The Team
Riccardo Gottardi, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pulmonary Medicine
Department of Bioengineering
University of Pennsylvania
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Stephanie Fung, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow
Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology and Division of Ophthalmology
"I am leveraging my experience in biomaterial design and synthesis to fabricate novel hydrogel tissue expanders that promote symmetrical facial development in children born with congenital microphthalmia. My research interests also include exploring the role of inflammation on the vascularization and integration of implanted biomaterials for tissue regeneration. When I’m not in lab, I enjoy cooking, visiting new cities and national parks, and expanding my growing rare succulent collection."
Narintadeach (Top) Charoensombut, PhD
"I am highly motivated and passionate about developing functional bioengineered materials and therapeutic treatments for unmet clinical needs. My research focuses on bio-inspired materials for tissue/organ reconstruction to overcome the limitations of organ scarcity and improve the morbidity and mortality of patients. Moreover, I am interested in transferring my research into startup/industry which will make our solution available in the market to improve patients’ quality of life. Outside of the lab, I enjoy hanging with my dog, hiking, camping, scuba diving, paragliding, swimming, running, playing board games, and hanging out with my friends."
Hagar
Kenawy, PhD
CiPD NIDCR R90 Postdoctoral Fellow
Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology
School of Dental Medicine
University of Pennsylvania
"My research focuses on leveraging decellularized cartilage scaffolds as a template for bone engineering. I am also working on a new exciting project harnessing the microbiome as a tool to drive tissue repair, pioneering microbiome-mediate regnerative engineering."
"For my research, I focus on using micro-physiological systems to 1) develop engineered osteochondral constructs for in vivo repair and 2) model multi-tissue musculoskeletal diseases in vitro to further 3R (Replace, Reduce, Refine animal research) approaches in our lab. In my free time, I enjoy baking, drawing, and hanging with my pets!"
Matthew Aronson
PhD Student, Ashton Fellow, NSF Fellow
Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania
"My research focuses on 1) understanding the role of the microbiome in driving subglottic stenosis in pediatric patients and 2) engineering novel controlled delivery systems to locally administer antimicrobial peptides as a preventative therapy. Outside of lab, I spend most of my free time with my dog, exploring historic Philadelphia, and the amazing Philly food scene with my fiancée and with friends."
Joseph Lance Casila
PhD Student, Fontaine Fellow, NSF Fellow
Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania
"In this first part of my PhD, I am probing pathways related to environmental factors that influence stem cell differentiation, specifically towards chondrogenesis for cartilage engineering. Outside of lab, I am a very patient Philadelphian biker who likes to bike to different scenic places around the city. Other things I like include tennis, credit card rewards, and karaoke."
Ryan Friedman
PhD Student, NSF Fellow
Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania
"My research focuses on 1) understanding the cross talk between the immune system, extracellular matrix proteins and fibroblasts in vocal fold fibrosis and 2) engineering next-generation drug delivery systems to treat this disorder. Outside of lab, I spend most of my free time being a disappointed Philadelphia sports fan, playing pick-up basketball, or playing guitar!"
Hannah Bonelli
PhD Student, Fontaine Fellow, T32 Fellow
Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania
"My research focuses on 1) understanding the chondrogenic pro-regenerative capacity of ECM scaffolds in the presence of mesenchymal stem cells and 2) engineering tissue-based strategies to repair degenerated articular cartilage in the temporomandibular joint. Outside of lab, I like to spend time with my family, cook, crochet, visit new breweries, and relax at the beach.”
Jeffrey Chen
Isabella Lopez
PhD Student, National GEM Consortium Associate Fellow
Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania
"My research combines biomaterial approaches and multi-omics analysis to understand how modulation of the airway microbiome can impact immunological and mechano-sensitive pathways involved in the progression of subglottic stenosis. I am particularly interested in how male vs. female sex differences may play a role in this fibrotic disease. Outside of the lab, I love to draw and paint for fun, go hiking/walking nature trails, reading science fiction novels and super hero comic books, and traveling/ exploring Philadelphia and the Northeast.”
Kenji Yeoh
Rayna Schoenberger
"My research centers around airway cartilage regeneration using decellularized meniscus as a scaffold, both in terms of uncovering the mechanisms by which it occurs and investigating how to modify it to further increase regeneration. Outside of lab, I enjoy playing Dungeons and Dragons, bouldering, and volunteering at LARP camp.”
Eiman Abu Bandora, MD
Visiting Otolaryngology Resident from Tel-Aviv Medical Center
"My research focuses on 1) leveraging decellularized cartilage scaffolds for use during tympanoplasty in an in vivo animal model and 2) ex vivo models for vocal cord injections. Outside of lab, I enjoy painting, cooking and exploring new places.”
Dana Ragbirsingh, MS
Research Technician
Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology email
"My research is aimed at streamlining biomaterial tissue scaffolds to help heal chronic tympanic membrane perforations in the pediatric patient population. In my free time I enjoy attending concerts, critiquing films, and visiting national landmarks with friends.”
Yixiao Zhao
"My research concentrates on engineering osteogenic scaffold for pediatric cranial reconstruction. Outside of lab, I enjoy traveling, reading historical books and playing table tennis.”
The Amazing Surgeons
Ian N. Jacobs, MD
Medical Director, Center for Pediatric Airway Disorders
Attending Surgeon
Division Otolaryngology, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
John A. Germiller, MD, PhD
Director of Clinical Research, Division of Otolaryngology
Attending Surgeon
Division Otolaryngology, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Ryan C. Borek, MD
Attending Physician
Division Otolaryngology, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
J. Todd Lawrence, MD, PhD
Attending Surgeon
Division of Orthopaedics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
The Best Collaborators
Jason A. Burdick, Ph.D.
Bowman Endowed Professor
Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
University of Colorado
Veronique Lefebvre, Ph.D.
Translational Research Program
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Robert L. Mauck, PhD
Mary Black Ralston Professor
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
Director of the McKay Orthopaedic Research Laboratory
University of Pennsylvania
Hyun-Duck Nah-Cederquist, DMD, MSD, PhD
Director of Craniofacial Orthodontics
Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Joseph A. Napoli, MD, DDS
Attending Physician
Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Maurizio Pacifici, Ph.D.
Director of Research
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Manuela Teresa Raimondi, PhD
Full Professor
Mechanobiology Lab, Department of Chemistry, Materials, And Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta”
Politecnico di Milano
Thomas P. Schaer, VMD
Veterinary Surgeon
Director at Penn Vet’s Institute for Medical Translation
University of Pennsylvania
Giovanni Vozzi, PhD
Full Professor
Biofabrication Group at Research Center “E. Piaggio”, Department of Information Engineering, School of Engineering
Universita’ degli Studi di Pisa
Annemarie Lang, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
University of Pennsylvania
Karen B. Zur, MD
Division Chief of Otolaryngology, Director of the Pediatric Voice Program
Attending Physician
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
William R. Katowitz, MD
Fellowship Director
Attending Surgeon
Division of Ophthalmology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
James A. Katowitz, MD
Director of Oculoplastic and Orbital Surgery
Attending Surgeon
Division of Ophthalmology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Four-legged support
Chutney (Sloas-Smith)
Garfunkel (Connelly-Smith)
Lab mascotte
Lucy (Aronson)
Hugo (Ragbirsingh)
Taro Charoensombut
Alumni
Irene Chiesa
Currently Postdoc at Universita` di Pisa, Biofabrication Group, Centro Piaggio, @BioFabUnipi
Beatrice Belgio
PhD student at Politecnico di Milano, Laboratory of Biological Structure Mechanics, @LaBS_PoliMI
Annamarie Collins
Former Senior at J.R. Masterman High School, Philadelphia, PA
Currently Undergrad at Northwestern University
Rebecca Haley
PhD Student, NSF Fellow, University of Pennsylvania, Mitchell Lab
Rossana Schipani, PhD
Medical Engineer at Amber Implants BV, The Netherlands
Nicole Wojnowski
Undergraduate Student Researcher, Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania
Jason Hyman
MD Student, Thomas Jefferson University
Brian Gillespie, JD, MSc
Attorney, Forrest Firm, Raleigh, NC
Jennifer Ferd
PhD Student, NSF Fellow, Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania
Leah Levine
Undergraduate Student, PURM Fellow
University of Pennsylvania
Nicolas Holcomb
PhD Student
Cell & Molecular Biology Graduate Group, University of Pennsylvania
Noliqhwa Moyo
former senior at Conestoga high school, Berwyn, PA
Undergrad at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute - BME
Haley Thompson
Former Undergraduate Summer Student
Currently Master’s Student at North Carolina A&T State University
Meryl Mendoza
PhD Student
Cell & Molecular Biology Graduate Group, University of Pennsylvania
Claudia Hejazi-Garcia
Former Undergraduate Student, PURM Fellow, NSF/LSAMP Undergraduate Research Program
Currently, Med Student at the University of Pennsylvania
Andrés Hübsch
Former Undergraduate Student, PURM Fellow
University of Pennsylvania
Currently Incoming Analyst at ClearView Healthcare Partners
Hannah Oh
Former Undergraduate student, CRISSP Fellow, CHOP
Currently, Senior at University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
Paul Gehret, PhD
Former PhD student
University of Pennsylvania
Currently Life Science Specialist at L.E.K. Consulting
Alessandra Nardini
Former Visiting PhD Student
Bioengineering PhD Program, Politecnico di Milano, Raimondi Lab
Sara Grasselli
Former Visiting PhD Student
Bioengineering PhD Program, University of Genova, Italy
Elizabeth Brown
Former Masters Student
Currently, PhD Student at Stanford University
Alexandra Dumas
Undergraduate Student, PURM Fellow, University Scholar program
University of Pennsylvania
Gautham Nair
Former Undergraduate Student, University Scholars program
Currently, taking a gap year & applying to Med School
Daniel Ghaderi
Former Undergraduate Student, PURM Fellow
Currently, Med Student at NYU
Wangari Mbuthia
Former Undergraduate Student
Currently, Senior at University of Pennsylvania
Huy Truong
Former Masters student