Our Research
Our Research
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Mission: Engineering biomaterial models to investigate immune function across health inequities
Mission: Engineering biomaterial models to investigate immune function across health inequities
We execute on our mission by developing compassionate innovators equipped to transform biomedical research.
Find updates on our recent publications in Google Scholar. If you cannot access any of our publications, please email emt[at]umd.edu and we will provide a copy!
Immune vascular interactions in lupus
Immune vascular interactions in lupus
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a medical condition in which the immune system attacks healthy cells and tissues in the body. It affects approximately 1.5 million people in the United States, with women of color being 2-3 times more likely to develop and die from SLE than other groups. One complication of SLE is vasculitis, inflammation of the blood vessels, which progresses more rapidly due to interactions between the immune system and blood vessel lining. Detecting vasculitis in the early stages can be challenging because the symptoms are often subtle and nonspecific. To improve early detection, we are using biomaterial models to study how immune cells interact with blood vessels in SLE patients. By studying these interactions, we hope to identify new ways to detect and treat vasculitis in its early stages. Because SLE is a health disparity, we are also studying how a patient's background, such as lived experiences, can influence their immune cell function and the development of vascular inflammation. By better understanding these factors, we hope to develop more targeted and effective models for SLE and its heterogeneity.
Reviving Macrophages for Effective Tissue Regeneration in Aging - Insights from Biomaterial Models
Reviving Macrophages for Effective Tissue Regeneration in Aging - Insights from Biomaterial Models
Over 700 million people worldwide are 65 years or older, and as we age, our ability to heal decreases. Macrophages, immune cells that play a crucial role in tissue regeneration, also become less effective with age. To better understand this process, we are designing a biomaterial model system to investigate how the age of macrophages affects macrophages' ability to support tissue healing. We are also interested in using our model system to explore potential therapeutic interventions that can improve macrophage function. By focusing on tissue regeneration in aging, we hope to gain insights into how macrophages change over time and identify ways to rescue their function using targeted therapies. Our work will shed light on this critical aspect of the aging process and pave the way for more effective treatments in the future.
Overlooking Ancestry in Regenerative Medicine - Addressing Health Inequities through Biomaterial Models
Overlooking Ancestry in Regenerative Medicine - Addressing Health Inequities through Biomaterial Models
Everyone's health is influenced by their background, both genetics and lived experiences. However, most regenerative medicine research focuses on people of European descent, which overlooks the impact of ancestry on disease development and wound healing. To fill this gap, we use biomaterial models to understand how ancestry affects innate immune cellular responses in wound healing. By studying these interactions, we aim to identify wound healing risks and outcomes for people from systemically excluded backgrounds. Our research introduces a new perspective on health inequities, bringing attention to the systemic exclusion of oppressed and excluded communities in biomedical science. Ultimately, we hope to use our findings to develop more personalized and effective treatments for all individuals.
Decoding the Signals - How the Extracellular Matrix Directs Macrophage Behavior for Tissue Regeneration
Decoding the Signals - How the Extracellular Matrix Directs Macrophage Behavior for Tissue Regeneration
Macrophage immune cells play a vital role in tissue homeostasis, wound healing, and tissue regeneration, but we still have much to learn about how they function. Specifically, we are interested in understanding how the extracellular matrix (ECM) influences macrophage behavior. To do this, we design biomaterial tools to study how different ECM components, known as ECM ligands, direct macrophage function. By investigating how the composition of the ECM affects macrophage activation and homeostasis, we hope to better understand the signals that control tissue regeneration. Ultimately, our work could lead to new strategies for promoting tissue repair and healing.
Unraveling Uterine Fibroids- Designing Biomaterials to Modulate Fibroblast and Macrophage Responses
Unraveling Uterine Fibroids- Designing Biomaterials to Modulate Fibroblast and Macrophage Responses
Uterine fibroids, which affect up to 70-80% of women by the age of 50, are characterized by excessive growth of fibrous tissue, driven in part by the complex interplay between hormones, fibroblasts, and immune cells like macrophages. Fibroids disproportionately affect Black women, who tend to develop them at younger ages and experience more severe symptoms compared to women of other racial and ethnic backgrounds. We aim to understand fibroblast activity and macrophage behavior in uterine fibroids. By designing biomaterial systems that mimic the fibroid ECM, we can study how specific ECM components guide the responses of these cells. This knowledge could pave the way for fundamental understanding in the regulation of fibroid development and improve treatment outcomes for women’s health.
Enroll in our research study
Enroll in our research study
Blood Donors Needed for Research in Biomaterial Models of Ancestral Contributions to Wound Healing Study
PAPERS PUBLISHED:
PAPERS PUBLISHED:
A complete list of all our publications can be found on Google Scholar
Moore,E.# and Raghava, S.#, "ElevateHER: Engineering a new era in women’s health," Cell Med Press, 2025, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.medj.2025.100697
Abigail J. Clevenger, Aakanksha Jha, Erika Moore, Shreya A. Raghavan. "Manipulating immune activity of macrophages: a materials and mechanics perspective" Trends in Biotechnology, 2024,,ISSN 0167-7799 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tibtech.2024.07.009
Aakanksha Jha & Erika Moore. "YIGSR, A Laminin-Derived Peptide, Dictates a Concentration-Dependent Impact on Macrophage Phenotype Response" Cel. Mol. Bioeng. (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12195-024-00810-5
Aakanksha Jha & Erika Moore. "Laminin-derived peptide, IKVAV, modulates macrophage phenotype through integrin mediation" Matrix Biol Plus. 2024 Feb 15:22:100143. doi: 10.1016/j.mbplus.2024.100143. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38405086/
Jacqueline C. Linnes, Erika Moore, Ana Maria Porras, Elizabeth Wayne, Patrick M. Boyle, Lesley W. Chow, Katharina Maisel, Shelly R. Peyton, Sarah E. Stabenfeldt, Kelly R. Stevens, Jessica O. Winter & Rebecca Kuntz Willits . "Framework for department-level accountability to diversify engineering" Nat Rev Bioeng 2, 521–530 (2024). https://www.nature.com/articles/s44222-024-00183-4
Justin Silberman, Michael Olagbiyan, Erika Moore. "Metformin Treatment of Macrophages Increases Microvessel Growth in Three-Dimensional Hydrogel Coculture". Tissue Eng Part A 2024 Aug;30(15-16):460-472. doi: 10.1089/ten.TEA.2023.0327. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38308479/
Carlos H. Pavan, Zaraah Abdoollah, Daniel E. Marrero Roche, Holly R. Ryan, Erika Moore, Kevin Brown Chandler. "Site-Specific Glycosylation Analysis of Murine and Human Fcɣ Receptors Reveals High Heterogeneity at Conserved N-Glycosylation Site," Journal of Proteome Research 2024 23 (3), 1088-1101 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.3c00835 https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.jproteome.3c00835
Holly Ryan, Alison Veintimilla, Christine Groso, Erika Moore. "Preclinical in vitro model of monocyte influence on microvessel structure in systemic lupus erythematosus" Lupus Science & Medicine 2023;10:e001013. doi: 10.1136/lupus-2023-001013 https://lupus.bmj.com/content/10/2/e001013
Elizabeth M. Cosgriff-Hernandez, Brian A. Aguado, Belinda Akpa, Gabriella Coloyan Fleming, Erika Moore, Ana Maria Porras, Patrick M. Boyle, Deva D. Chan, Naomi Chesler, Karen L. Christman, Tejal A. Desai, Brendan A.C. Harley, Gregory A. Hudalla, Megan L. Killian, Katharina Maisel, Kristen C. Maitland, Shelly R. Peyton, Beth L. Pruitt, Sarah E. Stabenfeldt, Kelly R. StevensAudrey K. Bowden. "Equitable hiring strategies towards a diversified faculty" Nature Biomedical Engineering, 7(8), 961-968. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41551-023-01076-4
Michele N. Dill, Mohammad Tabatabaei, Manasi Kamat, Kari B. Basso, Erika Moore, Chelsey S. Simmons. "Generation and characterization of two immortalized dermal fibroblast cell lines from the spiny mouse (Acomys)" PLoS ONE 18(7): e0280169. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0280169
Aakanksha Jha, Joseph Larkin III, Erika Moore. "SOCS1-KIR Peptide in PEGDA Hydrogels Reduces Pro-Inflammatory Macrophage Activation" Macromol. Biosci. 2023, 23, 2300237. https://doi.org/10.1002/mabi.202300237
David R. Maestas Jr., Liam Chung, Jin Han, Xiaokun Wang, Sven D. Sommerfeld, Sean H. Kelly, Erika Moore, Helen Hieu Nguyen, Joscelyn C. Mejías, Alexis N. Peña, Hong Zhang, Joshua S. T. Hooks, Alexander F. Chin, James I. Andorko, Cynthia A. Berlinicke, Kavita Krishnan, Younghwan Choi, Amy E. Anderson, Ronak Mahatme, Christopher Mejia, Marie Eric, JiWon Woo, Sudipto Ganguly, Donald J. Zack, Liang Zhao, Edward J. Pearce, Franck Housseau, Drew M. Pardoll, Jennifer H. Elisseeff. "Helminth egg derivatives as proregenerative immunotherapies" Proceedings of National Academies. Published online Feb 13 2023. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2211703120
Colleen O’Connor, Eileen Brady, Ying Zheng, Erika Moore, Kelly R. Stevens. "Engineering the multiscale complexity of vascular networks" Nat Rev Mater 7, 702–716 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41578-022-00447-8
Justin Silberman, Jessica Boehlein, Talia Abbate, Erika Moore. "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/
PDF: https://www.karger.com/Article/Pdf/523859
Holly Ryan, Laurence Morel, Erika Moore. "Vascular Inflammation in Mouse Models of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus" Front Cardiovasc Med 9:767450 (2022). https://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2022.767450
Erika Moore. "The debt trap" Science (80- ). 2022;375(6582):790-790. doi:10.1126/science.ada1184, PMID: 35175812. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35175812/
Aakanksha Jha & Erika Moore. "Collagen-derived peptide, DGEA, inhibits pro-inflammatory macrophages in biofunctional hydrogels" Journal of Materials Research 37, 77–87 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1557/s43578-021-00423-y
PDF: https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1557/s43578-021-00423-y.pdf
Erika M Moore, David R Maestas Jr, Chris C Cherry, Jordan A Garcia, Hannah Y Comeau, Locke Davenport Huyer, Sean H Kelly, Alexis N Peña, Richard L Blosser, Gedge D Rosson, Jennifer H Elisseeff. "Biomaterials direct functional B cell response in a material-specific manner" Science Advances, 2021, eabj5830, V 7, N 49, doi:10.1126/sciadv.abj5830. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34851674/
Erika Moore, Josephine B. Allen, Connie J. Mulligan, Elizabeth C. Wayne. "Ancestry of cells must be considered in bioengineering" Nat Rev Mater. 2021; 0123456789:1-3. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41578-021-00397-7
Holly Ryan, Daniel Bister, Sophia A Holliday, Jessica Boehlein, Aljae Lewis, Justin Silberman, Josephine B. Allen, Erika Moore. "Ancestral background is underreported in regenerative engineering" Regen. Eng. Transl. Med. 8, 499–503 (2022) https://doi.org/10.1007/s40883-021-00237-8
PDF: https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s40883-021-00237-8.pdf
Christopher Ludtka, Erika Moore, Josephine B. Allen. "The effects of simulated microgravity on macrophage phenotype" Biomedicines 9, no. 9: 1205. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines9091205
PDF: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41526-021-00141-z.pdf
Christopher Ludtka, Justin Silberman, Erika Moore, Josephine B. Allen. "Macrophages in microgravity: the impact of space on immune cells" npj Microgravity 7, 13 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41526-021-00141-z
PDF: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41526-021-00141-z.pdf
Justin Silberman, Aakanksha Jha, Holly Ryan, Talia Abbate, Erika Moore. "Modeled vascular microenvironments: immune-endothelial cell interactions in vitro" Drug Deliv. and Transl. Res. 11, 2482–2495 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13346-021-00970-1
PDF: https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s13346-021-00970-1.pdf
Erika M Moore, David R Maestas Jr, Chris C Cherry, Jordan A Garcia, Hannah Y Comeau, Locke Davenport Huyer, Sean H Kelly, Alexis N Peña, Richard L Blosser, Gedge D Rosson, Jennifer H Elisseeff. "Biomaterials direct functional B cell response in a material-specific manner" Sci Adv. 2021 Dec 3;7(49):eabj5830. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.abj5830 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34851674/
PDF: https://www.science.org/doi/epdf/10.1126/sciadv.abj5830
Erika M Moore. "The more mentors, the merrier" Science (New York, NY) 371.6536 (2021). DOI: 10.1126/science.371.6536.1398
PDF: https://science.sciencemag.org/content/sci/371/6536/1398.full.pdf
Erika M. Moore, Jennifer L. West. "Harnessing macrophages for vascularization in tissue engineering" Ann Biomed Eng 47, 354–365 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10439-018-02170-4
PDF: https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10439-018-02170-4.pdf
Erika M. Moore and Jennifer L. West. "Bioactive poly (ethylene glycol) acrylate hydrogels for regenerative engineering" Regen. Eng. Transl. Med. 5, 167–179 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40883-018-0074-y
PDF: https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s40883-018-0074-y.pdf
Erika M. Moore, Jennifer L. West, Suresh V, Grace Ying. “M0 and M2 macrophages enhance vascularization of tissue engineering scaffolds.” Regenerative Engineering and Translational Medicine 4, no. 2 (2018): 51-61. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40883-018-0048-0
PDF: https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s40883-018-0048-0.pdf
Erika M. Moore, Grace Ying, Jennifer L. West. “Macrophages influence vessel formation in 3D bioactive hydrogels.” Advanced Biosystems 1.3 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1002/adbi.201600021
PDF: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/adbi.201600021
Nsiah BA, Moore EM, Roudsari LC, Virdone NK, and West JL. “Angiogenesis in hydrogel biomaterials.” Biosynthetic Polymers for Medical Applications. Woodhead Publishing, 2016. 189-203. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-1-78242-105-4.00008-0
Erica B. Peters, Nicolas Christoforou, Erika Moore, Jennifer L. West, George A. Truskey. “CD45+ cells present within mesenchymal stem cell populations affect network formation of blood-derived endothelial outgrowth cells.” BioResearch open access 4, no. 1 (2015): 75-88. https://doi.org/10.1089/biores.2014.0029
PDF: https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/pdfplus/10.1089/biores.2014.0029
Daphne L. Hutton, Renu Kondragunta, Erika M. Moore, Ben P. Hung, Xiaofeng Jia, Warren L. Grayson. Tumor Necrosis Factor Improves Vascularization in Osteogenic Grafts Engineered with Human Adipose-Derived Stem/Stromal Cells. PloS one. 9(9): e107199. 2014. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0107199
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