Pannier Group Fall 2009

A major goal of the Pannier Lab is to understand the mechanisms which render cells responsive to DNA transfer, concentrating on the extracellular environment of the cell, the interaction between cells and biomaterials, as well as the intracellular processes and subsequent signaling involved during nonviral gene delivery. With a better understanding of gene transfer, we expect to use that knowledge to design more efficient delivery systems, which could be used for gene therapy or tissue engineering applications.

The Pannier Lab is also interested in developing new polymeric methods of nonviral gene delivery that facilitate the application of gene transfer to oral delivery. In addition, we are applying gene delivery methods to develop techniques to measure epigenetic profiles in small cell populations. Furthermore, we are interested in understanding environmental effects of culture of tissue engineering constructs on epigenetic profiles that may dictate the efficacy of engineered tissue.

Finally, we are developing novel techniques to pattern hydrogels for tissue engineering scaffolds, using fiber-templating to create conduits within the matrix for directed cell growth, as well as applying tissue engineering approaches to study embryology. The experimental approaches developed in our lab provide valuable insights to the gene delivery and biomaterial fields, and our goal is to translate our discoveries to therapeutic, biotechnological, and tissue engineering applications.