November 28, 2018 Evan Scott Northwestern University Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering "Development of theranostic nanobiomaterials for targeted immune modulation"
4:10 PM, 134 Featheringill Hall Refreshments served at 3:45
Abstract
Self-assembled nanobiomaterials that are engineered to achieve specific biodistributions and mechanisms of degradation hold great promise for controlled stimulation of the immune system. Through the use of such rationally designed nanobiomaterials, we aim to investigate the basic inflammatory and immunological processes contributing to diverse pathologies and develop targeted immunotherapies. We specifically approach this by synthesizing, assembling and testing in vitro and in vivo a range of nanostructures loaded with strategically selected combinations of immunostimulants to achieve controlled elicitation or suppression of the immune system. Here, I will present some of our ongoing work in the area of nanobiomaterials development as well as recent applications of our materials for the controlled modulation of inflammatory cells.
Bio
Evan Scott, Ph.D. has been as an Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Northwestern University since the fall of 2013. He respectively received a B.S. and Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from Brown University in 2002 and Washington University in St. Louis in 2009. His dissertation work was performed in the laboratory of Prof. Donald Elbert, where he developed methods based in proteomics and polymer chemistry to both analyze and control the interactions between cells and material surfaces. As a Whitaker International Scholar, he spent four years in Switzerland at the EPFL performing postdoctoral research in the laboratories of Prof. Jeffrey Hubbell and Prof. Melody Swartz. There he investigated new formulations and strategies for both HIV vaccination and cancer immunotherapy. Dr. Scott is a recipient of the 2015 NIH Director’s New Innovator Award, the 2015 National Science Foundation CAREER Award and the 2014 American Heart Association Scientist Development Grant. He was selected as a 2017 BMES Young Innovator of Cellular and Molecular Bioengineering and a 2018 Nano Research Young Innovator in Nanobiotechnology.