Engineering Neural Tissue from Stem Cells covers the basic knowledge needed to understand the nervous system and how existing cells can be used to create neural tissue. This book presents a broad range of topics related to the design requirements for engineering neural tissue from stem cells. It begins with the anatomy and function of the central and peripheral nervous system, also covering stem cells, their relation to the nervous system and their function in recovery after injury or disease. In addition, the book explores the role of the extracellular matrix and vasculature/immune system and biomaterials, including their suitability for neural tissue engineering applications.
- Provides readers entering the field with a strong basis of neural tissue engineering processes and real-world applications
- Discusses the most current clinical trials and their importance of treating nervous system disorders
- Reviews the structure and immune response of the nervous system, including the brain, spinal cord and their present cells
- Offers a necessary overview of the natural and synthetic biomaterials used to engineer neural tissue
Dr. Stephanie Willerth, Ph.D., F.C.S.S.E., F.B.S.E., is a Full Professor in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Victoria, where she has dual appointments in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and the Division of Medical Sciences. She runs an internationally recognized research group focused on tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. She also holds an appointment with the School of Biomedical Engineering at the University of British Columbia. She was elected to the Royal Society of Canada’s College of New Scholars in 2021 and received the 2021 Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia’s Teaching Award for Excellence. She founded the award winning start-up company Axolotl Biosciences, which sells high-quality bioinks for bioprinting human tissue models. Dr. Willerth is an active member of the steering committee of the B.C. Regenerative Medicine Initiative and the Stem Cell Network. She also serves as a staff scientist at Creative Destruction Lab. Dr. Willerth served as the Director of the Centre for Biomedical Research and the Biomedical Engineering undergraduate program at the University of Victoria from 2018-2021 and as the President of Canadian Biomaterials Society from 2018-2019. Dr. Willerth is the author of Engineering Neural Tissue from Stem Cells, published by Elsevier Academic Press in 2016.
