Faculty Directory
Contact Information
Office:
Life Sciences & Bioengineering Center, 4005
Phone: +1-508-831-4109
Fax: +1-508-831-4121
rpage@wpi.edu
Raymond L. Page
- Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering
Understanding the interplay between cells and their environment with respect to growth factor/cytokine signaling is becoming a powerful tool with which to control cell phenotype and has applications in regenerative medicine and wound healing. In our lab we study the effects of ambient oxygen tension and cell culture substrate on the effect of specific growth factors in determining the growth rate, state of differentiation, and regeneration potential of primary human cells. Environment-induced alterations of cell phenotype are studied in skeletal muscle wound models. We are also interested in the development of three-dimensional in vitro models of skeletal muscle formation and function. We have employed novel biopolymer microthread technologies developed in the BME Department to deliver these cells in vivo to study their regeneration potential. In addition, we also study the effect of cell culture environment and substrate related to the control of cell phenotype and stem cell differentiation using primary adult cells derived tissues such as bone marrow, skin, and skeletal muscle.
For undergraduate instruction, I enjoy relating the fundamentals of individual material properties and biological processes to the engineering of complex systems or processes to produce medically useful products. Coupling engineering principles with the inherent challenges of biological systems to understand and predict system behavior in the context of the capstone design experience is of particular interest. At the graduate level, I strive to create an environment where students are free to explore and develop their own independent ideas and concepts related to the overall research objectives. I encourage active collaboration and interaction with fellow colleagues involving diverse disciplines. I also enjoy participating in training and mentoring programs involving undergraduates from peer institutions and secondary education teachers to help bring current biotechnological concepts into their curriculum.
Research Interests
- Tissue Regeneration
- Cell Dedifferentiation and Differentiation
- Natural Biopolymers
- Cell Therapy
Education
- BS, West Virginia University, 1987
- MS, West Virginia University, 1989
- PhD, Virginia Tech, 1993
Featured Publications
- Ambady, S, Malcuit, C, Kashpur, O, Kole, D, Holmes, WF, Hedblom, E, Page, RL and Dominko, D (2010) Expression of NANOG and NANOGP8 in a variety of undifferentiated and differentiated human cells. Int'l J Dev Biol, 54(11-12), 1743-1754.
- Page, RL, Ambady, S, Holmes, WF, Vilner, L, Hole, D, Huntress, V, Vojtic, I, Whitton, H, and Dominko, T (2009) Induction of stem cell gene expression in adult human fibroblasts without transgenes. Cloning and Stem Cells. 11(3), 417-426
- Page, RL, Malcuit, C, and Dominko, T (2011) Chapter 13, “Methods for Inducing Pluripotency” In: “Regenerating the Heart: Stem Cells and the Cardiovascular System”, Springer Press, Glenn Gaudette and Ira Cohen, editors, pp 219-240.
- 10. Polejaeva IA, Chen SH, Vaught TD, Page RL, Mullins J, Ball S, Dai Y, Boone J, Walker S, Ayares DL, Colman A, Campbell KH. (2000) Cloned pigs produced by nuclear transfer from adult somatic cells. Nature 407 (6800), 86-90.
- 18. Velander WH, Johnson JL, Page RL, Russell CG, Morcol T, Subramanian A, Wilkins TD, Canseco R, Williams BL, Gwazdauskas FC, Knight JW, Pittius C, Young JM, and Drohan WN (1992) High level expression in the milk of transgenic swine using the cDNA encoding human protein C. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA. 89: 12003-12007.
