Education
BS, Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University, 2016
M.Eng, Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University, 2019
Ph.D Candidate, Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University
Research Interests
Biomaterials, hydrogels, polymers, nanoparticles, liposomes, stem cells, neurons, neurotrophic factors
Research Summary
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with approximately 1.7 million new cases every year. It is characterized by an initial mechanical injury, leading to secondary physiological responses which result in tissue and cellular degeneration. Current treatments aim to stop or slow the progression of secondary injury in order to promote functional recovery. To date, there are no Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved pharmacological therapies which adequately promote neuroprotection and/or neuroregeneration and, therefore, functional improvement is minimal, especially in severely injured patients. Given the complexity of the TBI cascade, multi-modal therapies, which combine therapeutic and regenerative effects, may be more effective in promoting functional recovery.
The objective of this project is to develop a therapy which can attenuate neuroinflammation and promote neuroregeneration, thereby leading to enhanced functional recovery. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) are a promising therapy for TBI due to their innate ability to secrete anti-inflammatory and regenerative cytokines and growth factors. Previous work in our lab demonstrated superior immunomodulatory function of encapsulated MSC (eMSC) compared to free MSC, both in vitro and in an in vivo Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) model, where minimal functional recovery was recorded. Thus, we are proposing to improve the therapeutic outcome of eMSC treatment via neurotrophic factor supplementation, which has been shown to be important in promoting axonal elongation and neuronal survival, and which are minimally secreted by MSC. The proposed therapy will entail using eMSC and nanoparticles (NPs) containing neurotrophic factors.
Awards & Honors
Ford Foundation Fellowship Honorable Mention, March 2019
Johnson & Johnson Engineering Showcase Finalist, February 2019
NSF Travel Grant for the National Diversity in STEM Conference, Fall 2017 and Fall 2018
NIH Biotechnology Training Program Fellowship, September 2017 - Present
School of Engineering Graduate Fellowship, September 2016 - August 2017
NASA NJ Space Grant Consortium MS-to-PhD Bridge Program Fellowship, September 2016 - June 2017
Travel Scholarship for the National Diversity in STEM Conference, Fall 2016
Publications
Davis MS, Marrero-Berrios I, Perez XI, Rabolli CP, Radhakrishnan P, Manchikalapati D, SchianodiCola J, Kamath H, Schloss RS, Yarmush J. Alginate encapsulation for bupivacaine delivery and mesenchymal stromal cell immunomodulatory cotherapy. Journal of Inflammation Research. 2019.
Taylor BL, Indano S, Yankannah Y, Perez XI, Freeman JW. Pre-Vascularized Bone Scaffold Promotes Angiogenesis In Vivo. Tissue Engineering, Part A. 2018.
Davis M, Marrero-Berrios I, Perez XI, Maguire T, Radhakrishnan P, Manchikalapati D, SchianodiCola J, Kamath H, Schloss R, Yarmush J. Alginate-liposomal construct for bupivacaine delivery and MSC function regulation. Drug Delivery and Translational Research. 2017.
Representative Graduate Courses Taken
Bioengineering in the Biotechnology and Biopharmaceutical Industries
Innovation and Entrepreneurship for Science and Technology
Kinetics, Thermodynamics and Transport in Biomedicine
Toxicology in Drug Discovery
Toxicology Risk Assessment Boot Camp
Nano and Micro Biointerfaces
Interdisciplinary BioStatistics Research Training
Mechanical Behaviors of Materials I
Biomaterials and Biomechanics
Leadership & Outreach
Judge, Northeast Bioengineering Conference, March 2019
Board Member, Biotechnology Training Program Advisory Board, January 2019-Present
Board Member, STEM Community Outreach Symposium at Rutgers, May 2018-Present (stemcos.rutgers.edu)
Vice President, Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science, September 2018-Present
Vice President & Treasurer, Bioengineering Student Society, September 2017-August 2018
Treasurer, Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science, September 2017-August 2018
Graduate Mentor, Douglass Residential College: Introduction to Scientific Research, January 2018-May 2018
Graduate Mentor, Liberty Science Center: Partners in Science, June 2017-August 2017