TISSUE ENGINEERING AND CLINICAL TRANSLATION

Tissue engineering technology may involve biomatrices alone, wherein the body’s natural ability to regenerate is used to orient and direct new tissue growth, or it may require the use of matrices with cells.

Research has expanded to include stem cells as a promising source for both the quality and the quantity of tissue needed to engineer complete organs. Recent discoveries of potential sources of undifferentiated progenitor cells in various tissues, as well as techniques for expanding them in the laboratory, further extend the applications for tissue engineering.


Safety and efficacy in the Institute’s programs in basic cell, tissue and organ research are supported by excellent clinical translation capabilities. Several preclinical and FDA clinical studies have been successfully conducted. The Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine is working on more than 20 different tissue types for the restoration or replacement of diseased tissues or organs. Tissues and organs grown at the Institute include:

Heart Liver Bone Blood vessels Trachea Kidney Bladder Salivary gland Breast Ovaries Skeletal muscle

Pancreas Lung Cartilage Nerves Esophagus Ureter Urethra Teeth Genitalia Testes Smooth muscle

The Tissue Engineering and Clinical Translation team, under the direction of James J. Yoo, M.D., Ph.D., has already achieved success with several engineered tissues that have reached patients.

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