Cell and Tissue Engineering
Cell and tissue engineering has the potential to change how we think about disease and aging is happening at BME. Regenerative medicine uses stem cells and biomaterials to repair, replace or regenerate damaged tissue, organ structures and function.
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Biomaterials
Growing heart and liver tissue for safer drug testing and more
Professor Milica Radisic’s team works on growing human tissue in artificial environments as platforms for developing and testing new drugs, and with the potential to one day, repair or replace damaged organs.
Their creations have included Biowire™, a method of growing heart cells around a silk suture, “Hook-in-Tissue,” a biocompatible scaffold that allows sheets of beating heart cells to snap together like Velcro®, and AngioChip, a system built in a normal cell culture dish that allows lab-grown heart and liver tissue to function and interact like the real thing.
Today, the team is already working on commercializing these technologies through TARA Biosystems Inc., a spinoff company co-founded by Radisic.
Tissue Engineering
Advancing treatments for heart failure
Professor Craig Simmons leads an interdisciplinary team of eight researchers and their students from U of T Engineering, Medicine and Dentistry to advance discoveries and accelerate new treatments for heart failure and cardiovascular disease.
As the scientific director of the Translational Biology & Engineering Program (TBEP), the U of T arm of the Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research (TRCHR), he brings together experts in engineering and medicine to uncover mechanisms of disease, develop new diagnostic tests for early detection, and create therapeutic strategies using molecules, cells and biomaterials to regenerate heart tissues.
The goal: improve the lives of one million Canadians with heart failure and reduce the estimated $3-billion cost to our health-care system.
Regenerative Medicine
Restoring muscle function through regenerative medicine
Professor Penney Gilbert is harnessing the potential of muscle stem cells to advance therapies for muscle repair and regeneration. By investigating how these cells function in healthy and diseased states, the lab is driving innovations to restore skeletal muscle health.
Using lab-grown, miniature human muscle models, the Gilbert lab replicates muscle repair processes in a controlled setting. These "muscles in a dish" enable the study of conditions like aging, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and ICU-acquired weakness, providing a platform to test new treatments and explore the regenerative potential of muscle stem cells.
Their work brings new hope for therapies aimed at restoring muscle function and improving quality of life for those affected by muscle disorders.
Read more news about cell & tissue engineering
Engineering the future of heart health | Craig Simmons Lab
The Craig Simmons Lab at the University of Toronto investigates how biomechanical forces shape the behavior of cells, driving regeneration, repair, and disease in cardiovascular tissues. By integrating experimental and computational cell mechanics with state-of-the-art molecular biology, the lab uncovers how heart valve calcification develops, how stem cells can be guided to rebuild tissue, and how lab-on-a-chip technologies can accelerate drug testing. Their work is redefining the future of cardiovascular medicine through mechanobiology and engineering innovation.
Building artificial tissues to personalize medicine | Alison McGuigan Lab
In Professor Alison McGuigan’s lab at the University of Toronto, researchers are creating artificial tissues that mimic the complexity of the human body. These engineered tissues help scientists discover new drugs, predict how patients might respond to treatment, and even reveal who might be at higher risk for certain diseases. By combining tools from biomaterials, microfabrication, and synthetic biology, the McGuigan Lab is pioneering a new frontier in regenerative medicine and personalized health care.
AmacaThera enters global licensing agreement with Pacira BioSciences for non-opioid post-surgical pain therapy
AmacaThera Inc. (co-founded by Prof. Molly Shoichet), a biotechnology company focused on hydrogel-based drug delivery systems, has entered into an exclusive worldwide licensing agreement with Pacira BioSciences, Inc. for the development and commercialization of AMT-143, an investigational long-acting non-opioid anesthetic intended for post-operative pain management.
Discover how cells heal and build tissues | Rodrigo Fernandez-Gonzalez Lab
Professor Rodrigo Fernandez-Gonzalez and his team study how cells coordinate to shape and repair tissues. Using live imaging and bioengineering tools in fruit fly embryos, they uncover how cells move, communicate, and generate forces to heal wounds and form organs like the heart. Their discoveries could lead to new ways to promote healing and improve regenerative medicine.
Professor Milica Radisic featured in CBC news
Professor Milica Radisic has recently been featured in CBC News for her pioneering work in bioengineering and personalized medicine. With a focus on organ on a chip, these lab-grown models using a patient’s own cells to simulate organ function and tumor response. These devices offer a promising alternative to traditional drug testing methods, potentially improving the accuracy of cancer treatment predictions and reducing reliance on animal testing.
How boutIQ is improving cell culture media with AI
boutIQ Solutions, a Toronto-based biotech startup, is transforming cell therapy by using AI and machine learning to optimize cell culture media formulations. Their innovative approach tackles one of regenerative medicine’s toughest challenges: keeping lab-grown cells healthy, functional, and clinically ready.