Jeffrey Rice

Whitaker International Scholar, 2009-11

Home Institution: University of California, Santa Barbara; Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne

Host Country, Institution: Switzerland, Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne

Project Title: Development of Growth Factor-Peptide Fusions for Use in Regenerative Medicine

Project Abstract:

The project entails the creation of chimeric proteins composed of growth factors, such as VEGF-A and FGF2, fused to peptides that will mediate high affinity binding to extracellular matrix components to aid in the regeneration of tissues and blood vessels at a site of injury. The peptides will be developed using phage display and designed with the appropriate affinity to the extracellular matrix material, fibrin, allowing long term release of the growth factors leading to improved tissue regeneration. The chimeric proteins will be assayed for function in both an in vitro fibrin gel model and for in vivo wound healing in mice.