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

gottardir@chop.edu @RicGottardi

 

Stephanie Fung, PhD

Postdoctoral Fellow

Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology and Division of Ophthalmology

email

@StephanieLFung

"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

Postdoctoral Fellow

Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology

email

@KungTopic

"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

email

"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."

Kyra

Smith

PhD Student, Fontaine Fellow, T32 fellow

Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania

email

@kwysmith

"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

email @AronsonMatthew1

"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

email

"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

email

@RyanM_Friedman

"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

email

@Hannah_bon02

"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

PhD Student

Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania

email

@jeff_fanzi

Isabella Lopez

PhD Student, National GEM Consortium Associate Fellow

Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania

email

@isalop_bioe

"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

PhD Student

Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania

email

@KenjiYeoh

Rayna Schoenberger

PhD Student, NSF Fellow

Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania

email

@RLSchoenberger

"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.”

 

Eva Utke

PhD Student, NSF Fellow

Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania

email

 
 
 

Eiman Abu Bandora, MD

Visiting Otolaryngology Resident from Tel-Aviv Medical Center

email

"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

Master Student

Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Pennsylvania

email

"My research concentrates on engineering osteogenic scaffold for pediatric cranial reconstruction. Outside of lab, I enjoy traveling, reading historical books and playing table tennis.”

 
 
 
 

Arielle Breuninger

Undergraduate Student, PURM Fellow

University of Pennsylvania

email

Sophie Klessel

Undergraduate Student, PURM Fellow

University of Pennsylvania

email

Emily Zhang

Undergraduate Student, PURM Fellow

University of Pennsylvania

email

Yashna Gupta

Undergraduate Student, PURM Fellow

University of Pennsylvania

email

 
 

The Amazing Surgeons

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Ian N. Jacobs, MD

Medical Director, Center for Pediatric Airway Disorders

Attending Surgeon

Division Otolaryngology, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

email

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John A. Germiller, MD, PhD

Director of Clinical Research, Division of Otolaryngology

Attending Surgeon

Division Otolaryngology, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

email

 
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Ryan C. Borek, MD

Attending Physician

Division Otolaryngology, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

email

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J. Todd Lawrence, MD, PhD

Attending Surgeon

Division of Orthopaedics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

email

 

The Best Collaborators

Jason A. Burdick, Ph.D.

Bowman Endowed Professor

Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering

University of Colorado

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Joel D. Boerckel, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

Department Orthopaedic Surgery

University of Pennsylvania

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George R. Dodge, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

Department Orthopaedic Surgery

University of Pennsylvania

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David Issadore, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

Department of Bioengineering

University of Pennsylvania

 
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Veronique Lefebvre, Ph.D.

Translational Research Program

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

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Robert L. Mauck, PhD

Mary Black Ralston Professor

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery

Director of the McKay Orthopaedic Research Laboratory

University of Pennsylvania

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Hyun-Duck Nah-Cederquist, DMD, MSD, PhD

Director of Craniofacial Orthodontics

Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

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Joseph A. Napoli, MD, DDS

Attending Physician

Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

 
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Maurizio Pacifici, Ph.D.

Director of Research

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

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Manuela Teresa Raimondi, PhD

Full Professor

Mechanobiology Lab, Department of Chemistry, Materials, And Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta”

Politecnico di Milano

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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)

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Lab mascotte

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Lucy (Aronson)

Hugo (Ragbirsingh)

Taro Charoensombut

 
 

Alumni

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Roberto Di Gesu’, Ph.D.

Former Postdoc

Currently PI at Fondazione Ri.MED, Palermo, Italy

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Irene Chiesa

Currently Postdoc at Universita` di Pisa, Biofabrication Group, Centro Piaggio, @BioFabUnipi

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Beatrice Belgio

PhD student at Politecnico di Milano, Laboratory of Biological Structure Mechanics, @LaBS_PoliMI

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Annamarie Collins

Former Senior at J.R. Masterman High School, Philadelphia, PA

Currently Undergrad at Northwestern University

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Rebecca Haley

PhD Student, NSF Fellow, University of Pennsylvania, Mitchell Lab

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Rossana Schipani, PhD

Medical Engineer at Amber Implants BV, The Netherlands

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Nicole Wojnowski

Undergraduate Student Researcher, Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania

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Jason Hyman

MD Student, Thomas Jefferson University

Brian Gillespie, JD, MSc

Attorney, Forrest Firm, Raleigh, NC

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Soheila Ali Akbari Ghavimi, PhD

Postdoctoral Fellow, Lagares Lab, MGH-Harvard @GhavimiSoheila

 

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Jennifer Ferd

PhD Student, NSF Fellow, Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania

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Leah Levine

Undergraduate Student, PURM Fellow

University of Pennsylvania

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Emily Sharp

PhD Student, Ashton Fellow, University of Pennsylvania

Mauck Lab

Nicolas Holcomb

PhD Student

Cell & Molecular Biology Graduate Group, University of Pennsylvania

Vaughan Lab

Noliqhwa Moyo

former senior at Conestoga high school, Berwyn, PA

Undergrad at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute - BME

Matt Rowe

PhD Student

Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania

@mattmrowe

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

Vaughan Lab

Amrita Mehta

Former Master’s student

Currently Strategy Consultant at Sage Growth Partners

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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

Daisy Wu

Former Former Masters Student

Currently, Project Manager at PBG Healthcare Consulting

Elizabeth Brown

Former Masters Student

Currently, PhD Student at Stanford University

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Alexandra Dumas

Undergraduate Student, PURM Fellow, University Scholar program

University of Pennsylvania

email @AlexandraADumas

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Gautham Nair

Former Undergraduate Student, University Scholars program

Currently, taking a gap year & applying to Med School

@GauthamNair

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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

 

Four-legged alumni

Mephisto (Lang)

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Lily (Ali Akbari Ghavimi) (with Scooby)

Basil (McCord-Gehret) and SCOOBY (GEHRET)

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