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

> **NIH NIH T32** · UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT SCH OF MED/DNT · 2023 · $147,356

## 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 2 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 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:** 10792362
- **Project number:** 3T32AR079114-03S1
- **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:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $147,356
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2021-07-01 → 2026-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10792362

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10792362, Regenerative Engineering of Musculoskeletal Tissues- a Convergence Doctoral Training Program (3T32AR079114-03S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10792362. Licensed CC0.

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