Francis Y. Lee, MD, PhD among Columbia researchers to receive U.S. Department of Defense Award of $3.2 Million for Research to Help Wounded Military Personnel

Francis Y. Lee, MD, PhD, associate professor of orthopaedic surgery and vice chair for research, Columbia University Medical Center; Jeremy Mao, DDS, PhD, P&S Dental School; Edward V. Zegarelli, professor of dental medicine, P&S Dental School; and Andreas Hielscher, PhD, associate professor of biomedical engineering, Columbia University, have received a four year grant of $3.2 million from the Department of Defense for their research project, “Ready-to-Use Tissue Constructs for Military Trauma Bone and Cartilage Defects.” This large grant exemplifies successful multi-disciplinary collaboration among the Columbia University Medical Center, P&S Dental School and Columbia University Morningside campuses.

As a collective effort, Dr. Lee, orthopaedic clinician-scientist; Dr. Mao, tissue engineering expert; and Dr. Hielscher, 3D optical tomography (OT) imaging authority; will examine the potential of ready-to-use tissue constructs with optimal growth factors for regeneration of massive cartilage/bone defects resulting from military combat related injuries. The researchers also have ongoing National Institute of Health-funded projects on bone inflammation, tissue engineering and optical imaging, respectively.