معرفی
Dr. Mitra Lavasani serves as Associate Professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine and conducts research at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Chicago. Her work bridges regenerative medicine and clinical rehabilitation through stem cell-based therapeutic development.
Her educational background includes an MS (2005) and PhD (2008) from the University of Pittsburgh. Research interests focus on leveraging adult stem cells and their secreted factors to combat neurodegeneration across muscle, vasculature, peripheral nerve, and brain systems. Experimental approaches encompass in vitro stem cell manipulation, therapeutic transplantation in animal models, immunohistochemistry, and advanced in vivo imaging for cell tracking.
Recent publications (2023-2025) demonstrate consistent focus on aging mechanisms, neuromuscular pathologies, and translational stem cell applications, with emerging themes in sex-specific responses and tissue biomechanics. Key trends include peripheral nerve imaging techniques, RNA analysis in aged tissues, progeria interventions, and cardiac DNA repair pathways.
Scientific recognition includes:
- The Sarah Baskin Outstanding Research Award: Junior Physicians and Scientists (2020)
- Journal of Aging and Disease Cover Art (2021)
- Shirley Ryan AbilityLab Inside Look Magazine feature (2021)
As principal investigator, she leads translational research initiatives supported by Northwestern University Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (NUCATS) affiliations, with emphasis on converting laboratory findings to clinical applications for neuromuscular conditions.
Her Biologics Laboratory at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab (355 E. Erie St, Chicago) specializes in stem cell therapies for aging-related pathologies, utilizing multidisciplinary approaches to address neurodegeneration across multiple organ systems.
