Lara G. Pferdehirt, BS

Washington University in St. Louis (WU)

We are interested in utilizing gene therapy and synthetic biology approaches to create autonomous cells that help combat disease. Specifically, we are interested in engineering stem cells that can be used to regenerate cartilage and protect existing cartilage from inflammation in an osteoarthritic joint. We plan to take this technology and apply it to chronic inflammatory diseases and other musculoskeletal systems such as muscle, tendon, and bone.