Alejandro J. Almarza

Professional Preparation
University of Pittsburgh
 
Undergraduate Institution: Florida State University
Major: Chemical Engineering
Degree & Year: BS, 2001
 
Graduate Institution: Rice University
Major: Bioengineering
Degree & Year: PhD, 2005
 
Graduate Institution: University of Pittsburgh
Major: Bioengineering
Degree & Year: Post-Doc, 2007
 
Appointments:
 
2008-present             Assistant Professor, Department of Oral Biology, University of Pittsburgh
2008-present             Assistant Professor, Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh (secondary appointment)
2008-present             Faculty, McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
2007-2008                 Research Assistant Professor, Musculoskeletal Research Center, Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh
 
Publications
Five most closely related to the proposed research
 
1.    Almarza AJ, Augustine S, Woo SL-Y. Changes in Gene Expression of Matrix Constituents with Respect to Passage of Ligament and Tendon Fibroblasts. Annals in Biomedical Engineering. Epub, Sept. 19 2008. 
 
2.    Almarza AJ, Yang G, Nguyen TD, Abramowitch SD, Woo SL-Y. Positive Changes of Bone Marrow Derived Cells in Response to Culture on an Aligned Bioscaffold. Tissue Engineering Part A. 14 (9): 1489-95, 2008.  
 
3.    Almarza AJ, Athanasiou KA, Effects of Hydrostatic Pressure on TMJ Disc Cells,” Tissue Engineering, 12(5): 1285-94, 2006.
 
4.    Almarza AJ, Athanasiou KA, “Evaluation of three growth factors in combinations of two for TMJ disc tissue engineering,” Archives of Oral Biology, 51 (3): 215-221, 2006.
 
5.    Almarza AJ, Bean AC, Baggett LS, Athanasiou KA, “Biochemical content and distribution in the porcine temporomandibular joint disc,” British Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, 44 (2): 124-128, 2006.
 
Five other significant contributions
 
1.    Almarza AJ, Bean AC, Baggett LS, Athanasiou KA, “Biochemical content and distribution in the porcine temporomandibular joint disc,” British Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, 44 (2): 124-128, 2006.
 
2.    Almarza AJ, Athanasiou KA, “Effects of initial cell seeding density for the tissue engineering of the temporomandibular joint disc,” Annals of Biomedical Engineering, 33(7): 943-50, 2005.
 
3.    Almarza AJ, Athanasiou KA, “Seeding techniques and scaffolding choice for the tissue engineering of the temporomandibular joint disc,” Tissue Engineering, 10 (11-12): 1787-95, 2004.
 
4.    Almarza AJ, Athanasiou KA, “Design characteristics for the tissue engineering of cartilaginous tissues,” Annals of Biomedical Engineering, 32 (1): 2-17, 2004.
 
5.    Almarza AJ, Athanasiou KA, “Effects of initial cell seeding density for the tissue engineering of the temporomandibular joint disc,” Annals of Biomedical Engineering, 33(7): 943-50, 2005.
 
Synergistic Activities
 
·         2007                International Symposium of Ligaments and Tendons – VII, Woo, S.L-Y., 
                                    Almarza, AJ, and , Dede, O. Co-Editors.
·         2007                International Symposium of Ligaments and Tendons – VI, Woo, S.L-Y., 
                                    Almarza, AJ,Abramowitch, S.D., and , Karaoglu S. Co-Editors.
 
Collaborators & Other Affiliations
 
  • Savio Woo, PhD, University of Pittsburgh
  • Harvey Borovetz, PhD, University of Pittsburgh
Graduate and Postdoctoral Advisors
 
Ph.D. Advisor:
Kyriacos Athanasiou PhD, Rice University