Rethinking Donor Organ Suitability
Dr. Shepherd has more than 15 years of experience in Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine research. Dr. Shepherd’s research in vascular biology and microvascular tissue engineering has been focused on the ability to use creative approaches to generate microvascular networks to support the fabrication and surgical implantation of prevascularized neotissues. In addition to these research interests, he has successfully led early-stage research programs in liver biology, oncology and directed differentiation of stem cells within 3D and bioprinted tissues. Prior to joining Organovo in 2009, he was an Associate Research Scientist at the Yale School of Medicine, where he also conducted postdoctoral training. In addition to his appointment at Yale, he was a staff perfusionist at the University of Connecticut Health Center. Dr. Shepherd is a board certified clinical perfusionist (C.C.P.), received his Ph.D. in Physiological Sciences from the University of Arizona and a B.S. in Zoology from the University of Washington.
Doris A. Taylor, Ph.D., D.Sc. (hon), FACC, FAHA
Director, THI Regenerative Medicine Research, Texas Heart Institute
Director, Center for Cell and Organ Biotechnology at the Texas Heart Institute and TAMU College of Veterinary Medicine
Adjunct Professor, TAMU College of Veterinary Medicine, Dept. Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology,
Adjunct Professor, Rice University Department of Biosciences
As a pioneer in cardiovascular cell therapy research, Dr. Taylor, is credited with a number of important scientific breakthroughs related to cell therapy, stem cell biology, and tissue engineering. She holds a number of invention disclosures, patent applications and patents and is the founder of multiple companies dedicated to cardiovascular repair technologies. She is a member of the Society for Women's Health Research (SWHR) Cardiovascular Working Group and the Organization for the Study of Sex Differences (OSSD). Other professional affiliations include the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the American Heart Association (AHA), and the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB), among others. She was recently appointed to the Executive Committee for the Alliance for Regenerative Medicine (ARM). Dr. Taylor holds many honors including appointments as a Fellow for the American Heart Association, the Council on Functional Genomics and Translational Biology, the American College of Cardiology, and the Council on Basic Cardiovascular Sciences. She has been recognized by the AHA for Top 10 Research Advances. Dr. Taylor was awarded an honorary Doctorate Science degree by her alma mater, Mississippi University for Women, at commencement ceremonies in May 2015. The event’s press release recognized Dr. Taylor as a pioneer in cardiovascular cell therapy research, further noting that “She and her team are internationally renowned for their research on ‘whole organ decellularization,’ in which they have demonstrated that they can remove the existing cells from hearts of laboratory animals, and even humans, to leave a framework for building new organs. The hope is that this research is an early step toward being able to grow a fully functional human heart in the laboratory, which if it can be achieved would revolutionize the field of organ transplantation.”
Dr. Taylor’s presentation will address the work being done in the field of Regenerative Medicine, progress to date, predictions on the potential of Regenerative Medicine, and how soon and how much this can/will impact the organ shortage.
William D. Snyder, CTP, OrganOx Clinical Field Specialist
William Snyder is a Surgical Recovery Coordinator Perfusionist at LifeSharing, University of California, San Diego. He has extensive experience and expertise in hands-on surgical recovery of tissues (skin, bone, tendon etc) and all organ systems. He is an excellent educator with strong interpersonal skills and the ability to distill down large complex concepts into easily understood processes. He is a Certified Transplant Preservationist from the American Board of Transplant Certification.
