Name:	Wiliam R. Wagner, Ph.D.
Affiliation:	University of Pittsburgh
Title:	Director, McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine Professor, Department of Surgery Professor, Department of Bioengineering Professor, Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering

Dr. William R. Wagner is Director of the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine as well as a Professor of Surgery, Bioengineering and Chemical Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh. He also serves as the Director of Thrombosis Research for the Artificial Heart and Lung Program, and Deputy Director of the NSF Engineering Research Center on "Revolutionizing Metallic Biomaterials". He holds a B.S. (Johns Hopkins Univ.) and Ph.D. (Univ. of Texas) in Chemical Engineering. Dr. Wagner is the Coordinator for the Cellular and Organ Engineering track for Bioengineering graduate students, and currently teaches in the areas of biomaterials and tissue engineering.
Professor Wagner is the Founding Editor and Editor-in-Chief of one of the leading biomaterials journals, Acta Biomaterialia, and currently serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of Biomedical Materials Research part A, Biotechnology and Bioengineering, and the Journal of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine. Dr. Wagner is a past president of the American Society for Artificial Internal Organs (ASAIO; 2010-2011) and serves on the Executive Board of the International Federation of Artificial Organs (IFAO). He is a fellow and former vice president of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE; 2000) and has also been elected a fellow of the Biomedical Engineering Society (2007), the International Union of Societies for Biomaterials Science and Engineering (2008) and the American Heart Association (2001). He has served as Chairman for the Gordon Research Conference on Biomaterials: Biocompatibility & Tissue Engineering as well as for the First World Congress of the Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society (TERMIS). In 2006 he was selected to the "Scientific American 50", the magazine's annual list recognizing leaders in science and technology from the research, business and policy fields. In 2011 he was awarded the Society for Biomaterials Clemson Award for Applied Research. He has served on numerous NIH and NSF study sections, is a member of the NIH College of Reviewers, and has been a member of external review committees for national and international organizations focused on bioengineering and regenerative medicine. His research has generated numerous patents and patent filings that have resulted in licensing activity, the formation of a company, and University of Pittsburgh Innovator Awards in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010.
Dr. Wagner's research interests involve the application of engineering and materials science principles to develop technologies that aid in the treatment and diagnosis of cardiovascular disease. His research group's cardiovascular engineering efforts include projects that address cardiovascular device biocompatibility and design, tissue engineering, and targeted vascular imaging. Researchers in Dr. Wagner's group have included graduate students in Bioengineering and Chemical Engineering as well as post-doctoral fellows with backgrounds in surgery, engineering, or polymer chemistry. Projects span from in vitro to clinical studies.

PhD (Chemical Engineering), University of Texas at Austin, 1991

William R. Wagner, PhD
Room 300, Bridgeside Point II
450 Technology Drive, Suite 300
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Phone: (412) 624-5324
rwagnerwr@upmc.edu
McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine: http://www.mirm.pitt.edu/wagner/

• Snyder TA, Tsukui H, Kihara S, Akimoto T, Litwak KN, Kameneva MV, Yamazaki K, Wagner WR: Preclinical biocompatibility assessment of the EVAHEART ventricular assist device: coating comparison and platelet activation. J Biomed Mater Res A 81:85-92 (2007).
• Fujimoto KL, Guan J, Oshima H, Sakai T, Wagner WR: In vivo evaluation of a porous, elastic, biodegradable patch for reconstructive cardiac procedures. Ann Thorac Surg 83:648-654 (2007).
• Snyder TA, Litwak KN, Tsukui H, Akimoto T, Kihara S, Yamazaki K, Wagner WR: Leukocyte-platelet aggregates and monocyte tissue factor expression in bovines implanted with ventricular assist devices. Artif Organs 31:126-131(2007).
• Deglau TE, Johnson JD, Villanueva FS, Wagner WR: Targeting microspheres and cells to PEG-modified biological surfaces. J Biomed Mater Res A 81:578-585 (2007).
• Villanueva FS, Lu E, Bowry S, Kilic S, Tom E, Wang J, Gretton J, Pacella JJ, Wagner WR: Myocardial ischemic memory imaging using molecular echocardiography. Circulation 115:345-352 (2007).
• Stankus JJ, Soletti L, Fujimoto K, Hong Y, Vorp DA, Wagner WR: Fabrication of cell microintegrated blood vessel constructs through electrohydrodynamic atomization. Biomaterials 28:2738-2746 (2007).
• Fujimoto KL, Tobita K, Merryman WD, Guan, J, Momoi N, Stolz DB, Sacks MS, Keller BB, Wagner WR: An elastic, biodegradable cardiac patch induces contractile smooth muscle and improves cardiac remodeling and function in sub-acute myocardial infarction. J Am Coll Cardiol 49:2292-2300 (2007). (article featured on journal cover)
• Guan J, Stankus JJ, Wagner WR: Biodegradable elastomeric scaffolds with basic fibroblast growth factor release. J Control Release 120:70-78 (2007).
• Dasse KA, Gellman BN, Kameneva MV, Woolley J, Johnson C, Gempp T, Marks JD, Kent S, Koert A, Richardson JS, Franklin S, Snyder TA, Wearden P, Wagner WR, Gilbert RJ, Borovetz HS: Assessment of hydraulic performance and biocompatibility of a MagLev centrifugal pump system designed for pediatric cardiac or cardiopulmonary support. ASAIO J 53:771-777 (2007).
• Nieponice A, Soletti L, MS, Guan J, PhD, Deasy BM, Huard J, Wagner WR, Vorp DA: Development of a tissue engineered vascular graft combining a biodegradable scaffold, muscle-derived stem cells and a rotational vacuum seeding technique. Biomaterials 29:825-833 (2008).
• Johnson CA Jr., Snyder TA, Woolley JR, Wagner WR: Flow cytometric assays for quantifying activated ovine platelets. Artif Organs 32:136-145 (2008).<
• Stankus JJ, Freytes DO, Badylak SF, Wagner WR: Hybrid nanofibrous scaffolds from electrospinning of a synthetic biodegradable elastomer and urinary bladder matrix. J Biomater Sci Polym Ed 19:635Ð652 (2008).
• Hong Y, Fujimoto K, Hashizume R, Guan J, Stankus JJ, Tobita K, Wagner WR: Generating elastic, biodegradable polyurethane/poly(lactide-co-glycolide) fibrous sheets with controlled antibiotic release via two-stream electrospinning. Biomacromolecules 9:1200-1207 (2008).
• Guan J, Hong Y, Ma Z, Wagner WR: Protein-reactive, thermoresponsive copolymers with high flexibility and biodegradability. Biomacromolecules 9:1283-1292 (2008).
• Stella JA, Liao J, Hong Y, Merryman WD, Wagner WR, Sacks MS: Tissue-to-cellular level deformation coupling in cell micro integrated elastomeric scaffolds. Biomaterials 29:3228-3236 (2008).
• El-Kurdi MS, Hong Y, Stankus JJ, Soletti L, Wagner WR, Vorp DA: Transient elastic support for vein grafts using a constricting microfibrillar polymer wrap. Biomaterials 29:3213-3220 (2008).
• Guan J, Fujimoto KL, Wagner WR: Elastase-sensitive elastomeric scaffolds with variable anisotropy for soft tissue engineering. Pharm Res 25:2400-2412 (2008).
• Burgess KA, Hu HH, Wagner WR, Federspiel WJ: Towards microfabricated biohybrid artificial lung modules for chronic respiratory support. Biomed Microdev 11:117-27 (2009).
• Hong Y, Ye SH, Nieponice A, Soletti L, Vorp DA, Wagner WR: A small diameter, fibrous vascular conduit generated from a poly(ester urethane)urea and phospholipid polymer blend. Biomaterials 30:2457-67 (2009).<
• Toma C, Wagner WR, Bowry S, Schwartz A, Villanueva F: Fate of culture-expanded mesenchymal stem cells in the microvasculature: In vivo observations of cell kinetics. Circ Res 104:398-402 (2009).
• Ye SH, Johnson CA Jr., Woolley JR, Snyder TA, Gamble LJ, Wagner WR: Covalent surface modification of a titanium alloy with a phosphorylcholine-containing copolymer for reduced thrombogenicity in cardiovascular devices. J Biomed Mater Res 91A:18-28 (2009).
• Fujimoto KL, Miki T, Liu LJ, Hashizume R, Strom SC, Wagner WR, Keller BB, Tobita K: Naïve rat amnion-derived cell transplantation improved left ventricular function and reduced myocardial scar of post-infarcted heart. Cell Transplant 18:477-86 (2009).
• Wang F, Li Z, Lannutti JL, Wagner WR, Guan J: Synthesis, characterization and surface modification of low moduli poly(ether carbonate urethane)ureas for soft tissue engineering. Acta Biomaterialia 5:2901-12 (2009).
• Fujimoto KL, Ma Z, Nelson DM, Hashizume R, Guan J, Tobita K, Wagner WR: Synthesis, characterization and therapeutic efficacy of a biodegradable, thermoresponsive hydrogel designed for application in chronic infarcted myocardium. Biomaterials 30:4357-68 (2009).
• Ye SH, Johnson CA Jr., Woolley JR, Oh HI, Gamble LJ, Ishihara K, Wagner WR: Surface modification of a titanium alloy with a phospholipid polymer prepared by a plasma-induced grafting technique to improve surface thromboresistance. Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces 74:96-102 (2009).
• Soletti L, Hong Y, Guan J, Stankus JJ, El-Kurdi MS, Wagner WR, Vorp DA: A bi-layered elastomeric scaffold for tissue engineering of small-diameter vascular grafts. Acta Biomaterialia 6:110-22 (2010).
• Stella JA, Wagner WR, Sacks MS: Scale dependent fiber kinematics of elastomeric electrospun scaffolds for soft tissue engineering. J Biomed Mater Res A 93:1032-42 (2010).<
• Oh HI, Ye SH, Johnson CA Jr., Woolley JR, Federspiel WJ, Wagner WR: Hemocompatibility assessment of carbonic anhydrase modified hollow fiber membranes for artificial lungs. Artif Organs 34:439-42 (2010).
• Clause KC, Tinney JP, Liu JL, Gharaibeh B, Huard J, Kirk J, Shroff SG, Fujimoto KL, Wagner WR, Ralphe JC, Keller BB, Tobita K. A three-dimensional gel bioreactor for assessment of cardiomyocyte induction in skeletal muscle derived stem cells. Tissue Eng Part C 16:375-85 (2010).
• Nieponice A, Soletti L, Guan J, Hong Y, Gharaibeh B, Maul TM, Huard J, Wagner WR, Vorp DA: In-vivo assessment of a tissue-engineered vascular graft combining a biodegradable elastomeric scaffold and muscle-derived stem cells in a rat model. Tissue Eng Part A 16:1215-23 (2010).
• Wang F, Li Z, Khan M, Tamama K, Kuppusamy P, Wagner WR, Sen CK, Guan J: Injectable, rapid gelling and highly flexible hydrogel composites as growth factor and cell carriers. Acta Biomaterialia 6:1978-91 (2010).
• Polk AA, Maul TM, McKeel DT, Snyder TA, Lehocky CA, Pitt B, Stolz DB, Federspiel WJ, Wagner WR: A biohybrid artificial lung prototype with active mixing of endothelialized microporous hollow fibers. Biotechnol Bioeng 106:490-500 (2010). (featured as "Spotlight Article")
• Hashizume R, Fujimoto KL, Hong Y, Amoroso NJ, Tobita K, Miki T, Keller BB, Sacks MS, Wagner WR: Morphological and mechanical characteristics of the reconstructed rat abdominal wall following use of a wet electrospun biodegradable polyurethane elastomer scaffold. Biomaterials 31:3253-65 (2010).
• Hong Y, Guan J, Fujimoto KL, Hashizume R, Pelinescu AL, Wagner WR: Tailoring the degradation kinetics of poly(ester-carbonate urethane)urea thermoplastic elastomers for tissue engineering scaffolds. Biomaterials 31:4249-58 (2010).
• D'Amore A. Stella JA, Wagner WR, Sacks MS: Characterization of the complete fiber network topology of planar fibrous tissues and scaffolds. Biomaterials 31:5345-54 (2010).
• Ye SH, Johnson CA Jr, Woolley JR, Murata H, Gamble LJ, Ishihara K, Wagner WR: Simple surface modification of a titanium alloy with silanated zwitterionic phosphorylcholine or sulfobetaine modifiers to reduce thrombogenicity. Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces 79:357-64 (2010).
• Ma Z, Nelson DM, Hong Y, Wagner WR: A thermally responsive injectable hydrogel incorporating methacrylate-polylactide for hydrolytic lability. Biomacromolecules 11:1873-81 (2010).<
• Maul TM, Dudgeon DD, Beste MT, Hammer DA, Lazo JS, Villanueva FS, Wagner WR: Optimization of ultrasound contrast agents with computational models to improve selection of ligands and binding strength. Biotechnol Bioeng 107:854-64 (2010).
• He W, Nieponice A, Soletti L, Hong Y, Gharaibeh B, Crisan M, Usas A, Peault B, Huard J, Wagner WR, Vorp DA: Pericyte-based human tissue engineered vascular grafts. Biomaterials 31:8235-44 (2010).
• Johnson CA Jr, Vandenberghe S, Daly AR, Woolley JR, Snyder ST, Verkaik JE, Ye SH, Borovetz HS, Antaki JF, Wearden PD, Kameneva MV, Wagner WR: Biocompatibility assessment of the first generation PediaFlow™ pediatric ventricular assist device. Artif Organs 35:9-21 (2011).
• Soletti L, Nieponice A, Hong Y, Ye SH, Stankus JJ, Vorp DA, Wagner WR, Vorp DA: In vivo performance of a phospholipid-coated bioerodible elastomeric graft for small-diameter vascular applications. J Biomed Mater Res, Part A 96:436-48 (2011).
• Fujimoto KL, Clause KC, Liu LJ, Tinney JP, Verma S, Wagner WR, Keller BB, Tobita K: Engineered fetal cardiac graft preserves its cardiomyocyte proliferation within post-infarcted myocardium and sustains cardiac function. Tissue Eng Part A 17:585-96 (2011).
• Amoroso NJ, D'Amore A, Hong Y, Wagner WR, Sacks MS: Elastomeric electrospun polyurethane scaffolds: the interrelationship between fabrication conditions, fiber topology, and mechanical properties. Advanced Materials 23:106-11 (2011).
• Johnson CA Jr, Wearden PD, Kocyldirim E, Woolley JR, Maul TM, Ye SH, Strickler EM, Borovetz HS, Wagner WR: Platelet activation in ovines undergoing sham surgery or implant of the second generation PediaFlow™ pediatric ventricular assist device. Artif Organs 35:602-13 (2011).
• Baraniak PR, Nelson DM, Leeson CE, Katakam AK, Friz JL, Cress DE, Hong Y, Guan J, Wagner WR: Spatial control of gene expression within a scaffold by localized inducer release. Biomaterials 32:3062-71 (2011).<
• Toma C, Fisher A, Wang J, Chen X, Grata M, Winston B, Leeman J, Kaya M, Fu H, Lavery L, Fischer D, Wagner WR, Villanueva FS: Vascular endoluminal delivery of stem cells using acoustic radiation force. Tissue Eng Part A 17:1457-64 (2011).
• Nelson DM, Baraniak PR, Ma Z, Guan J, Mason NS, Wagner WR: Controlled release of IGF-1 and HGF from a biodegradable polyurethane scaffold. Pharm Res 28:1282-93 (2011).
• Hong Y, Huber A, Takanari K, Amoroso NJ, Hashizume R, Badylak SF, Wagner WR: Mechanical properties and in vivo behavior of a biodegradable synthetic polymer microfiber - extracellular matrix hydrogel biohybrid scaffold. Biomaterials 32:3387-94 (2011).
• He W, Nieponice A, Hong Y, Wagner WR, Vorp DA: Rapid engineered small diameter vascular grafts from smooth muscle cells. Cardiovascular Engineering and Technology 2:149-59 (2011).
• Wainwright JM, Hashizume R, Fujimoto KL, Remlinger N, Pesyna C, Wagner WR, Tobita K, Gilbert TW, Badylak SF: Right ventricular outflow tract repair with a cardiac biologic scaffold. Cells Tissues Organs (published online; doi: 10.1159/000331400)
• Johnson CA Jr, Shankarraman V, Wearden PD, Kocyildirim E, Maul TM, Marks JD, Richardson JS, Gellman BN, Borovetz HS, Dasse KA, Wagner WR: Platelet activation following implant of the Levitronix PediVAS in the ovine model. ASAIO J 57:516-21 (2011).
• Hashizume R, Yamawaki-Ogata A, Ueda Y, Wagner WR, Narita Y: Mesenchymal stem cells attenuate angiotensin II-induced aortic aneurysm growth in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice. J Vasc Surg (published online; doi:10.1016/j.jvs.2011.06.109).
• Maul TM, Kocyildirim E, Johnson CA, Daly AR, Olia SE, Woolley JR, Snyder S, Bengston SG, Kameneva MV, Antaki JF, Wagner WR, Borovetz HS, Wearden PD: In-vitro and in-vivo performance of the second developmental version of the PediaFlow pediatric ventricular assist device. Cardiovascular Engineering and Technology (published online; doi: 10.1007/s13239-011-0061-7).
• Aumsuwan N, Ye SH, Wagner WR, Urban MW. Covalent attachment of multilayers on poly(tetrafluoroethylene) surfaces. Langmuir. 27:11106-10 (2011)<
• Ma Z, Hong Y, Nelson DM, Pichamuthu JE, Leeson C, Wagner WR: Biodegradable polyurethane ureas with variable polyester or polycarbonate soft segments: effects of crystallinity, molecular weight and composition on mechanical properties. Biomacromolecules 12:3265-74 (2011).
• Hong Y, Takanari K, Amoroso NJ, Hashizume R, Brennan-Pierce EP, Freund JM, Badylak SF, Wagner WR: An elastomeric patch electrospun from a blended solution of dermal ECM and biodegradable polyurethane for rat abdominal wall repair. Tissue Eng Part C (published online; doi: 10.1089/ten.tec.2011.0295).
• Nelson DM, Ma Z, Leeson CE, Wagner WR: Extended and sequential delivery of protein from injectable thermoresponsive hydrogels. J Biomed Mater Res, Part A (in press).
• Deglau TE, Maul TM, Villanueva FS, Wagner WR: In vivo PEG-modification of vascular surfaces for targeted delivery. J Vasc Surg (in press).
• Wu J, Du Y, Watkins SC, Funderburgh JL, Wagner WR: The engineering of organized human corneal tissue through the spatial guidance of corneal stromal stem cells. Biomaterials (in press).