Carnegie Mellon University

Rosalyn Abbott

Dr. Rosalyn Abbott

Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering

Address
Scott Hall 4N101
Carnegie Mellon University
5000 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213

Education

  • B.S., Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 2008
  • M.S., Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 2008
  • Ph.D., University of Vermont, 2012
  • Postdoctoral Research, Tufts University, 2012-2017

Bio

Rosalyn Abbott is an Assistant Professor in Biomedical Engineering with a courtesy appointment in Materials Science and Engineering. Professor Abbott received her B.S. and M.S. degrees in Biomedical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and her Ph.D. degree in Bioengineering from the University of Vermont. She was subsequently a postdoctoral fellow in the Biomedical Engineering Department at Tufts University working under the supervision of Professor David Kaplan, where she developed adipose tissue engineered models. Her lab at CMU focuses on using tissue engineering to study metabolic dysregulation during the complex transition of obesity to insulin resistant type II diabetes. She is currently a Wimmer Faculty Fellow (2018-2019). 

Research

There is a critical need for monitoring physiologically relevant, sustainable, human tissues in vitro to gain new insights into metabolic diseases. In Professor Abbott’s lab, human adipose microenvironments are being developed and tested for responsiveness to stimuli hypothesized to alter disease mechanisms (i.e. the transition of obese tissues to insulin resistant type II diabetic tissues), metabolic behavior, and therapeutic potential. The lab focuses on integrating biomaterials with tissue engineering techniques and perfusion bioreactors. Specifically, silk is used as a natural biomaterial to support long term culture of adipose micro-environments in vitro. The ultimate goal is to use these adipose tissue systems to inform preventative and therapeutic measures for patients affected by the metabolic syndrome. 

Research Interests: cell & tissue engineering; biomaterials; adipose microenvironments; disease modeling; tissue regeneration

  

Awards and Recognitions

  • Wimmer Faculty Fellow, 2018-2019

  • Member, Tau Beta Pi, National Engineering Honor Society