research

John Matson, IBNAM-Baxter Early Career Development Award recipient, is a post-doctoral researcher in the Stupp Group. Matson will work on new techniques for developing biologically active and biologically degradable nanosacs, including peptide amphiphiles and naturally-occurring polysaccharides.

In her research, Shikanov will investigate fertility preservation for female cancer survivors suffering from premature ovarian failure caused by chemotherapeutic treatments. She will investigate a novel approach to maximize the survival of transplanted ovarian tissue and facilitate revascularization of the tissue graft. This technology has the potential to restore normal ovarian function for years, and preserving fertility for the patient.

"With this award, I will perform research involving a close collaboration between the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering and the Oncofertility Consortium," says Shikanov.

Matson’s project will investigate how to improve the way drugs, proteins and signaling factors are delivered to their desired targets in the body and to reduce undesirable drug reactions with the wrong targets. His work focuses on new techniques for developing biologically active and biologically degradable nanosacs from simple components, including peptide amphiphiles and naturally-occurring polysaccharides. This research may provide valuable information for the future use of nanomaterials for targeted delivery of vital pharmaceuticals and biomolecules to organs of the body.

“The combination of natural and synthetic hydrogels and drug delivery technology will lead to improvements in ovarian tissue transplantation which maximizes follicle survival after engraftment.Furthermore, this combination of biomaterials and growth factors will allow the transplantation of individual follicles rather than intact ovarian tissue. This will result in a long-term functioning organ while reducing the risk of re-introducing cancerous cells. I am grateful for this wonderful opportunity.”

"With this award, I will perform research involving a close collaboration between the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering and the Oncofertility Consortium"

“The IBNAM-Baxter Early Career Award will provide a valuable source of knowledge, contacts and funding for my investigation into the use of nanomaterials as delivery vehicles for drugs, signals, and proteins throughout the body,” says Matson. “Additionally, the collaborative and interdisciplinary nature of IBNAM coupled with the industrial strength of Baxter offers a strong foundation for my research to contribute towards the long-term goal of establishing nanobiotechnology as a vital component in the future of healthcare.”

Ariella Shikanov is a post-doctoral researcher in the Shea Group and recipient of the IBNAM-Baxter Early Career Award. Shikanov will investigate a combination of natural and synthetic hydrogels and drug delivery technology to maximize ovarian tissue transplantation.

ABOUT THE AWARD

The IBNAM-Baxter Early Career Development Award in Bioengineering provides up to two years of funding for postdoctoral fellows working in the field of bioengineering. The partnership between IBNAM and Baxter Healthcare Corporation began in 2002, with the first grants for the program awarded the following year. Baxter funds the programs, which are administrated by IBNAM.