FEATURED
Welcome Postdocs- Nana and Aakanksha!
Welcome Dr. Nana and Dr. Aakanksha (first Moore Lab PhD) as our first Moore Lab Postdocs! We are thrilled to have you both!
2023 Walk to End Lupus Now!
Lara leads the lab in supporting Lupus Research by organizing our lab's participation at the 2023 Walk to End Lupus Now in Washington DC!
Funding ALERT: NSF CAREER AWARD!
Congrats to the lab for the NSF CAREER Award! Special shoutout to Aakanksha- her thesis work supported the proposed work!
Congrats to Aakanksha for winning first place!
Congrats to Aakanksha for winning 1st place for her poster in the 2023 UMD Postdoctoral Research Symposium!!
Funding ALERT: NSF CAREER AWARD!
Congrats to the lab for the NSF CAREER Award! Special shoutout to Aakanksha- her thesis work supported the proposed work!
Funding Alert: 3M Non-Tenured Faculty Award Renewal!
We've been awarded the 3M NTFA for 2023! We are grateful to 3M for their continued support!
How Do Biomaterials Inform B Cell Function?
While other immune cells are well characterized in their response to biomaterials, this work was the first to characterize how biomaterials influence B cells following injury! We leveraged muscle injury models in mice and compared natural (ECM) vs. synthetic (PCL) biomaterial responses.
Moore, E. Maestas Jr. D. R., Cherry, C. C., et al. Biomaterials direct functional B cell response in a material-specific manner. Science Advances, 7(49), (2021)
Macrophages in Aging
As humans age, the immune system loses functionality which causes complications in response to infection, wound healing, and increased risk of vascular disease. We model the effects of age on macrophage function in the vasculature by encapsulating human macrophages from elderly (>65) or young (<35) donors with vascular cells in our PEG hydrogel system. We currently are evaluating the differences in age, and will also look to evaluate the influence of sex of macrophage donors as well.
Silberman J, Boehlein J, Abbate T, Moore E: A Biomaterial Model to Assess the Effects of Age in Vascularization. Cells Tissues Organs 2022. doi: 10.1159/000523859. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35249009/
Characterizing Monocytes From Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a serious autoimmune disease that disproportionately affects women and people of African descent. There are several factors that contribute to the increased risk of SLE in women compared to men, but the mechanisms by which race/ancestry is associated with SLE risk are less well understood. We are characterizing inflammatory properties of immune cells from SLE patients and healthy individuals in order to see whether race/ancestry affects SLE-associated changes.
Ryan, H., Morel, L., and Moore, E. Vascular Inflammation in Mouse Models of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Front. Cardiovasc. Med., (2022). https://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2022.767450
Generation and characterization of two immortalized dermal fibroblast cell lines from the spiny mouse! Michele's cells are now available at ATCC!
Funding ALERT: NSF CAREER AWARD!
Congrats to the lab for the NSF CAREER Award! Special shoutout to Aakanksha- her thesis work supported the proposed work!
Funding Alert: 3M Non-Tenured Faculty Award Renewal!
We've been awarded the 3M NTFA for 2023! We are grateful to 3M for their continued support!
Congrats to Michele and Paulina on their internship at United Therapeutics!
Michele and Paulina are spending Summer 2023 at United Therapeutics! We know they're going to do great!
Congrats to Holly, Michele, Justin, and Alison for presenting at Society for Biomaterials!
Holly, Michele, Justin, and Alison presented updates from their research at 2023 Society for Biomaterials Annual Conference!
Funding Alert: 3M Non-Tenured Faculty Award Renewal!
We've been awarded the 3M NTFA for 2023! We are grateful to 3M for their continued support!
Congrats to Michele and Justin for Honorable Mention!
Michele and Justin were awarded Honorable Mention STAR Awards from the Society for Biomaterials 2023 Annual conference! Congrats to them both for their hard work!
Funding Alert: 3M Non-Tenured Faculty Award Renewal!
We've been awarded the 3M NTFA for 2023! We are grateful to 3M for their continued support!
Congrats to Holly and Justin for presenting at grand rounds!
Holly and Justin presented their work at the Department of Rheumatology's grand rounds in March 2023! They did a phenomenal job sharing their work!
Funding ALERT: NSF CAREER AWARD!
Congrats to the lab for the NSF CAREER Award! Special shoutout to Aakanksha- her thesis work supported the proposed work!
Congrats to Holly, Michele, Justin, and Alison for presenting at Society for Biomaterials!
Holly, Michele, Justin, and Alison presented updates from their research at 2023 Society for Biomaterials Annual Conference!
Funding Alert: 3M Non-Tenured Faculty Award Renewal!
We've been awarded the 3M NTFA for 2023! We are grateful to 3M for their continued support!
Designing Bifunctional Biomaterials To Direct Macrophage Activation
We are designing 3D polyethylene glycol (PEG)-based hydrogels using ECM-derived peptides to inform cell function via integrin mediation. We aim to control the activation of pro-inflammatory macrophages to prevent chronic inflammation and have designed a biomaterial for the same. Further, we are designing bifunctional biomaterials to promote vessel formation in the macrophage inhibiting hydrogel.
Jha, A., Moore, E. Collagen-derived peptide, DGEA, inhibits pro-inflammatory macrophages in biofunctional hydrogels. Journal of Materials Research (2021) https://doi.org/10.1557/s43578-021-00423-y
Investigating Microgravity Effects On Macrophage Activation
In partnership with Dr. Josephine Allen, we investigate the influence of microgravity on macrophage function. We leverage microgravity simulators and molecular biology to characterize macrophage cell function as a result of alterations in gravity.
Ludtka, C., Moore, E., & Allen, J. B. (2021). The Effects of Simulated Microgravity on Macrophage Phenotype. Biomedicines, 9(9), 1205. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines9091205Ludtka, C., Silberman, J., Moore, E. et al. Macrophages in microgravity: the impact of space on immune cells. npj Microgravity 7,13 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41526-021-00141-z
Funding ALERT: NSF CAREER AWARD!
Congrats to the lab for the NSF CAREER Award! Special shoutout to Aakanksha- her thesis work supported the proposed work!
SOCS1-KIR Peptide in PEGDA Hydrogels Reduces Pro-Inflammatory Macrophage Activation! Read about our collaboration with Dr. Larkin!
Funding Alert: 3M Non-Tenured Faculty Award Renewal!
We've been awarded the 3M NTFA for 2023! We are grateful to 3M for their continued support!
Funding Alert: 3M Non-Tenured Faculty Award Renewal!
We've been awarded the 3M NTFA for 2023! We are grateful to 3M for their continued support!
Congrats to Holly and Justin for presenting at grand rounds!
Holly and Justin presented their work at the Department of Rheumatology's grand rounds in March 2023! They did a phenomenal job sharing their work!
Congrats to Alison on their award!
Alison received the Jonathan Hack Departmental Award from the Materials Science and Engineering Department in Jan 2023!
Congrats to Holly and Justin for presenting at grand rounds!
Holly and Justin presented their work at the Department of Rheumatology's grand rounds in March 2023! They did a phenomenal job sharing their work!
Congrats to Alison on their award!
Alison received the Jonathan Hack Departmental Award from the Materials Science and Engineering Department in Jan 2023!
Moore Lab Retreat!
The Moore Lab held our first Lab Retreat! in Dec. 2022! We traveled to Bradenton to reflect on what we've accomplished and plan for the future!
Two Moore PhD Candidates!
Congrats to Aakanksha and Justin for passing their preliminary thesis exams!
Moore Lab Giving!
We continued our tradition of our Lab Giving and had a blast celebrating our lab community!
Award Celebration: 2022 RITA SCHAFFER AWARD
Dr. Moore becomes the FIRST Black woman to be awarded the BMES Rita Schaffer Young Investigator Award!
Two Moore PhD Candidates!
Congrats to Aakanksha and Justin for passing their preliminary thesis exams!
AWARD CELEBRATION: DR. MOORE IS AWARDED THE 2022 RITA SCHAFFER AWARD
Dr. Moore becomes the FIRST Black woman to be awarded the BMES Rita Schaffer Young Investigator Award!
FUNDING CELEBRATION: SUPPORT FROM THE LUPUS RESEARCH ALLIANCE
We continue our work on ancestral contributions to monocyte function in lupus with our $600,000 grant from the LRA! Read more here
DR. MOORE HAD A BLAST AT LITTLEWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL!
Dr. Moore shared our work with 5th graders at our local elementary school in Jan. 2022! We look forward to returning!
CONGRATS TO AAKANKSHA FOR RECENT PUBLICATION!
Aakanksha's article showcases a new biomaterial that helps modulate macrophage phenotype.
Dr. Moore was recently interviewed by UF about this perspective on the importance of considering patient ancestry in the design of biomaterials.
AAKANKSHA WOWS NC STATE'S TISSUE ENGINEERING SEMINAR!
Aakanksha received high praise for her clear and engaging presentation of her work at NC State! This was her first public oral presentation!
CONGRATS TO AAKANKSHA FOR RECENT PUBLICATION!
Aakanksha's article showcases a new biomaterial that helps modulate macrophage phenotype.
Dr. Moore was recently interviewed by UF about this perspective on the importance of considering patient ancestry in the design of biomaterials.
CONGRATS TO AAKANKSHA FOR RECENT PUBLICATION!
Aakanksha's article showcases a new biomaterial that helps modulate macrophage phenotype.
Dr. Moore was recently interviewed by UF about this perspective on the importance of considering patient ancestry in the design of biomaterials.
CONGRATS TO THE MOORE LAB UNDERGRADS!
The Moore Lab recently published a new article in Regenerative Engineering and Translational Medicine on the reporting of ancestry in biomedical engineering applications!
