# Regenerative Engineering of Musculoskeletal Tissues- a Convergence Doctoral Training Program

> **NIH NIH T32** · UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT SCH OF MED/DNT · 2022 · $161,406

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY / ABSTRACT
We propose a novel NIAMS doctoral T32 Program, Regenerative Engineering of Musculoskeletal
Tissues: A Convergence Doctoral Training Program, which offers inter-disciplinary research areas at the
University of Connecticut (UConn) combining biomedical science and engineering faculties.
Regenerative Engineering is defined as the Convergence of advanced materials science, stem cell
science, physics, developmental biology and clinical translation for the regeneration of complex tissues
and organ systems. The T32 Program will enroll 3 Ph.D. candidates per year and support each for 2
years of Graduate School. The students will be drawn from graduate programs at UConn (School of
Medicine and School of Engineering). The students will then apply for T32 support at the end of Year 1
of graduate school to be supported for Years 2-3. They will all receive their Ph.D. from the Graduate
School at UConn. The T32 Program will offer trainees a broad level of expertise in research and
instruction based on the research, educational, and clinical experiences of the biomedical and
engineering faculty who serve as preceptors. Trainees will become experts in regenerative engineering
and its foundations to work towards the alleviation of human disease and musculoskeletal injuries by
means of tissue regeneration. Musculoskeletal regeneration is a field ripe for an inventive approach
based on convergence to address challenging issues, advance technology and further fundamental
knowledge for therapeutic applications. At the center of the Convergence approach is the understanding
that new solutions in regeneration will take place through an ‘un-siloed’ approach. Thus, Regenerative
Engineering welcomes ideas and research across a gamut of disciplines. The T32 Program has
preceptorship commitments from 20 distinguished faculty at UConn (representing Biomedical
Engineering, Cell Biology, Computer Science, Genetics and Genome Sciences, Materials Science,
Mechanical Engineering, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, Oral Health, Orthopedic Surgery). This
eminent group of investigators is well funded and published to provide the primary research training and
serve as role models for doctoral trainees. The T32 Program goals are to educate, support and enhance
the training of individuals dedicated to careers as independent clinical translational and basic scientists
in regenerative engineering. Our Program strengths include its interdisciplinary and collaborative
research in biomedical science and engineering, interactions with diverse trainees and faculty, training
in contemporary research methodologies, and successful preceptors. T32 Program administration
through the Connecticut Convergence Institute for Translation in Regenerative Engineering will provide
the experience to recruit diverse trainees, including minorities, implement the curriculum, and train a new
cadre of convergence scientists.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10604923
- **Project number:** 3T32AR079114-02S1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT SCH OF MED/DNT
- **Principal Investigator:** CATO T. LAURENCIN
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $161,406
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2021-07-01 → 2026-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10604923

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10604923, Regenerative Engineering of Musculoskeletal Tissues- a Convergence Doctoral Training Program (3T32AR079114-02S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-01 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10604923. Licensed CC0.

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