REU Site: New approaches to engineering cells, tissues, and organs

本科生研究体验(REU)网站的目标是推进培训，增加下一代研究人员、监管工程师和科学家的多样性。每年将有10名参与者进行独立研究，以推进细胞和组织工程的基础科学，同时开发新技术，包括3D打印和微型生物器官系统。参与者还将通过研讨会获得相关技术技能、实验室笔记本技能、技术写作和图形设计、美国食品和药物管理局(FDA)批准程序以及负责任的研究进行方面的宝贵培训。此外，利用马里兰大学和FDA本科生之间的合作伙伴关系，研究人员将有机会为调控细胞和组织工程基础研究的可翻译结果的科学做出贡献。因此，这个REU网站不仅丰富了未来的工程师和科学家，还强调了下一代监管工程师和科学家的发展。在这个REU网站上，受指导的本科生研究人员将研究设计细胞、组织和器官的创新方法。项目包括芯片上的器官(包括血脑屏障、肠道、肾脏、淋巴结)、芯片上的癌细胞微环境、芯片上的生物制造和3D打印组织工程构造。对这些主题的研究将增加细胞和组织工程的基础知识，同时推进3D打印生物系统和芯片上器官系统的工程技术。此外，通过FDA的视角检查基本的生物工程问题，这些调查将加强监管科学领域。分子、细胞和组织疗法的进步给监管和商业化带来了巨大的挑战；一支训练有素的劳动力，对技术进步、伦理问题和健康安全的观点将是正确翻译这些技术的关键。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The goal of this Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Site is to advance the training and to increase the diversity of the next generation of researchers and regulatory engineers and scientists. Ten participants annually will pursue independent research to advance fundamental science in cellular and tissue engineering while developing new technologies, including 3D printing and miniaturized biological organ systems. Participants will also gain valuable training through workshops in the relevant technical skills, as well as lab notebook skills, technical writing and figure design, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval process, and the responsible conduct of research. In addition, leveraging a partnership between the University of Maryland and the FDA undergraduate researchers will have the opportunity to contribute to the science of regulating the translatable outcomes of fundamental research in cell and tissue engineering. Thus, this REU site not only enriches future engineers and scientists, it also emphasizes the development of the next generation regulatory engineer and scientist. In this REU site, mentored undergraduate researchers will investigate innovative approaches to engineer cells, tissues, and organs. Projects include organ-on-a-chip (including blood-brain-barrier, gut, kidney, lymph node), cancer cell microenvironment on a chip, biomanufacturing-on-a-chip, and 3D-printed tissue engineering constructs. Investigations into each of these topics will add to the fundamental knowledge in cell and tissue engineering while advancing the engineering techniques of 3D printed biological systems and organ-on-a-chip systems. Furthermore, by inspecting fundamental bioengineering questions through the lens of the FDA, the investigations will enhance the field of regulatory science. Advances in molecular-, cellular-, and tissue-based therapies present significant challenges for regulation and commercialization; a well-trained workforce with perspectives on technology advances, ethical issues, and health safety will be critical to the proper translation of these technologies.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.