Dr. Pinzon Herrera receives MSCRF Fellowship Award

Congratulations to Dr. Luis Carlos Pinzon Herrera, a post-doctoral researcher in Dr. Almodovar’s Polymeric Biomaterials Lab, for being awarded the Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund (MSCRF) Post-Doctoral Fellowship Award!

This competitive fellowship supports exceptional post-doctoral fellows conducting stem cell and regenerative medicine research in Maryland. Dr. Rachel Brewster, Chair of the Maryland Stem Cell Research Commission commented, “We recognize the life-saving potential of the research supported by our grant awardees. Sustained MSCRF funding is essential to advancing these efforts, particularly in today’s challenging funding landscape” She added, “We remain committed to helping innovative scientists and companies move cutting-edge stem cell research from the lab to patient care.”

Dr. Pinzon Herrera’s research project “focuses on enhancing nerve regeneration by optimizing biomimetic surfaces for Schwann cell precursors (RealSCPs) derived from human iPSCs. Using a layer-by-layer coating technique with heparin and collagen, the study aims to improve RealSCP adhesion, proliferation, and myelination potential. It involves both molecular-level analysis and co-cultures with iPSC-derived sensory neurons to evaluate the therapeutic potential of these engineered cells. The goal is to develop scalable, defined models to advance cell-based therapies for peripheral nerve repair.”