Human tissue engineered blood vessels | Dr. Jeffrey H. Lawson, M.D., Ph.D. | TEDxDuke

This talk was given at a local TEDx event, produced independently of the TED Conferences. Having spent more than 15 years working on the development of tissue engineered blood vessels with his longstanding research partner, Dr. Laura Niklason and their many collaborators, Dr. Lawson shares the challenges, stories and possibilities of growing human replacement parts for people. He discusses the science, logistics and team required to pursue this ambitious goal, highlighting the critical steps in the development of the vascular tissues that are currently undergoing first-in-man clinical testing in both the United States and Europe. He challenges the audience to dream of day when diseased human tissues can be replaced by a potentially unlimited supply of engineered organs.

Jeffrey H. Lawson, M.D., Ph.D. received his Medical Degree and a Ph.D. in Cell and Molecular Biology from the University of Vermont in Burlington. He then completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Biochemistry at the same location and a residency in General and Thoracic Surgery and a Fellowship in Vascular Surgery at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina.

Dr. Lawson is currently Professor of Surgery and Professor of Pathology at Duke University Medical Center, where he is also the Director of the Vascular Surgery Research Laboratory and Director of Clinical Trials in Vascular Surgery. Dr. Lawson is the Program Director of the General Surgery Research Residency Program and the Medical Director of Department of Surgery Clinical Research Unit which oversees all clinical research activities in the Department of Surgery at Duke University.

Dr. Lawson is an active physician-scientist, clinically practicing vascular surgery and actively pursuing basic, translational and clinical research activities in his laboratory. Lawson has had a lifelong interest in the field of blood coagulation and vascular biology and has continuously studied these areas both scientifically and clinically. He has become a recognized leader in the field of vascular translational technology and his laboratory has successfully developed a number of molecular, cellular and tissue engineered technologies through translational research studies to first-in-man clinical trials. He is the co-author of over 120 journal articles on the topics of hemostasis, tissue engineering and vascular surgery and lectures on these topics both nationally and internationally. Dr. Lawson’s research laboratory has been funded by grants from the American Heart Association, National Institutes of Health, Department of Defense and various biotechnology companies.

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