Pause-conférence | Dr Anu David (CHU Sainte Justine)

Biomimetic materials to restore endocrine function and disease modeling using induced pluripotent stem cells

Le Dr Anu David, chercheur associé CHU Sainte-Justine et nouveau membre du CERMO-FC, nous présentera ses travaux de recherche le Jeudi 28 janvier 2021 à 12h15.

Biomimetic materials to restore endocrine function and disease modeling using induced pluripotent stem cells

Dr Anu David, research associate at CHU Sainte-Justine Hospital, and new member of CERMO-FC, will present us his research on Thursday january 28, 2021 at 12:15.

Abstract: A wide range of health problems can be addressed successfully by combining expertise in biochemistry, cell biology, molecular biology, biomaterials, tissue engineering, and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). (i) Advanced cancer treatments have impaired patients’ reproductive function causing premature ovarian insufficiency. In cases with blood borne cancers, such as leukemia, ovarian tissue may harbor cancer cells and present the risk of transferring cancer following transplantation. We developed a system that will provide ovarian endocrine support post cancer recovery and survival, using immunoisolators. Poly(ethylene glycol)-Vinyl Sulfone and TheraCyte were used to minimize the risk of reintroducing cancer cells harbored in the ovarian tissue, protect the implant from the host immune system as well as restore ovarian endocrine function in ovariectomized animals. (ii) Defects in the esophageal development result in esophageal atresia, a common anomaly of the upper gastrointestinal tract necessitating neonatal surgery with severe long-term complications. Using iPSCs from healthy and esophageal atresia patients, we are investigating the poorly understood cellular and molecular mechanisms that regulate successful tracheaesophageal separation with the goal of engineering an artificial esophagus.

Biography: After earning his B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in Chemistry and Biochemistry from the University of Mumbai, India, Dr. Anu David received his Ph.D. in Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences from Université Catholique de Louvain, Belgium, in 2012. His Ph.D. research focused on follicular development following transplantation of cryopreserved human ovarian tissue. He had the opportunity to apply his expertise of female reproductive biology in tissue engineering as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Biomedical Engineering Department, University of Michigan, USA. He mainly focused on developing natural and synthetic hydrogels for immunoisolation of allogeneic ovarian tissue for future transplantations. Currently, Dr. David is a Research Associate-4 at CHU Sainte-Justine Hospital, Montreal, Canada, where he is leading a project as co-supervisor using induced pluripotent stem cells and tissue engineering approaches to treat esophageal atresia and associated diseases.

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