معرفی
Donald S. Sakaguchi is the Morrill Professor in the Department of Genetics, Development and Cell Biology at Iowa State University (ISU), and serves as Director of the Biology and Genetics Undergraduate Programs. He holds an adjunct professorship at the ISU College of Veterinary Medicine. His research focuses on regenerative and repair strategies for the nervous system, particularly using stem cells and biomaterials for neuroprotection and tissue repair. Dr. Sakaguchi earned his B.S. and Ph.D. in Biology/Neurobiology from SUNY Albany and completed postdoctoral training at UC San Diego.
Education: B.S. Biology (SUNY Albany, 1979), Ph.D. Neurobiology (SUNY Albany, 1984), Postdoctoral Fellow (UC San Diego).
Research Interests: Developing cell-based therapies for neurodegenerative diseases and injuries using mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and neural progenitor cells (NPCs). Key areas include: 1) Stem cell engineering for neurotrophic factor delivery, 2) Biomaterials for neural regeneration (e.g., 3D-printed conduits), 3) Peripheral nerve repair via transdifferentiation, and 4) In vitro models of traumatic brain injury. Collaborations span neuroscience, bioengineering, and veterinary medicine.
Labs/Teams: Sakaguchi Lab at ISU, part of the Nanovaccine Institute and interdisciplinary programs in Neuroscience, MCDB, and Bioinformatics. The lab emphasizes diversity and inclusion, fostering training for undergraduate and graduate researchers.
