Grants Funded

Abstract
Project Summary: Volumetric muscle loss (VML) is associated with significant functional and aesthetic deficits. The current options for treatment of VML include acellular biological scaffolds (ACellR) and muscle/tendon transfers. These treatments are limited scarring or by donor site morbidity respectively. There remains an unmet need for functional muscle regeneration. Our group has developed, validated, and published a critical sized muscle defect capable of studying various collagen scaffolds including cell augmented scaffolds. Our approach takes advantage of the inherent heterogeneity of MDPCs, which contain both myogenic and angiogenic elements, for optimal skeletal muscle regeneration. In the proposed grant, we seek to test a cell enhanced amniotic membrane scaffold with florescent lineage specific cell tracking technology in our validated VML model. We expect to regenerate a greater volume of functionally polarized muscle with minimal fibrosis compared to collagen scaffolds. Additionally, we seek to further characterize the mechanisms of cell mediated tissue regeneration and defect repopulation using a novel florescent cell tracking technology (Rosa26-CAG-Brainbow2.1/Confetti derived cells). Impact Statement: Volumetric muscle loss (VML) is associated with significant morbidity in both civilian and military populations. Current treatments are limited and thus a translational regenerative solution that minimizes donor morbidity and regenerates functionally polarized tissue is timely and necessary. Our proposed research is an impactful and logical step forward towards our stated goal of healing VML defects and further the understanding of basic cellular repopulation mechanisms within the tissue defect using a florescent lineage specific cell tracking technology (Rosa26-CAG-Brainbow2.1/Confetti derived cells) within our murine model. These critical and sequential steps are necessary steps prior to pragmatic upscaling in a large animal model.

Biography
Anand R. Kumar, MD was recruited to Pittsburgh from Bethesda, MD, where he served as Director and Staff Pediatric Plastic Surgeon of the Military Craniofacial Unit at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. He previously acted as Division Chief in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda. Dr. Kumar completed a fellowship in craniofacial surgery/pediatric plastic surgery at the University of California at Los Angeles. While in Los Angeles, Dr. Kumar also completed a residency in plastic and reconstructive surgery. He received additional training in general surgery at the Mayo Clinical Graduate School of Medicine; Rochester, MN. Dr. Kumar obtained his medical degree from Albert Einstein College of Medicine in Bronx, NY. His clinical practice focuses on craniofacial surgery including the correction of pediatric and adolescent facial skeletal deformities and airway obstruction using traditional orthognathic surgery and distraction osteogenesis. His basic science research is focused on combat casualty care related to heterotrophic bone formation and harnessing its potential for structural bone regeneration.