Riccardo L. Gottardi

Riccardo L. Gottardi, PhD, serves as Assistant Professor within the Department of Pediatrics at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute, leading the Bioengineering and Biomaterials (Bio²) Laboratory—the first dedicated pediatric airways research facility globally. His work bridges clinical collaboration and engineering innovation to address pediatric airway disorders through translational solutions.

Research focuses on:

• Mechanisms of laryngotracheal pathologies and healing processes
• Translational tissue engineering for airway reconstruction
• Controlled drug delivery systems targeting scarring prevention
• Organ-on-chip and animal models for craniofacial tissue regeneration

These efforts prioritize accelerated clinical translation for conditions like subglottic stenosis and vocal fold damage.

The lab champions STEM diversity through the CHOP Summer Scholars Program, actively recruiting underrepresented groups for internships while developing MEND technology-based cartilage implants. Outreach initiatives emphasize empowering future scientists through hands-on research exposure in pediatric bioengineering.