The Regenerative Medicine (RM) field requires a new type of researcher, well-trained in fundamental RM concepts and methods, able to integrate human biology and engineered systems with awareness of challenges involved in advancing basic research, regulatory science, and clinical translation. The Wake Forest Institute of Regenerative Medicine (WFIRM) has a unique infrastructure that provides facilities and expertise for translational studies, from basic preclinical findings all the way through Phase 2 clinical trials.
The overall goal of our T32 pre-doctoral training program, "Studies in Translational Regenerative Medicine", is to develop the next generation of multidisciplinary trained research scientists and engineers, who will lead new diverse research teams designing solutions to real-world health problems and advance the RM field. Ability to link state-of-the-art multidisciplinary basic science training to the infrastructure and knowledge base required to accelerate translation of RM technologies are key strengths. WFIRM's multidisciplinary training includes a range of activities, including didactic courses, participation in cutting-edge team science, and new opportunities to engage in academic, government, and industrial externships. The new program emphasizes professional and career development, including project and time management, grant writing, regulatory science, GMP manufacturing, and scientific ethics.
The program has 3 NIBIB-aligned focus areas:
- Biomaterials
- Enabling Technologies (bioprinting, body-on-a-chip, imaging & multifluidics)
- Stem Cells/Cell Therapies applied to one or more application areas:
- Cardiovascular
- Musculoskeletal
- Gastrointestinal/Endocrine
- Urological
After a common 1st year curriculum (unique to each track), trainees identify one of 13 primary mentors (of 22 mentoring faculty), take specialized RM courses and choose a graduate committee. Inclusion of seasoned Primary Mentors (13), Mentors-in-Training (6), and Emeritus Mentors (3) with career-long mentoring experience is a unique program aspect. The program is reviewed by Internal and External Advisory Boards composed of prominent academic, government, and industry members.
The T32 program has 19 mentors, arranged in well-defined, three-level mentoring/co-mentoring structure: primary mentors (n=11), mentors in training (n=4), and Emeritus Mentors (n=4). Concomitantly, each research focus contains atleast five faculty members with complementary expertise, who participate in the training and supervision of graduate students as co-mentors. WFIRM faculty have appointments in multiple graduate tracks, bringing together expertise and cutting-edge technologies in cell and molecular biology, genetics, biomedical engineering, physiology, stem cell biology, animal modeling, surgery, matrix biochemistry, and materials chemistry. All 19 training faculty have a primary appointment or a cross-appointment at WFIRM. Every translational research project at WFIRM is co-mentored by a basic scientist and a clinician. Trainees also engage with clinical co-mentors who are selected from many experts available across our extensive network of intramural, extramural and international collaborations.
The primary focus of the STRM training program is in the following PhD program tracks of Wake Forest University Graduate School
- Biomedical Engineering (BME)
- Neuroscience (NEUR)
- Molecular and Cellular Biosciences (MCB)
- Integrative Physiology and Pharmacology (IPP)
After a common 1st year curriculum (unique to each track), trainees identify one of 12 primary mentors (of 20 mentoring faculty), take specialized RM courses and choose a graduate committee choose a graduate committee that will guide them through their thesis work and participate in a variety of WFIRM-wide training activities; special workshops; participation in cutting-edge team research; grant writing; scientific presentations; and opportunities to engage within academic, government and industry collaborations. Inclusion of seasoned Primary Mentors, Mentors-in-Training, and Emeritus Mentors with career-long mentoring experience is a unique program aspect. The program is reviewed by Internal and External Advisory Boards composed of prominent academic, government, and industry members.
The Program Director, Dr. Anthony Atala, has ultimate responsibility for the administration of the training program, assisted by Co-Program Director, Dr Graca Almeida-Porada and an Executive Committee composed of senior experienced trainers. The training program is reviewed and evaluated annually by both an Internal Advisory Committee and External Advisory Committee, whose members have extensive experience managing training programs as well as nationally renowned research programs in regenerative medicine.
Faculty Research Mentors Areas of Research Focus
Anthony Atala, MD Sean Murphy, PhD |
Emmanuel C. Opara, PhD
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Meet our Pre-Doctoral Fellows
As pictured: Jonathan Diaz, Bradford Kuhlman, Caroline Kuczynski, and Patrick Carl Ralph
Read more about our past fellows and where they are now.
Pre-Doctoral Fellow Bios
Mentors: Shay Soker
Focus: Studying tumor-stroma crosstalk using organoid models
Overview
Nicholas Edenhoffer is a graduate student in the Integrative Physiology and Physiology PhD program. He is mentored by Dr. Shay Soker at the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine. His project focuses on using patient-derived tumor organoid models to study the interactions between cancer, stromal cells, and the surrounding extracellular matrix that composes the tumor microenvironment. The insights gained from this project could contribute to the development of innovative strategies to modulate the tumor microenvironment in order to enhance the efficacy of current cancer treatments. Nicholas previously received a Bachelor of Biomedical Science from Texas A&M University – College Station.
Publications
2023 (pending)- Jonathan Harvey Diaz, Bradford Kuhlman, Gayathriy Balamayooran, Nicholas Peter Edenhoffer, Angela Evans, Ann Martin, Peter Guida, Adam Rusek, Matthew A. Coleman, Anthony Atala, Paul Francis Wilson, Graça Almeida-Porada and Christopher D Porada. Effects of Mars Mission Equivalent Doses of SEP and GCR Radiation on the Gastrointestinal System Following Exposure in vivo - Protective Effects of Curcumin-Loaded Nanolipoprotein Particles (cNLPs).
2023 (pending)- Forsythe SD, Erali RA, Edenhoffer N, Meeker W, Wajih N, Laney P, Levine EA, Soker S, Votanopoulos KI. Cisplatin exhibits superiority over MMC as a Perfusion agent in a Peritoneal Mesothelioma Patient Specific Organoid HIPEC Platform.
Focus: Using human organoids to unlock the secrets of hibernation
Overview
Jonathan Diaz is a graduate student in the Virginia Tech - Wake Forest University School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences program concentrating in Regenerative Medicine. He researches at the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine under principal investigators Dr. Graҫa Almeida-Porada and Dr. Christopher Porada. His main area of study is the health effects on astronauts during long-term space travel. Specifically, his work focuses on how hibernation induces physiological and molecular changes within human organs, allowing better risk assessment and paving the way for developing novel countermeasures to protect astronauts from the harmful effects of the unique deep-space environment during future missions to the Moon and Mars. Before his current enrollment, Jonathan received a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.
Publications
Jonathan H. Diaz, Bradford M. Kuhlman, Kelly A. Martin, Angela Evans, Matthew A. Coleman, Paul F. Wilson, Graça Almeida-Porada, Christopher D. Porada. Using Humanized Mouse Avatars to Define the Effects of Mars Mission Equivalent Doses of SEP and GCR Radiation on the Human Gastrointestinal System. 22nd Annual Graduate Student Research Symposium - Virginia Tech - Wake Forest University School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences (SBES), 2022.
Jonathan H. Diaz, Bradford M. Kuhlman, Kelly A. Martin, Angela Evans, Matthew A. Coleman, Paul F. Wilson, Graça Almeida-Porada, Christopher D. Porada. Using Humanized Mouse Avatars to Define the Effects of Mars Mission Equivalent Doses of SEP and GCR Radiation on the Human Gastrointestinal System. Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine (WFRIM) All Hands retreat, 2022.
Jonathan H. Diaz, Bradford M. Kuhlman, Kelly A. Martin, Angela Evans, Matthew A. Coleman, Paul F. Wilson, Graça Almeida-Porada, Christopher D. Porada. Using Humanized Mouse Avatars to Define the Effects of Mars Mission Equivalent Doses of SEP and GCR Radiation on the Human Gastrointestinal System. NASA Human Research Program Investigators’ Workshop, 2022.
Diaz J., Kuhlman B., Yang J., Lacombe J., Evans A. Martin K., Coleman M., Zenhausern F., Wilson P., Almeida-Porada G., Porada C., Effects of Mars mission-equivalent doses of SEP and GCR radiation on the gastrointestinal system. NASA Human Research Program Investigators’ Workshop, 2021.
Jonathan H. Diaz, Bradford M. Kuhlman, Kelly A. Martin, Angela Evans, Matthew A. Coleman, Paul F. Wilson, Graça Almeida-Porada, Christopher D. Porada Characterizing the Effects of Mars Mission-Relevant Doses of Space Radiation on the Small Intestine. Surgical Sciences Residents’ & Fellows’ Research Day, 2020.
J. Diaz, B.M. Kuhlman, J. Yang, J. Lacombe, A.C. Evans, K. Martin, M.A. Coleman, F. Zenhausern, P.F. Wilson, M.G. Almeida-Porada, and C.D. Porada. Effects of Mars mission-equivalent doses of SEP and GCR radiation on the gastrointestinal system. American Society for Gravitational and Space Research (ASGSR) Annual Meeting, 2020.
J. Diaz, B.M. Kuhlman, J. Yang, J. Lacombe, A.C. Evans, K. Martin, M.A. Coleman, F. Zenhausern, P.F. Wilson, M.G. Almeida-Porada, and C.D. Porada. Effects of Mars mission-equivalent doses of SEP and GCR radiation on the gastrointestinal system. Radiation Research Society. Radiation Research Society (RADRES) Annual Meeting, 2020.
Jonathan H. Diaz, Bradford M. Kuhlman, Kelly A. Martin, Angela Evans, Matthew A. Coleman, Paul F. Wilson, Graça Almeida-Porada, Christopher D. Porada. Characterizing the Effects of Deep Space Radiation on the Gastrointestinal Tract. 19th Annual Graduate Student Research Symposium - Virginia Tech - Wake Forest University School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences (SBES), 2019.
Jonathan H. Diaz, Bradford M. Kuhlman, Kelly A. Martin, Angela Evans, Matthew A. Coleman, Paul F. Wilson, Graça Almeida-Porada, Christopher D. Porada. Characterizing the Effects of Mars Mission-Relevant Doses of Space Radiation on the Small Intestine. Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine (WFRIM) All Hands retreat, 2019.
Ritu M Ramamurthy, Sunil K George, Sharon Thompson, Brady Trevisan, Hailey Medder, Jonathan Diaz, Anthony Atala, Christopher D. Porada, Graça Almeida-Porada. Evaluating the Impact of MHC I Mismatch on Levels of Engraftment in Pre-Immune Prenatal Transplantation Treatment Regimen for Hemophilia A. 20th Annual Graduate Student Research Symposium - Virginia Tech - Wake Forest University School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences (SBES), 2021.
Kuhlman B. Diaz J. Yang J. Lacombe J. Evans A. Martin K. Coleman M. Zenhausern F. Wilson P. Almeida-Porada G. Porada C. Using humanized mouse avatars to define the effects of Mars mission equivalent doses of SEP and GCR radiation on human hematopoiesis. NASA Human Research Program Investigators’ Workshop, 2021.
B.M. Kuhlman, J. Diaz, J. Yang, J. Lacombe, A.C. Evans, K. Martin, M.A. Coleman, F. Zenhausern2, P.F. Wilson3, M.G. Almeida-Porada1, and C.D. Porada1. Effects of mission relevant doses of SEP and GCR radiation on human hematopoiesis. American Society for Gravitational and Space Research (ASGSR) Annual Meeting, 2020.
B.M. Kuhlman, J. Diaz, J. Yang, J. Lacombe, A.C. Evans, K. Martin, M.A. Coleman, F. Zenhausern, M.G. Almeida-Porada, P.F. Wilson, and C.D. Porada. Effects of mission relevant doses of SEP and GCR radiation on human hematopoiesis. Radiation Research Society (RADRES) Annual Meeting, 2020.
B.M. Kuhlman, J. Diaz, A.C. Evans, K.A. Martin, J. Yang, J. Lacombe, F. Zenhausern, M.A. Coleman, G. Almeida-Porada, C.D. Porada, and P.F. Wilson. Effects of Mission relevant Doses of SEP/GCR Radiation on Human Hematopoietic and Gi Systems. Radiation Research Society (RADRES) Annual Meeting, 2020.
Wilson P., Kuhlman B., Diaz J., Evans A., Martin K,. Yang J., Lacombe J., Zenhausern F., Coleman M., Almeida-Porada G., Porada C. Effects of mission-relevant doses of SEP/GCR radiation on human hematopoietic and GI systems. NASA Human Research Program Investigators’ Workshop, 2021.
Rosenfeld MA, Stokes S, Diaz JH, Almeida PF, Pokorny A. Are Leucine and Isoleucine Equivalent in Binding of Amphipathic Peptides to Membranes? Biophysical Journal 2016; 110:3, pp. 418a.
Oral Presentations
2021 20th Annual Graduate Student Research Symposium - Virginia Tech – Wake Forest University School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences (SBES)
Title: Characterizing the Effects of Deep-Space Radiation on the Gastrointestinal Tract
2021 NASA Human Research Program Investigators’ Workshop
Title: Effects of Mars mission-equivalent doses of SEP and GCR radiation on the gastrointestinal system.
2020 American Society for Gravitational and Space Research (ASGSR) Annual Meeting
Title: Effects of Mars mission-equivalent doses of SEP and GCR radiation on the gastrointestinal system.
2020 Surgical Sciences Residents’ & Fellows’ Research Day
Title: Effects of Mars mission-equivalent doses of SEP and GCR radiation on the gastrointestinal system.
2022 NASA Human Research Program Investigators’ Workshop
Title: Humanized Mouse Avatars to Define the Effects of Mars Mission Equivalent Doses of SEP and GCR Radiation on the Human Gastrointestinal System.
Poster Presentations
22nd Annual Graduate Student Research Symposium - Virginia Tech - Wake Forest University School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences (SBES), 2022
Title: Using Humanized Mouse Avatars to Define the Effects of Mars Mission Equivalent Doses of SEP and GCR Radiation on the Human Gastrointestinal System.
2022 Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine (WFRIM) All Hands retreat
Title: Using Humanized Mouse Avatars to Define the Effects of Mars Mission Equivalent Doses of SEP and GCR Radiation on the Human Gastrointestinal System.
2021 Human Research Program Investigators’ Workshop (HRP IWS 2021)
Title: Effects of Mars mission-equivalent doses of SEP and GCR radiation on the gastrointestinal system.
2020 Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine (WFRIM) All Hands retreat
Title: Characterizing the Effects of Mars Mission-Relevant Doses of Space Radiation on the Small Intestine.
Radiation Research Society (RADRES) Annual Meeting 2020.
Title: Effects of Mars mission-equivalent doses of SEP and GCR radiation on the gastrointestinal system.
19th Annual Graduate Student Research Symposium - Virginia Tech - Wake Forest University School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences (SBES), 2019
Title: Characterizing the Effects of Deep Space Radiation on the Gastrointestinal Tract.
2016 60th Annual Meeting – Biophysical Society
Title: Are Leucine and Isoleucine Equivalent in Binding of Amphipathic Peptides to Membranes?
Focus: In silico and in vitro characterization of a novel large animal model of sickle cell disease
Overview
Caroline Kuczynski is a PhD candidate in Molecular Medicine and Translational Science. She received her BS in Biophysics with Honors from Wake Forest University, and subsequently conducted research in industry, developing novel gene therapies for rare diseases. Having cultivated a fervent interest in gene therapy, she joined the lab of Drs. Graça Almeida-Porada and Christopher Porada at the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine. Under the guidance of these renowned experts, Caroline began her work on the development and characterization of a novel large animal model of Sickle Cell Disease, to be used to develop gene therapies to treat this life-altering condition, potentially prenatally. Her project also involves the development of treatments to correct the mutation in vitro.
Oral and Poster Presentations
Kuczynski, C.E., Perisse, I.V., LaPradd, C.M., Liu, Y., Regouski, M., Beaty, M.W., Atala, A., Polejaeva, I.A., Porada, C.D., & Almeida-Porada, G. (2022, June). Evaluation of a Novel Ovine Model that Recapitulates Human Sickle Cell Disease. Poster to be presented at the Large Animal Genetic Engineering Summit, Park City, UT.
Kuczynski, C.E., Perisse, I.V., LaPradd, C.M., Liu, Y., Regouski, M., Beaty, M.W., Atala, A., Polejaeva, I.A., Porada, C.D., & Almeida-Porada, G. (2022, June). Evaluation of a Novel Ovine Model that Recapitulates Human Sickle Cell Disease. Oral presentation at the Large Animal Genetic Engineering Summit, Park City, UT.
Kuczynski, C. E., Alexander, R.W., & Cho, S. S. (2018, Feb). Investigating the Effects of Posttranscriptional Chemical Modifications in tRNA on Molecular Communication Pathways in Arginyl-tRNA Synthetase:tRNAArg Complex. Poster presented at the Biophysical Society Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA.
Focus: Miniature Brain Model
Overview
Patrick Ralph entered the MD/PhD program in July 2019. He was accepted into the Molecular Medicine and Translational Sciences PhD program after completing two years of medical school. Patrick researchs at the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine under the guidance of Dr. Sang Jin Lee. He studies that application of bioprinting to neural cell culture techniques. Patrick is particularly interested in developing an in vitro model of central nervous system tissue to improve the efficacy of drug discovery, disease modeling, and developmental neurobiology studies. Prior to his arrival at Wake Forest School of Medicine, Patrick graduated from William Peace University in 2018 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology.
Publications
Khalil F, Alwan A, Ralph P, Soliman S, Abdelrahim EA, Abdelhafez EA, Opara EC. Effect of Alginate Microbead Encapsulation of Placental Mesenchymal Stem Cells on Their Immunomodulatory Function. Ann Biomed Eng. 2022 Mar;50(3):291-302. doi: 10.1007/s10439-022-02920-5. Epub 2022 Jan 24. PMID: 35072884.
Mishra SK, Wheeler JJ, Pitake S, Ding H, Jiang C, Fukuyama T, Paps JS, Ralph P, Coyne J, Parkington M, DeBrecht J, Ehrhardt-Humbert LC, Cruse GP, Bäumer W, Ji RR, Ko MC, Olivry T. Periostin Activation of Integrin Receptors on Sensory Neurons Induces Allergic Itch. Cell Rep. 2020 Apr 7;31(1):107472. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.03.036. PMID: 32268102; PMCID: PMC9210348.
Pitake S, Ralph P, DeBrecht J, Mishra SK. Atopic Dermatitis Linked Cytokine Interleukin-31 Induced Itch Mediated via a Neuropeptide Natriuretic Polypeptide B. Acta Derm Venereol. 2018 Aug 29;98(8):795-796. doi: 10.2340/00015555-2977. PMID: 29796691.
Mentors: Christopher Porada and Graҫa Almeida-Porada
Focus: Space Radiation and Microgravity Effects on Hematopoiesis
Overview
Bradford Kuhlman is a graduate student in the Integrative Physiology and Pharmacology PhD program concentrating in Regenerative Medicine. He researches at the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine under the mentorship of Drs. Christopher Porada and Graҫa Almeida-Porada. His primary area of study involves the effects of heavy ion radiation and microgravity on astronauts traveling beyond low Earth orbit. Specifically, his work focuses on assessing the risks of carcinogenesis resulting from missions of extended spaceflight and the development of pharmacological countermeasures to mitigate them. Before his current enrollment, Bradford received a Master of Biomedical Science from Wake Forest University and a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Duke University
Publications
Almeida-Porada G, Rodman C, Kuhlman B, Brudvik E, Moon J, George S, Guida P, Sajuthi SP, Langefeld CD, Walker SJ, Wilson PF, Porada CD. Exposure of the Bone Marrow Microenvironment to Simulated Solar and Galactic Cosmic Radiation Induces Biological Bystander Effects on Human Hematopoiesis. Stem Cells Dev. 2018. Epub 2018/04/27. doi: 10.1089/scd.2018.0005. PubMed PMID: 29698131.
Low EK, Brudvik E, Kuhlman B, Wilson PF, Almeida-Porada G, Porada CD. Microgravity Impairs DNA Damage Repair in Human Hematopoietic Stem/Progenitor Cells and Inhibits Their Differentiation into Dendritic Cells. Stem Cells Dev. 2018. Epub 2018/06/15. doi: 10.1089/scd.2018.0052. PubMed PMID: 29901426.
Oral Presentations
"Effects of mission relevant doses of SEP and GCR radiation on human hematopoiesis".B.M. Kuhlman, J. Diaz, J. Yang, J. Lacombe, A.C. Evans, K. Martin, M.A. Coleman, F. Zenhausern, M.G. Almeida-Porada, P.F. Wilson, and C.D. Porada.
Lightning Talk RRS, 2020.
"Effects on Anti-Leukemic Activity of Human Natural Killer Cells in a Continuous Microgravity Environment"
Bradford Kuhlman, Graҫa Almeida-Porada, MD PhD, Christopher D. Porada, PhD. ASGSR, 2019.
"Could Conditions of Microgravity Enhance Cancer Risk from Space Radiation?"
Bradford M Kuhlman, Graça Almeida-Porada, MD PhD, Christopher D. Porada, PhD, NextGen Stem Cell, 2018.