Farshid Guilak, PhD, a professor of orthopedic surgery at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, has been chosen to receive this year’s Senior Scientist Award from the Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine Society.
Guilak, also co-director of the Washington University Center for Regenerative Medicine and director of research at Shriners Hospitals for Children — St. Louis, was selected for his significant contributions to the tissue engineering and regenerative medicine field. One focus of his work has been the development of so-called SMART cells to combat arthritis. Using gene-editing technology, Guilak’s laboratory has deleted genes linked to inflammation in cartilage grown from stem cells. In place of the deleted genes, Guilak’s team has inserted molecules that fight inflammation, providing hope that one day a person’s own tissue may be able to treat or prevent problems related to arthritis.
Also a professor of developmental biology and of biomedical engineering, Guilak will speak about his work when he receives the award in December at the organization’s annual conference, in Orlando, Fla.
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