The human body’s inability to regenerate diseased, injured or missing tissue is a significant obstacle in health care. This limitation can result in diminished mobility and the need for donor transplants. An emerging field — regenerative engineering — converges advances in materials science and engineering, stem cell and developmental biology, translational medicine, and data science/artificial intelligence to create tools that preserve, restore and augment tissue and organ functions.
A new institute at Northwestern will foster the development of such tools, with a focus on the regeneration or reconstruction of the eyes, cartilage, spinal cord, heart, muscle, bone, skin and more. Made possible by a generous gift from University Trustee Kimberly K. Querrey, the Querrey Simpson Institute for Regenerative Engineering at Northwestern University (QSI RENU) will help accelerate patient recoveries and develop bioengineered tissues and organs. Faculty from the McCormick School of Engineering and Feinberg School of Medicine will drive the institute’s dynamic research and education ecosystem.
“Northwestern has long excelled at solving challenges that transcend traditional boundaries by bringing together researchers from various disciplines,” says Eric Perreault, the University’s vice president for research. “QSI RENU exemplifies this approach, building on a long record of success in biomedical engineering and medicine, such as in Feinberg’s departments of surgery, cardiac surgery and dermatology.”
The institute’s inaugural director is Guillermo Ameer, the Daniel Hale Williams Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Surgery — a leader in regenerative engineering, biomaterials, additive manufacturing for biomedical devices and controlled drug delivery.
“Regenerative engineering addresses major challenges in tissue and organ regeneration and reconstruction surgeries to improve patients’ quality of life,” Ameer says. “QSI RENU will jumpstart translational research efforts that move our discoveries and technologies to potential products that impact clinical practice and quality of care.”
The institute adds to a legacy of philanthropy from Querrey and her late husband, Trustee Louis A. Simpson ’58. Their contributions have advanced research, education and innovation across Northwestern.
“In today’s environment, investing in STEM research and education is essential to driving health care innovation and economic growth,” Querrey says. “I have always believed in supporting discoveries that hold transformative promise for improving lives, and QSI RENU perfectly embodies that vision.”
QSI RENU supports the University priority of advancing the biosciences.
Reader Responses
No one has commented on this page yet.
Submit a Response