Episode 74: Chasing Regeneration

Guest: Bill Murphy

Today we talk with Bill Murphy, a bioengineer out of the University of Wisconsin Madison. We recently met Dr. Murphy when he came to the Wisconsin Capitol in support of our $3M SCI Research Grant bill back in January. 

Bill’s team has been working on developing biomaterials to improve the body’s ability to receive and utilize Chondroitinase ABC (ChABC). ChABC is an enzyme that holds lots of promise for jump starting axon regeneration, a key element for repairing the damaged spinal cord. But ChABC is notoriously unstable, having a short shelf life once it’s formulated as well as degrading quickly after it enters the body.

Jason and Matthew talk with Dr. Murphy about the specifics of his research strategy to improve the use of ChABC, and how it could be used in combination with other therapeutic interventions. We also discuss his support of our bill and his reflection on what it was like to walk through and meet legislators with us as we advocated for our bill to fund SCI research in Wisconsin.

As always, please share your thoughts with us via email at curecast@u2fp.org. Thanks for listening!

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Bumper music: Dig a Hole by Freaque

Guest Bio

Bill Murphy is the Harvey D. Spangler Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Professor of Orthopedics & Rehabilitation at the University of Wisconsin. His research group has developed new classes of biomimetic materials inspired by nature. They have used their materials to create new medical devices, human cells, and human tissues. He has over 200 publications, filed over 60 patents and co-founded 4 start-up companies based on those inventions. He also serves as Founding Director of the Forward BIO Institute, which catalyzes innovation in research, entrepreneurship and training, and pushes groundbreaking technologies out of academia and into the private sector.

• View Bill Murphy's academic profile here

• Learn more about the Forward BIO Institute here

Recent Research

• A Localized Materials-Based Strategy to Non-Virally Deliver Chondroitinase ABC mRNA Improves Hindlimb Function in a Rat Spinal Cord Injury Model. Read this recent research paper that Dr. Murphy co-authored. It demonstrates his team's bioengineering approach to improving the stabilization of chondroitinase and increasing its potential effectiveness for spinal cord injury repair.
   

Related CureCast Interviews

• Samuel Stupp - Episode 60
   
• Nick Jeffrey - Episode 22
   
• Jerry Silver - Episode 19
   

Acknowledgments