2024 conference Presentation
Dr. Rebecca Heise

Dr. Rebecca Heise’s presentation focuses on her biomedical engineering research on lung extracellular matrix (ECM) materials and their potential applications in studying lung diseases and developing therapies. She describes her lab’s work on modeling lung injuries and creating ECM-based hydrogels and nanoparticles for drug delivery and tissue repair. Highlighting the complexity of lung function and the limitations of animal models, Dr. Heise explains how her team processes ECM from lungs to develop biomaterials that mimic the lung's natural environment. These materials are used to study conditions like pulmonary fibrosis, COPD, and pulmonary hypertension. Her team also investigates ECM nanoparticles as a vehicle for delivering therapeutics to distal lung regions, showing promising results in reducing inflammation and bacterial infections in animal models. Dr. Heise emphasizes the potential of ECM-based technologies in advancing pulmonary medicine and invites collaboration and further exploration.