Translational Engineering Technology for Women’s Health Applications

Female reproductive and gynecologic health are historically understudied fields that would significantly benefit from engineering expertise due to the unique biomechanical environment in the female reproductive tract and the dynamic tissue changes orchestrated throughout the menstrual cycle by sex hormones. With the synergistic techniques of tissue engineering, biomaterials science, biomechanics, and reproductive biology, we engineer models of the female reproductive system and female lower urinary tract, including the endometrium, decidua, vagina, and bladder. We use these tissue engineering models to understand cell-cell interactions, cell-matrix interactions, and hormone dynamics in the context of women’s health applications. Our project applications include understanding mechanisms of early pregnancy, assessing the role of space hazards on female reproduction, and developing drug delivery systems for urinary incontinence.
   
   Presented by:
   Samantha Zambuto, PhD, MPHS
   Assistant Professor
   Lighthouse Beacon Foundation Scholar
   Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering