Scientific Principles of Adipose Stem Cells

Dr. Kokai is co-director of the Adipose Stem Cell Center at the University of Pittsburgh,
faculty of the McGowan Institute of Regenerative Medicine (MIRM) and research faculty member in the Department of Plastic Surgery, School of Medicine. Dr. Kokai has a broad background in soft tissue engineering with specific training in development of novel biomaterials and drug delivery systems for adipose tissue regeneration and use of mesenchymal stem cells for tissue engineering and cell therapy applications. She has extensive experience in developing bioassays for biologic product development and has led collaborations with industry partners to transition preclinical research into commercialized products. Dr. Kokai is a co-Investigator in an NIH funded line of research aimed at developing cell-based methods for clinical soft tissue reconstruction after cancer therapy.

Dr. Marra is an Associate Professor in the Department of Plastic Surgery (Primary), and Department of Bioengineering (Secondary), at the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Marra’s academic training was in the areas of polymer chemistry, biomaterials and tissue engineering. She is the Director of the Plastic Surgery Research Laboratory (since 2002) and a core faculty member in the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, where she has served as a member of the Executive Committee since 2004. She has a publication record of 114 peer-reviewed publications, 24 reviews, 14 book chapters, and 4 patents, and over 570 abstracts in the areas of nerve regeneration, adipose stem cells, bioreactors, tissue engineering, and wound healing. Her funding includes NIH, NSF, and DoD grants in the area of regenerative medicine (including the Armed Forces Institute for Regenerative Medicine, (AFIRM)). She is the Enabling Technology Core Focus Area Leader in AFIRM II. She was Co-Chair of the 2015 Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society (TERMIS) World Congress, held in Boston.

Dr. Rubin is endowed Professor of Plastic Surgery and Professor of Bioengineering, at the University of Pittsburgh with a faculty appointment with the McGowan Institute of Regenerative Medicine (MIRM). Dr. Rubin developed a basic science research program in the biology of adipose-derived stem cells and serves as Co-Director of the Adipose Stem Cell Center at the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Rubin holds leadership positions in national and international plastic surgery societies, is the principal investigator in an NIH-funded line of research aimed at developing cell based methods for clinical soft tissue reconstruction after cancer therapy and holds two FDA cell therapy IDE protocols and an IND, all as sponsor/ investigator. Dr. Rubin’s many scientific leadership positions include past president of the International Society of Adipose Therapeutics and Science and past Chairman of the Plastic Surgery Research Council.

He has received numerous awards for research, including the highly competitive Gingrass Award from the Plastic Surgery Research Council. He is the recipient of the American Association of Plastic Surgeons Academic Scholar Award, and the Plastic Surgery Educational Foundation Award for Outstanding Achievement in Basic and Translational Science. In 2007, Dr. Rubin was selected to receive a Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE). Dr. Rubin contributes expertise in scientific models assessing the use of adult adipose stem cell therapies for tissue engineering and regenerative applications