Researchers create engineered blood vessels in children

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The Columbus Dispatch recently featured an article on engineered blood vessels that grow in children as they grow. This research collaboration between The Ohio State University and Nationwide Children’s Hospital (NCH), highlights the outstanding scientific research in Dr. Christopher Breuer’s lab at NCH, and his specialized work in tissue engineering. Dr. Breuer also holds a graduate faculty appointment in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at The Ohio State University.     

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Christopher K. Breuer, M.D. Pediatric Surgeon Nationwide Endowed Chair in Surgical Research

Current PhD student Kevin Blum, Biomedical Engineering, Ohio State,  joined Dr. Breuer’s lab in March. Blum is currently a 3rd year Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) student, Ohio State’s MD/PhD training program. Blum is also the current President of the Medical Student Scientist Organization (MSSO), at Ohio State. MSSO is a student-founded and student-run organization that acts as the primary liaison to the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) in The Ohio State University College of Medicine.

Dr. Bruer’s lab works to make Tissue Engineered Vessel Grafts (TEVG) for pediatric patients. Children who are born with congenital anomalies require surgical interventions to allow their hearts to function appropriately. However, because current products do not grow with the child, they require multiple reinterventions to replace the parts that are now too small, and the patients must be put on medications for life to prevent rejection. The TEVG turn into neotissue in the body that is made up of the patient's own cells and can grow with them as they age. 

After graduation, Blum intends to become a physician engineer. He plans to work as a physician in a pediatric research hospital and also wants to work on developing new medical devices and technologies. 

Current medical and PhD student Kevin Blum, Biomedical Engineering.
Current medical and PhD student Kevin Blum, Biomedical Engineering.

To view the full article featured in the Columbus Dispatch click here.