Sant Lab

Developing Biomimetic Microenvironments for Regenerative Therapies

 

Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, PA

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Welcome to Sant Laboratory

 

The goal of our laboratory is to develop an independent and multidisciplinary research program at the interface of biomaterials, controlled drug delivery, and tissue engineering. We use interdisciplinary approach to build biomimetic microenvironments in vitro based on our expertise in the Pharmaceutical Sciences, Materials Sciences, Cell Biology and Micro/nanotechnologies.  Specifically, we aim to develop tissue-engineered tumor models that recreate the three-dimensional structure, cell-cell/cell-matrix interaction, stromal environments, and signalling cues present in vivo. These three-dimensional models will be used for understanding the pathophysiology of the disease as well as for preclinical evaluation of drug safety and efficacy.

 

 

 

Recent News


We are proud to announce that Shilpaa Mukundan, a first year PhD student in our lab, has received the prestigious Sigma Xi Grant in Aid of Research (GIAR) award of $ 1,000 for her proposal on "Polymeric nanocomposite scaffolds for skeletal muscle tissue engineering". Sigma Xi is an international, multidisciplinary research society whose programs and activities promote the health of the scientific enterprise and honor scientific achievement. The Sigma Xi Grant-in-Aid of Research program has a highly competitive application process and only approximately 20% of applicants receive this award. Congrats Shilpaa for this great achievement!!!

 

Congratulations to Sumit Goenka for acceptance of a review entitled "Graphene-based nanomaterials for drug delivery and tissue engineering" in Journal of Controlled Release (impact factor 7.63)! Sumit was a Visiting Research Scholar in the lab (Nov'12-Feb'13).

 

Congratulations to Ms. Shilpaa Mukundan for admissions to our graduate program!!! (Aug 2013)

 

Welcome Dr. Maria Jaramillo! Dr. Jaramillo just finished her PhD Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh and joins us as a postdoctoral researcher.

 

We are excited to welcome first undergraduate members of our lab, Ms. Rebecca Hartley and Ms. Yuka Higuchi!

 

Ms. Shilpaa Mukundan presented first poster entitled "Microfabricated Platform for Generation of Microtissues of Controlled Sizes" from our lab at McGowan Retreat 2013.

 

Dr. Shilpa Sant has been named as "Rising Star/Fellow" for 2013 by the Cellular & Molecular Bioengineering (CMBE)-Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES). Dr. Sant was invited to present an oral talk on her research "In vitro manipulation of BMP4 gradient in early odontogenesis" in Session I: Tissue morphogenesis and repair. The award was presented at the Cellular and Molecular Bioengineering Conference in Hawaii during 2-5 Jan 2013. Cellular and Molecular Bioengineering is a special interest group of Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES) and consists of BMES member scientists, clinicians and engineers interested in exploring the mechansims by which physical regulation influences life.

 

Dr. Shilpa Sant to present her research at BIND-12, IISc Banglore, India, December 9-11.

 

Dr. Sant to present her recent research at BMES Annual meeting 2012 in Atlanta.

 

We welcome our first lab member, Shilpaa Mukundan, who is joining our lab from Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston and SRM University, India.

 

Dr. Shilpa Sant appointed at McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine.

 

Dr. Shilpa Sant has been elected as a full member of the Scientific Research Society, Sigma Xi.