Friday, April 24, 2026 10:45 am
Health Science & Technology Building (HST)
Room 211

Dr. Taneka D. Jones, PhD, Research Assistant Professor, Department of Bioengineering, Lehigh University

The Development and Characterization of Bioplatforms for Uterine Tissue Engineering Applications

Women’s health remains one of the most underserved frontiers in regenerative medicine, with gynecologic conditions such as uterine fibroids and placenta accreta spectrum disorders disproportionately affecting patient populations and lacking physiologically relevant models for mechanistic study. Our research program integrates tissue decellularization, biomaterials science, and extrusion-based bioprinting to develop uterine-specific bioplatforms that recapitulate the structural and biochemical complexity of native gynecologic tissue. We focus on optimizing human uterine tissue processing for precursor gel formulation, quantifying extracellular matrix preservation during decellularization, and identifying ECM biomarkers associated with uterine fibroid racial disparities. These platforms are engineered to support patient-specific modeling of both healthy and diseased uterine microenvironments, enabling interrogation of disease progression and evaluation of therapeutic strategies with translational relevance.

In this talk, I will present recent progress in characterizing decellularized uterine scaffolds, formulating printable precursor gels, and building engineered disease–healthy tissue model systems for gynecologic disease. I will also highlight ongoing clinical collaborations across academic medical centers, health networks, and NIH-funded consortia that position this work to advance equitable, bench-to-bedside solutions in women’s health.