In early September, I was honored to be named one of ten scientists chosen to receive a National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director’s Pioneer Award. The Pioneer Award funds innovative research proposals which attack challenging biomedical problems. Established ten years ago, this award encourages the kind of forward-looking research scientists once complained was difficult to find funding for under the traditional NIH grant structure. It is designed to support “a small number of investigators of exceptional creativity who propose bold and highly innovative new research approaches that have the potential to produce a major impact” in the fields of biomedicine and behavioral research, according to the NIH. I am grateful to receive this award from among such a competitive group. It will allow us the intellectual freedom and resources to develop a brand new technology. If successfully implemented, the technology will impact many disciplines of biomedical research, including biomaterials development, regenerative engineering, developmental biology, drug delivery, and stem cell biology.

Institute for Regenerative Engineering faculty members Dr. Lakshmi Nair (PI) and Dr. Kevin Lo (PI), as well as Dr. Joseph Walker (Co-I) from Orthopaedic Surgery and I (Co-I), have received funding from the NIH/NIAMS for a study aimed to develop a novel injectable analgesia delivery system. Current analgesia formulations have been limited by their relatively short duration of action requiring repeated administrations. In addition, local anesthetics are often associated with systemic toxicity and local tissue-site inflammatory responses. To address these issues, our project will develop a novel injectable analgesia delivery system lasting up to 7 days with minimal side effects.

This award highlights collaborative efforts between the IRE and Orthopaedic Surgery. We hope to continue combining the creativity and dedication of our scientists and clinicians.

The Institute for Regenerative Engineering’s latest research paper, “Simple Signaling Molecules for Inductive Regenerative Engineering”, has been accepted for publication by the high-impact peer-reviewed journal, PLoS One. Written by researchers from our institute, the University of Virginia, the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, and SASTRA University in India, this paper represents a paradigm shift in the field of regenerative engineering wherein simple signaling molecules can be utilized in place of recombinant protein growth factors.

The results presented in this report corroborate our novel theory that the simple signaling molecules of calcium and phosphate ions possess intrinsic bone-formation activity which is carried out by the induction of cell-based bone-formation protein-growth factor (Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2, BMP-2) production and secretion. In addition, a review of published biochemical research has revealed that a number of simple signaling molecules exist that possess similar behavior to calcium and phosphate ions which we have collectively termed inducerons (see figure). These small molecules are uniquely capable of inducing stem- and progenitor-cell differentiation down desired lineages utilizing protein growth factor-based inductive loops. The problems associated with using BMP-2 in bone graft substitutes such as cost and long-term safety are also issues with utilizing protein growth factors in other translational biomedical engineering strategies. Since these inductive molecules can be released from stable, inexpensive materials (e.g., CaP), their long-term delivery can be achieved through a wide variety of controlled release strategies compared to the relatively few options available for fragile, expensive protein growth factors. Utilizing the principles of biology, engineering, morphogenesis, stem cell technology, and materials cues, regenerative engineering represents a novel approach in which the body is induced to regenerate its own complex tissues and organs. This new concept of inducerons may compel regenerative engineering strategies to become the gold standard in complex tissue- and organ-replacement therapies.

Figure was adapted from Cushnie EK, Ulery BD, Nelson SJ, Deng M, et al. (2014) Simple Signaling Molecules for Inductive Bone Regenerative Engineering. PLoS ONE 9(7): e101627.

On November 7, I participated in this year’s Connecticut Stem Cell Retreat hosted by the UConn Stem Cell Institute. My speech, “Delivery for the Regeneration of Musculoskeletal Tissues: The Regenerative Engineering Approach,” highlighted the future of regenerative engineering in stem cell research. I discussed two of our latest inventions: a bioengineered matrix for the regeneration of torn anterior cruciate ligaments, and a novel nanofiber-based scaffold for rotator cuff repair. Also during my talk, I introduced the idea of “convergence” which represents how biomedical research will be conducted in the future. I firmly believe areas such as regenerative engineering are good examples of convergence because they combine research in the life sciences, engineering, and physical sciences.

The Institute for Regenerative Engineering will launch Natural and Synthetic Biomedical Polymers in February, 2014. Published by Elsevier Science, this textbook summarizes the main advances in biopolymer development in the last decade. We believe it will be extremely useful for researchers in formulating their polymers with desirable physical, chemical, biological, biomechanical, and degradation properties for specific, targeted biomedical applications. I thank all the authors for their outstanding contributions. I also thank co-editors Drs. Sangamesh Kumbar and Meng Deng for all their time and effort in coordinating this.

I am very happy to announce the launch of the Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities (JREHD). Beginning in 2014, it will be published quarterly.

JREHD is the first journal dedicated to examining and eliminating racial and ethnic health disparities. It is also the official journal of the W. Montague Cobb/NMA Health Institute, whose mission is to eliminate racial and ethnic health disparities. Published by Springer, the journal aims to report on the scholarly progress of work to understand, address, and ultimately eliminate health disparities based on race and ethnicity. The journal currently considers original articles, solicited “evolutionary” reviews presenting state-of-the-art thinking on problems centered on health disparities, and unsolicited review articles of timely interest.

The academic home office of the journal is here at the UConn Health Center. This is a tribute to the university’s dedication to eliminating health disparities. As Editor-in-Chief, I thank everyone involved for their efforts during the past months in ensuring the journal’s successful launch.