Charles Vacanti

Charles Vacanti is an American anesthesiologist and tissue engineer known for his contributions to the field of regenerative medicine. He is particularly recognized for his work on the development of scaffolds for tissue engineering, and the controversial creation of a "vacanti mouse", a laboratory mouse that appeared to have a human ear grown on its back.

Early life and education

Charles Vacanti was born in the United States. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Nebraska and went on to earn his medical degree from the University of Minnesota. He completed his residency in anesthesiology at the Massachusetts General Hospital.

Career

Vacanti has held several academic and clinical positions throughout his career. He served as the Director of the Laboratory for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital and was a Professor of Anesthesiology at Harvard Medical School.

Research

Vacanti's research has focused on the development of scaffolds for tissue engineering. These scaffolds provide a structure for cells to grow on, allowing for the creation of new tissues and organs. His work has been instrumental in the field of regenerative medicine, contributing to advances in treatments for conditions such as heart disease and liver disease.

One of Vacanti's most notable experiments involved the creation of a "vacanti mouse". This mouse, which appeared to have a human ear grown on its back, was created using a biodegradable scaffold in the shape of an ear, which was then seeded with cartilage cells. The experiment sparked controversy and ethical debates, but also highlighted the potential of tissue engineering.

Controversies

Vacanti has been involved in several controversies throughout his career. The most notable of these is his involvement in the STAP cells controversy. Vacanti and his team claimed to have discovered a new type of pluripotent stem cell, but their findings were later retracted due to issues with the research.

See also

• Tissue engineering
• Regenerative medicine
• STAP cells

References

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