Events Calendar

Seminars in Biomedical Engineering

Speaker: Stephanie Seidlits, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles

Talk Title: Probing Cell-Matrix Interactions in the CNS using Engineered Microenvironments

Series: Seminars in Engineering, Neuroscience & Health (ENH)

Abstract: Many pathological conditions in the central nervous system (CNS) are accompanied by dramatic changes to the biochemical and physical landscape of the extracellular matrix (ECM). However, ECM involvement in CNS function and dysfunction remains largely uncharacterized. Limited understanding of how cell-ECM interactions coordinate tissue function and a lack of research tools to study these phenomena have hindered development of effective clinical treatments. To address this need, my laboratory is developing biomaterial platforms that mimic the native, hyaluronic acid (HA)-rich microenvironment in the CNS and can be engineered to present independently varied, user-defined features. Through systematic manipulation of different features embodied by the biomaterial, we aim to identify processes responsible for pathological alterations in cell-ECM interactions and work towards developing new clinical strategies targeting these interactions. I will describe the application of these biomaterial platforms to study two distinct microenvironments: those of CNS tumors and neural stem cell niches. Specifically, HA-rich, 3D culture environments can be used to study the role of ECM in the characteristic resistance to treatment of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) -“ an extremely aggressive form of brain cancer. In addition, I will present how these culture environments may be tuned to drive lineage-specific differentiation of human neural stem cells.

Biography: Dr. Stephanie Seidlits joined the Department of Bioengineering at UCLA as an Assistant Professor in 2014. She obtained a B.S. (2004) in Bioengineering from Rice University and went on to receive both M.S. (2006) and Ph.D. (2010) degrees in Biomedical Engineering from the University Texas at Austin. Dr. Seidlits then trained as an NIH NRSA post-doctoral fellow in Chemical and Biological Engineering at Northwestern University under the mentorship of Dr. Lonnie Shea and Dr. Aileen Anderson. Dr. Seidlits' research seeks to develop multifaceted therapies for regeneration of the central nervous system that utilize biomaterial platforms to directly alter the pathological microenvironment.

Link to Professor Seidlits' CV: http://seidlitslab.seas.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Seidlits_CV_Jan2015_webpage.pdf

Host: Stanley Yamashiro, PhD

Location: Olin Hall of Engineering (OHE) - 122

Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

Contact: Mischalgrace Diasanta