Laura A. Smith Callahan
LAURA A SMITH CALLAHAN, PHD
Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery

Center for Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine
The University of Texas Medical School at Houston
Houston, Texas, USA
Phone: (713) 500-3431, E-mail: Laura.A.SmithCallahan@uth.tmc.edu

Education

Undergraduate Education:

B.S. Bioengineering, 2002 (summa cum laude) University of Toledo
Toledo, OH

Graduate Education:

  • M.S. Biomedical Engineering, 2003 University of Michigan
    Ann Arbor, MI
  • Ph.D Biomedical Engineering, 2008 University of Michigan
    Ann Arbor, MI

 

 

Profile

   Dr. Smith Callahan received her B.S. in Bioengineering from the University of Toledo, M.S in Biomedical Engineering with a concentration in biotechnology and tissue engineering from the University of Michigan and Ph.D in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Michigan.  Her thesis work, under the direction of Peter X. Ma, focused on the effects of nanofibrous scaffolding on the osteogenic differentiation of embryonic stem cells.  After completing her thesis, Dr. Smith Callahan was awarded a 1 year post-doctoral fellowship on the Regenerative Science T90 training grant which allowed her to study further the effects ofnanofibrous scaffolding on the neural differentiation of embryonic stem cells.
Desiring additional training in peptide and polymer chemistry and soft material characterization, Dr. Smith Callahan transitioned to a post-doctoral position at the Institute of Polymer Science at the University of Akron with Matthew L. Becker.  At the University of Akron, her work focused on the effects of bioactive peptides and gradient hydrogels on stem cell differentiation to mesenchymal and neuronal lineages.

Dr. Smith Callahan brings a combination of expertise in polymeric synthesis and processing, tissue engineering and stem cell biology.  Her research interests include tissue engineering, the effect of cell-material interactions on cellular differentiation and tissue formation, cell sources for tissue engineering applications and scaffold development focusing on applications relevant to the repair of the central nervous and musculoskeletal systems after injury.

      

Research Interest

stem cell-material interactions, scaffold design, combinatorial methods, hydrogels, nanofibers, stem cell biology.

 

Professional Activities

Academic & Administrative Appointments:

Assistant Professor, 2013-present Department of Neurosurgery
Center for Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine
Department of Nanomedicine & Biomedical Engineering (adjunct) The University of Texas Medical School at Houston Houston, TX

Regular Faculty Member, 2013-present Neuroscience Program
Clinical and Translational Sciences Program
The University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at Houston Houston, TX

Honors and Awards

Honors and Awards:

University of Toledo Trustee Scholarship, Robert W. Heyn Scholarship and Leadership UT, 1998-02
Newark Electronics/Theta Tau Educational Foundation Scholarship, 2000 Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship, Mayo Clinic, 2000
Biomedical Engineering Department Fellowship, University of Michigan, 2002 NSF Graduate Research Fellowship, 2003-2006
Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces Most Cited Paper 2004-2007 Award
NIH T32 Tissue Engineering and Regeneration Pre-doctoral Training Position, University of Michigan (NIDCR T32 DE07057), 2006-2008
NIH T90 Regenerative Sciences Post-doctoral Training Position, University of Michigan (NIH T90DK07007), 2008-2009

 

Publications

  1. Smith LA, Chen VJ, Ma PX. Bone regeneration on nano-fibrous reverse solid freeform fabricated poly(L-lactic acid) scaffolds. Platform presentation at the Society of Biomaterials Conference. Pittsburgh, PA. April 2006.
  2. Smith LA, Liu X, Wang, P, Ma PX.  Nanofibers Promote Osteogenic Differentetiation of Embryonic Stem Cells. Platform presentation at Tissue Engineering & Regenerative Medicine International Society North America Chapter Meeting. Toronto, ON.  June 2007.
  3. Bi X, Smith Callahan LA. Development of Novel Osteoinductive Nanocomposites for Bone Regeneration. Platform presentation at The Rolanette and Berdon Lawrence Bone Disease Program of Texas Scientific Retreat. Houston, TX. June 2014.
  4. Yang Y-H, Ma C, Smith Callahan LA. PEG Hydrogels Functionalized with a Continuous Ile- Lys-Val-Ala-Val Concentration Gradient for Optimizing Neural Differentiation of Murine Embryonic Stem Cells in 2D. Platform presentation at 2014 Inaugural Gulf Coast Cluster for Regenerative Medicine Symposium.  Houston, TX. October 2014.
  5. Smith Callahan LA. Gradient Approaches to the Optimization of Biomaterials for Stem Cell Differentiation. Platform presentation at 2014 Inaugural Gulf Coast Cluster for Regenerative Medicine Symposium.  Houston, TX. October 2014.
  6. Yang Y-H, Ma C, Smith Callahan LA. Polyethylene Glycol Hydrogels Functionalized with a Continuous Ile-Lys-Val-Ala-Val Concentration Gradient for Optimizing Neural Differentiation of Murine Embryonic Stem Cells in 2D. Platform presentation at the Society of Biomaterials Conference. Charlotte, NC April 2015.
  7. Lim HJ, Perera TH, Ghosh S, Azhdarinia A, Smith Callahan LA. Modification and Characterization of Novel Di-functional Hyaluronic Acid for Neural Differentiation of Mouse Embryo Stem Cells. Regenerative Medicine at the Texas Medical Center Meeting.  Houston, TX October 2015.
  8. Lim HJ, Mosley M, Smith Callahan LA. Optimization of Adhesive Conditions Using Poly Ethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate Matrix with Continuous N-cadherin Concentration Gradient for Accelerating Neural Differentiation of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells. Regenerative Medicine at the Texas Medical Center Meeting. Houston, TX October 2015.
  1. Poster
  1. Smith LA, Chen VJ, Ma PX. Bone regeneration on nano-fibrous reverse solid freeform fabricated poly(L-lactic acid) scaffolds. Poster at the Biomedical Engineering Society Annual Fall Meeting. Baltimore, MD. October 2005.
  2. Smith LA, Liu X, Ma PX. Nano-fibrous Poly(L-Lactic Acid) Scaffolding Promotes Osteogenic Differentiation of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells. Poster at the International Society for Stem Cell Research Annual Meeting. Philadelphia, PA. July 2008.
  3. Smith LA, Liu X, Hu J, Ma PX. Nano-fibers Enhance Osteogenic Differentiation of Human Embryonic Stem Cells. Poster at the Biomedical Engineering Society Annual Fall Meeting. St. Louis, MO. October 2008
  4. Smith LA, Liu X, Hu J, Ma PX. Nano-fibers Enhance Osteogenic Differentiation of Human Embryonic Stem Cells. Poster at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry Research Day.  Ann Arbor, MI. April 2009
  5. First Prize Graduate / Post Doctorate / Staff Research CategorySmith LA, Liu X, Hu J, Ma PX. Nanofibrous architecture enhances the osteogenic differentiation of human embryonic stem cell partially through alpha 2 integrin signaling. Poster at the Gordon-Kenan Research Seminar on Signal Transduction By Engineered Extracellular Matrices. Biddeford, ME. July 2010.
  6. Smith LA, Liu X, Hu J, Ma PX. Nanofibrous architecture enhances the osteogenic differentiation of human embryonic stem cell partially through alpha 2 integrin signaling. Poster at the Gordon Research Conference on Signal Transduction By Engineered Extracellular Matrices. Biddeford, ME. July 2010.
  7. Smith LA, McBurney DL, Nugent AE, Ganios A, Horton WE, Becker ML. Increased Proteoglycan Syntheses in Primary Human and Bovine Chondrocytes Cultured in Biomimetic PEG Hydrogels Containing Type I Collagen and Hyaluronic Acid.  Poster at the Society of Biomaterials Conference. Orlando, FL. April 2011.
  8. Smith LA, Weiner SD, Becker ML.  Effect of Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate Hydrogel Storage Modulus on Osteoarthitic Primary Human Chondrocyte Extracellular Matrix Production.  Poster at the Orthopedic Research Society Conference, San Francisco, CA. January 2012.
  9. Smith LA, Weiner SD, Becker ML. Effect of Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate Hydrogel Storage Modulus on Osteoarthitic Primary Human Chondrocyte Cytoskeletal Structure and Proliferation.  Poster at the Orthopedic Research Society Conference, San Francisco, CA. January 2012.
  10. Smith LA, Weiner SD, Becker ML. Effect of RGD concentration on human chondrocyte extracellular matrix secretion in gradient polyethylene glycol hydrogels.  Poster at 9th World Biomaterials Conference, Chengdu, China. June 2012.
  11. Yang H-Y, Ma C, Smith Callahan LA. Polyethylene Glycol Hydrogels Functionalized with a Continuous Ile-Lys-Val-Ala-Val Concentration Gradient for Optimizing Neural Differentiation of Murine Embryonic Stem Cells in 2D. Poster at Mission Connect Symposium. Houston, TX. December 2014.
  12. Lim H, Mosley M, Smith Callahan LA. Mimicking Extracellular Matrix and Cell-cell Interactions With Bioactive Fragments Of N-cadherin Within Poly Ethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate Matrix For Accelerating Neural Differentiation Of Mouse Embryo Stem Cell. Poster at Gulf Coast Consortia NeuroRegeneration Collaborative Symposium. Houston, TX. September 2015.
  13. Lim H, Perera TH, Ghosh S, Azhdarinia A, Smith Callahan LA. Modification and Characterization Of Novel Di-functional Hyaluronic Acid Using Michael’s Addition And Click Chemistry. Poster at Gulf Coast Consortia NeuroRegeneration Collaborative Symposium. Houston, TX. September 2015.
  14. Lim H, Smith Callahan LA. Mimicking Cell-cell Interactions With Bioactive Fragments Of N- cadherin Within Poly Ethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate Matrix For Accelerating Neural Differentiation Of Mouse Embryo Stem Cell. Poster at 4th TERMIS World Congress. Boston, MA. September 2015.
  15. Lim H, Perera TH, Smith Callahan LA. Modification and Characterization Of Novel Di- functional Hyaluronic Acid Using Michael’s Addition And Click Chemistry. Poster at 4th TERMIS World Congress. Boston, MA. September 2015.
  1. Refereed Original Articles in Journals
  1. Liu X, Smith L, Wei G, Won Y, Ma PX. Surface Engineering of Nano-Fibrous Poly(L-lactic Acid) Scaffolds via Self-Assembly Technique for Bone Tissue Engineering. Journal of Biomedical Nanotechnology 1 (1): 54-60, 2005.
  2. Chen  VJ,  Smith  LA,  Ma  PX.  Bone  regeneration  on  computer-designed  nano-fibrous scaffolds. Biomaterials 27 (21): 3973-3979, 2006.
  3. Liu X, Smith LA, Hu J, Ma PX.  Biomimetic Nanofibrous Gelatin/Apatite Composite Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Engineering. Biomaterials  30 (12): 2252-2258, 2009.
  4. Smith LA, Liu X, Hu J, Ma PX. The Influence of Three-Dimensional Nanofibrous Scaffolds on the Osteogenic Differentiation of Embryonic Stem Cells. Biomaterials  30 (13):  2516- 2522, 2009.
  5. Smith LA, Liu X, Hu J, Wang P, Ma PX. Enhancing the Osteogenic Differentiation of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells by Nanofibers. Tissue Engineering Part A 15 (7): 1855-1864, 2009.
  6. Smith LA, Liu X, Hu J, Ma PX. The Enhancement of Human Embryonic Stem Cell Osteogenic Differentiation with Nano-fibrous Scaffolding. Biomaterials 31(21): 5526-5539, 2010.
  7. Hu J, Smith LA, Feng K, Liu X, Sun H, Ma PX. (2010) Response of Human Embryonic  Stem Cells Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells to Osteogenic Factors and Architectures of Materials during in vitro Osteogenesis. Tissue Engineering Part A. 16(11):3507-3514, 2010.
  8. Smith Callahan LA, Ganios AM, McBurney DL, Dilisio MF, Weiner, SD, Horton Jr WE, Becker ML. ECM Production of Primary Human and Bovine Chondrocyte in Hybrid PEG Hydrogels Containing Type I Collagen and Hyaluronic Acid. Biomacromolecules. 13(5): 1625-1631, 2012.
  9. Zheng J, Smith Callahan LA, Hao J, Guo K, Wesdemiotis C, Weiss RA, Becker ML. (2012) Strain-Promoted Cross-Linking of PEG-Based Hydrogels via Copper-Free Cycloaddition. ACS Macro Letters. 1:1071-1073, 2012.
  10. Stakleff KS, Lin F, Smith Callahan LA, Wade MB, Esterle A, Miller J, Graham M, Becker ML. Resorbable, Amino acid-based Poly(ester urea)s Crosslinked with Osteogenic Growth Peptide (OGP) with Enhanced Mechanical Properties and Bioactivity. Acta Biomaterialia. 9 (2): 5132–5142, 2013.
  11. Smith Callahan LA, Ganios AM, Childers EP, Weiner, SD, Becker ML. Primary Human Chondrocyte Extracellular Matrix Formation and Phenotype Maintenance using RGD derivatized PEGDM Hydrogels Possessing a Continuous Gradient in Modulus. Acta Biomaterialia. 9 (4): 6095–6104, 2013.
  12. Smith Callahan LA §, Ma Y §, Stafford CM, Becker ML. Concentration Dependent Neural Differentiation and Neurite Extension of mouse ESC on Primary Amine-derivatized Surfaces. Biomaterials Science.  1(5):537-544, 2013. § both authors contributed equally to the work.
  13. Smith Callahan LA, Childers EP, Benard, SL, Weiner, SD, Becker ML. Maximizing Phenotype Constraint and ECM Production in Primary Human Chondrocytes Using RGD Concentration Gradient Hydrogels. Acta Biomaterialia.  9 (7): 7420-7428, 2013.
  14. Smith Callahan LA, Policastro GM, Benard SL, Childers EP, Boettcher RM, Becker ML. Influence of Discrete and Continuous Culture Conditions on Human Mesenchymal Stem Cell Lineage Choice in RGD Concentration Gradient Hydrogels. Biomacromolecules. 14(9): 3047-3054, 2013.
  15. Smith Callahan LA, Xie S, Barker IA, Zheng J, Dove AP, Becker ML. Directed Differentiation and Neurite Extension of mouse Embryonic Stem Cell on Aligned Poly(lactide) Nanofibers Functionalized with YIGSR Peptide. Biomaterials. 34(36): 9089- 9095, 2013.
  16. Policastro GM, Lin F, Smith Callahan LA, Esterle A, Graham M, Sloan Stakleff K, Becker ML. OGP Functionalized Phenylalanine-based Poly(ester urea) for Enhancing Osteoinductive Potential of human Mesenchymal Stem Cells. Biomacromolecules. 16 (4): 1358–1371, 2015.
  17. Yang Y-H, Kahn Z, Ma C, Lim HJ, Smith Callahan LA. Optimization of adhesive conditions for neural differentiation of murine embryonic stem cells using hydrogels functionalized with continuous Ile-Lys-Val-Ala-Val concentration gradients. Acta Biomaterialia. 21: 55-62, 2015.
  1. Invited Articles in Journals
  1. Smith LA, Ma PX. Nano-fibrous scaffolds for tissue engineering. Colloids and Surfaces B Biointerfaces 39 (3): 125-131, 2004.
  2. Smith LA, Liu X, Ma PX. Tissue Engineering with Nano-fibrous Scaffolds.  Soft Matter 4 (11): 2144-2149, 2008.
  3. Smith IO, Liu XH, Smith LA, Ma PX. Nanostructured polymer scaffolds for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews-Nanomedicine and Nanobiotechnology 1 (2): 226-236, 2009.
  4. Smith Callahan LA. The Concentration Game: Differential Effects of Bioactive Signaling in 2D and 3D Culture. Neural Regeneration Research. In press.

Chapters

  1. Smith LA, Beck JA, Ma PX. Fabrication and Tissue Formation with Nano-Fibrous Scaffolds. Kumar. Weinheim (Ed).    Nanotechnologies for Tissue, Cell and Organ Engineering. pp. 188-215. Germany. Wiley-VCH.
  2. Smith LA, Ma PX. Effect of nanofibrous scaffolding on stem cell differentiation and tissue formation. S. Prakash & D. Shum-Tim (Eds.) Stem Cell Bioengineering and Tissue Microenvironment. pp. 205-217.  Hackensack, New Jersey. World Scientific Publishing Company.
  3. Smith LA, Ma PX. Computer-designed nano-fibrous scaffolds. M Liebschner & D. Kim (Eds.) Computer Aided Tissue Engineering. pp. 125-134. New York, New York. Springer.

Other Professional Communications:

Presentations
Local

  1. Effect of Scaffold Design on Tissue Development. Institute of Molecular Medicine Graduate Student and Post-Doctoral Seminar Series, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. 5/21/2013.
  2. Effect of Scaffold Design on Tissue Development. 2013 NEBME Scholarly Concentration Summer Seminar Series, Department of Nanomedicine and Biomedical Engineering & The Texas Center for Cancer Nanomedicine & The Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. 6/5/2013.
  3. Factors in Tissue Engineering Matrix Design. Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Seminar Series, Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. 9/9/2013.
  4. Effect of Scaffold Design on Tissue Development. Graduate Seminar Series for the Bioengineering Department.  Rice University. 9/17/2013.
  5. Factors in Tissue Engineering Matrix Design. Department of Neurosurgery Seminar Series. Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. 11/11/2013.
  6. Effect of Scaffold Design on Tissue Development. Houston Stem Cell Club Seminar. Baylor College of Medicine. 11/14/2013.
  7. Biomaterials: Building the building blocks for Tissue. Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Seminar Series, Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. 2/10/14.
  8. Effect of Scaffold Design on Tissue Development. 2014 NEBME Scholarly Concentration Summer Seminar Series, Department of Nanomedicine and Biomedical Engineering & The Texas Center for Cancer Nanomedicine & The Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. 6/4/2014.
  9. Functionalized Hydrogels for Neural Regeneration from Pluripotent Stem Cells. Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Seminar Series, Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. 9/9/2014.
  10. Gradient Approaches to the Optimization of Biomaterials for Stem Cell Differentiation. 2014 Inaugural Gulf Coast Cluster for Regenerative Medicine Symposium. 10/3/2014
  11. Development of artificial extracellular matrices for stroke treatment. Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Seminar Series and Bentsen Stroke Center Investigator Meeting, Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. 12/2/2014.
  12. Development of Novel Biomaterials for Neural Regeneration using Pluripotent Stem Cells. Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Seminar Series, Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. 3/17/2015.
  13. Optimization of tissue engineering matrices for SCI treatment.  Mission Connect Review of Science. 5/15/1015.
  14. Effect of Scaffold Design on Tissue Development. 2015 NEBME Scholarly Concentration Summer Seminar Series, Department of Nanomedicine and Biomedical Engineering & The Texas Center for Cancer Nanomedicine & The Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. 6/23/2015.

National

  1. Effects of Nanofibrous Scaffolding Architecture on Bone Tissue Development from Embryonic Stem Cells. School of Biomedical Engineering, Drexel University.  4/7/2009.
  2. Effects of Nanofibrous Scaffolding Architecture on Bone Tissue Development from Embryonic Stem Cells. Department of Biomedical Sciences, Baylor School of Dentistry. 11/18/2010.
  3. Effects of Scaffolding Architecture on Tissue Development from Embryonic Stem Cells. Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Iowa. 4/8/2011.
  4. Effect of Scaffold Design on Tissue Development.  Department of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University. 2/1/2012.
  5. Effect of Scaffold Design on Tissue Development. The Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, University of California-Irvine. 2/22/2012.
  6. Effect of Scaffold Design on Tissue Development. Department of Biomedical Engineering, St. Louis University. 3/8/2012.
  7. Effect of Scaffold Design on Tissue Development.  Department of Neurosurgery, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. 3/29/2012.
  8. Effect of Scaffold Design on Tissue Development. Center for Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine, University of Texas Health Sciences Center at Houston. 5/7/2012.

 

 

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