Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital's Tissue Engineering and Organ Fabrication Laboratory

Tissue engineering

The laboratory has worked in the field of tissue engineering since 1985. In collaboration with Robert Langer from MIT, the researchers began building living tissues using living cells on specially designed degradable plastics. This invention is now patented and being tested worldwide. The group has designed and tested 27 tissues of the body including vital organs needed for transplantation.

Joseph P. Vacanti, PhD
Robert Langer, Sc.D.

55 Fruit Street, Warren Building 1157
Boston, MA 02114
USA
Phone: +1-617-724-1725
Fax: +1-617-724-5057

The enormous experience of the laboratory is mirrored in the numerous projects undertaken. These include for example the following:

1) Engineering of the liver using cell-laden polymer devices as a means of generating new tissue replacements

2) The development of three- dimensional capillary systems to carry any stem cells under the controlled way

3) The repair of spinal cord injuries and peripheral nerve injuries

4) Normal renal cells are used to construct renal tubules using bioabsorbable polymers.

5) Cardiovascular tissue engineering focuses on the development of the blood vessels, heart valves, and myocardium.

6) Development of vasculirized bone for reconstructive surgery biodegradable polymers and mesenchymal stem cells

7) Reconstruction of cartilage using biodegradable polymers with cultured chondrocytes

8) Tissue-engineered neoesophagus