CúRAM PhD Candidate Awarded Engineers Ireland Biomedical Research Medal

To celebrate International Day of Women and Girls in Science we'd like to congratulate CúRAM PhD Candidate Ankita Pramanick?on being awarded the Engineers Ireland?Biomedical Research Medal last month. This award recognizes her outstanding contribution to biomedical research through her PhD work, supervised by Prof Andrew Daly?at University of Galway?on 4D bioprinting of shape-morphing tissue that improved the structural and functional maturity of cardiac tissue. We spoke to Ankita about her work and what the award means to her.

What kind of research are you involved in?

?My PhD research focuses on developing 4D bioprinted tissues that undergo programmable shape-morphing driven by cell-generated forces. Using embedded bioprinting, we deposited a collagen-based bioink within a support bath. We investigated the influence of initial geometry, bioink composition, and support bath stiffness on the extent of shape-morphing and further explored the impact of shape-morphing on cell alignment. Applying this platform, we then investigated the structural and functional maturation of stem cell-derived cardiac tissue. Our findings revealed a significant increase in contraction force, accompanied by upregulation of genes associated with sodium ion channels and enhanced intercellular coupling, mirroring key aspects of heart development and maturation.

?How does your approach differ from current methods?

Traditional bioprinting often focuses on directly replicating the final anatomical shape of an organ using static bioinks. However, this approach contrasts with native organ development, which relies on dynamic shape-morphing to sculpt structure and achieve functional maturity. For instance, the heart develops from a simple tube through a complex process of bending, buckling, and twisting into a four-chambered heart. Recognizing the importance of this dynamic process, we developed a novel embedded bioprinting platform that enables shape change, mimicking native tissue development. Using this platform, we systematically investigated the factors modulating shape-morphing and established proocols for creating tuneable shape-morphing bioprinted tissues. We demonstrated the influence of shape-morphing on cellular alignment and subsequent maturation of cardiac tissue. Finally, we leveraged this technology to bioprint an anatomically relevant double ventricle structure that underwent cell-mediated morphing to form organized and functional beating tissue.

What do you think is the most important thing for people to know about your research?

Our research investigates the application of this bioprinting technology to the development of mature tissues for advanced biomedical applications. These applications include the creation of drug screening platforms, the development of tissues for replacement therapies, and the long-term goal of organ transplantation. Specifically, we are addressing the challenge of repairing damaged mature heart tissue, highlighting the significance of developing mature cardiac tissue. The ability to generate mature and functional cardiac tissue is crucial for replicating native tissue properties, enabling both the development of physiologically relevant screening platforms and the creation of viable tissue replacements.

Why did you embark on a research career?

A research career has been instrumental in my intellectual and professional development, allowing me to explore my curiosity and expand my knowledge. My fascination with bioprinting motivated me to join the CúRAM Research Ireland Centre for Medical Devices in 2021, where I am fortunate to be mentored by Dr Andrew Daly, a leading researcher in bioprinting and tissue engineering. This PhD journey has been incredible so far, enabling me to pursue my scientific interests and acquire valuable research skills. It motivated me further for my future research career where I would like to investigate the intricacies of early tissue development, employing bioprinting and iPSC-derived tissues to study stem cell differentiation, patterning, and maturation.

What does this award mean to you?

I am deeply honoured to receive the Engineers Ireland Biomedical Research Medal, sponsored by DePuy Synthes . This prestigious award recognizes my research contributions to biomedical engineering and serves as a significant motivation to continue my research career, working toward the establishment of a laboratory focused on impactful research with the goal of improving quality of life.

?What progress would you like to see in this area of research in 5-years time?

My research will be focused on the bioprinting of iPSC-derived tissues to recapitulate the intricate processes of early organ development. To further advance my research capabilities and expand my knowledge base, I am seeking a suitable postdoctoral position. My career objective is to establish an independent research laboratory in future and lead a team dedicated to this field.