Use of Adipose Stem Cells To Restore Subdermal Fat

Friday, February 15, 2013
Room 207 (Hynes Convention Center)
Kacey G. Marra , University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
Our laboratory conducts research in biomaterials, drug delivery, and adult stem cell biology for various regenerative medicine applications. The potential applications of adult stem cells derived from discarded adipose tissue are immense. Adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) are a subset of mesenchymal stem cells that have recently demonstrated multi-lineage potential. ASCs have the following characteristics: 1) easily harvested, 2) minimal donor site morbidity, 3) expendable, 4) abundant, 5) reusable or multiple donor sites, and 6) yield significant numbers of stem cells as to obviate the need for expansion. Our laboratory has been isolating and characterizing human ASCs for the past decade. We are interested in stem cell biology, gene therapy, novel biomaterials, and drug delivery for applications in nerve repair, soft tissue regeneration and wound healing (both small and large animal models). This presentation will focus on our innovative technologies used to restore fat in facial reconstruction.