Evan
Scott, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Biomedical Engineering
Northwestern University
Biography
Evan Scott, Ph.D. has been as an Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Northwestern University since the fall of 2013. He respectively received a B.S. and Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from Brown University in 2002 and Washington University in St. Louis in 2009. His dissertation work was performed in the laboratory of Prof. Donald Elbert, where he developed methods based in proteomics and polymer chemistry to both analyze and control the interactions between cells and material surfaces. As a Whitaker International Scholar, he spent four years in Switzerland at the EPFL performing postdoctoral research in the laboratories of Prof. Jeffrey Hubbell and Prof. Melody Swartz. There he investigated new formulations and strategies for both HIV vaccination and cancer immunotherapy. Dr. Scott is a recipient of the 2015 NIH Director’s New Innovator Award, the 2015 National Science Foundation CAREER Award and the 2014 American Heart Association Scientist Development Grant. He was selected as a 2017 BMES Young Innovator of Cellular and Molecular Bioengineering, 2018 Nano Research Young Innovator in Nanobiotechnology, 2018 American Society for Engineering Education PRISM 20 under 40, National Academy of Engineering Frontiers of Engineering 2018 speaker, 2019 Biomaterials Science Emerging Investigator, and 2019 Halo 40 under 40 Chicago Scientist.
Title of Abstract
Nanobiomaterial-mediated Costimulation Blockade for Anti-inflammatory Strategies in Regenerative Medicine
Abstract
The immune system is a critical participant in regenerative processes, and self-assembled nanobiomaterials can function as tools to guide inflammatory responses of immune cells during wound healing and cell/tissue transplantation. Here, I will present some of our ongoing work on developing nanobiomaterials for anti-inflammatory and tolerogenic strategies. Using animal models of atherosclerosis and diabetic islet transplantation as examples, I will demonstrate how the biodistribution and chemistry of our nanobiomaterials can be engineered for sustained costimulation blockade of key antigen presenting cell populations. Preventing the activation and maturation of these cells enhanced the regeneration of inflamed vasculature as well as achieved islet tolerance and glucose control in mice while significantly reducing side-effects and dosage. Materials design and immunological mechanisms contributing to these therapeutic effects will be discussed.
Funding and disclosures: This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health Director’s New Innovator Award (grant no. 1DP2HL132390-01), the American Heart Association (grant no. 14SDG20160041), the National Science Foundation (grant no. 1453576), the 2014 McCormick Catalyst Award, Chemistry of Life Processes Institute Postdoctoral Fellows Program, the Chemistry of Life Processes Institute Cornew Innovation Award, the Louis A. Simpson & Kimberly K. Querrey Center for Regenerative Nanomedicine Regenerative Nanomedicine Catalyst Award, National Institutes of Health Predoctoral Biotechnology Training Grant (grant no. T32GM008449).
Research Interests
The overall research objective of my laboratory is to investigate the basic inflammatory and immunological processes contributing to diverse pathologies and develop targeted therapeutic approaches using engineering- and materials-based strategies. More specifically, we aim to achieve controlled elicitation or suppression of the immune system via the rational design of delivery systems that target key inflammatory cell populations. We approach this by synthesizing, assembling and testing in vivo a range of nanostructures loaded with strategically selected combinations of immunostimulants. By validating our immunostimulatory nanomaterials in mouse models for heart disease, cancer, and Chagas disease, we intend to demonstrate therapeutic immunomodulation based on the rational design of synthetic materials.
Funding and disclosures: This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health Director’s New Innovator Award (grant no. 1DP2HL132390-01), the American Heart Association (grant no. 14SDG20160041), the National Science Foundation (grant no. 1453576), the 2014 McCormick Catalyst Award, Chemistry of Life Processes Institute Postdoctoral Fellows Program, the Chemistry of Life Processes Institute Cornew Innovation Award, the Louis A. Simpson & Kimberly K. Querrey Center for Regenerative Nanomedicine Regenerative Nanomedicine Catalyst Award, National Institutes of Health Predoctoral Biotechnology Training Grant (grant no. T32GM008449).
Three relevant recent publications:
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/adfm.201904399
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-018-03001-9
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0091674917302427?via%3...
Author Listing
Sijia Yi1,2, Fanfan Du1, Nicholas Karabin1, Sharan Bobbala1, Xiaohan Zhang1, Hussain Sangji1,2, Yugang Liu1, Sean D. Allen3, Baofu Qiao4,Baixue Xiao1, Ha-Kyung Kwon4, Lei Cai10, Peter I. Hecker10,11, Mathew DeBerge8,9, Edward B. Thorp8,9, Ryan E. Temel10,11, Samuel I. Stupp1,4,5,6,7, Kenneth Shull4, Monica Olvera de la Cruz2,3,4,5, Evan A. Scott1,2,3,7*
All Author Affiliations
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, 2Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, 3Interdisciplinary Biological Sciences, 4Department of Materials Science and Engineering, 5Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, IL 60208
6Department of Medicine, 7Simpson Querrey Institute, 8Department of Pathology, 9Feinberg Cardiovascular Research Institute, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, IL 60611, USA
10Saha Cardiovascular Research Center, 11Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, University of Kentucky, KY 40536, USA