Research Interests
My research program explores the interactions among biomaterials, innate immune cells and adsorbed proteins to better understand the underlying mechanisms that drive host responses to implanted biomedical materials and devices. Specifically, we are interested in defining the contributions tissue-derived proteins and other macromolecules within adsorbed protein layers on biomaterial surfaces, and studying activation of pattern recognition pathways in responding inflammatory cells, such as macrophages. The goal of our research is advance biomaterial science and improve material-tissue integration by better understanding the mechanisms driving host responses and foreign body reactions. In parallel, we are also developing rapid-throughput models for screening novel biomaterial candidates through non-invasive imaging to assess biocompatibility and host responses, as well as in vivo material characterization.
Fitzpatrick Lab trainees are eligible to apply to the Queen's Collaborative Biomedical Engineering (CBME) graduate program.
Education
- Postdoc - Georgia Institute of Technology (2013)
- PhD - University of Toronto (2012)
- B.Eng and Biosciences - McMaster University (2006)
Funding
- Queen's University
- NSERC (Discovery)
- Canada Foundation for Innovation (JELF)
- Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation (ORF)
- CIHR (Project Grant)
This course is an introduction to the area of mass, momentum and heat transfer processes in physiological systems. In this course the student will appreciate the role of transport phenomena in the function of organs and organ systems in the body, and develop the skills necessary to analyze models of biological transport processes in the context of the design of biomedical devices. (0/0/0/42/0)
CHEE 874: Tissue Engineering
This course is designed as a graduate level introductory course in tissue engineering: the interdisciplinary field that encompasses biology, chemistry, medical sciences and engineering to design and fabricate living systems to replace damaged or diseased tissues and organs. Topics to be discussed include: tissue anatomy, basic cell biology, cell scaffolds, cell sources and differentiation, design considerations, diffusion and mass transfer limitations, effects of external stimuli, bioreactors, methods used to evaluate the engineered product(s), and implantation. Case studies of specific tissue engineering applications will also be discussed. Students will be required to participate in, as well as lead, discussions on the course material and relevant journal articles.