Chandan Sen, Director, McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine

In an interview with Invest:, Chandan Sen, director of the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, discussed translational science, workforce inclusion, and space biomedicine. “Scientific leadership can’t just focus on discovery and commercialization. It also must ensure that new opportunities are accessible to all,” said Sen.

What changes has the institute experienced over the past year?
One of the biggest changes over the past year was the establishment of a strong clinical research infrastructure, not only in Pittsburgh but throughout Pennsylvania, including rural areas, and extending into Maryland. We now collaborate with 20 hospitals across Pennsylvania, with a network of research staff wide enough to collect data across different socioeconomic strata, acknowledging that lifestyle has a major effect on health outcomes.

Another milestone is that McGowan now hosts the NIH’s national Diabetic Foot Consortium in Pennsylvania. I serve as national vice chair and incoming chair. Over the next five years, a key goal is to reduce diabetic amputations, which are rising sharply, not only causing suffering but significant economic burden through lost productivity and extended care. The consortium requires enrollment from rural and urban populations alike.

At the same time, in response to reductions in federal research funding, we have begun repositioning to partner with for‑profit entities and to raise market‑based funding. Thanks to our dean, we launched Pitt.INC, designed to package promising projects into spin‑out companies, advance them to a point of market readiness, and attract investment. In effect, we are adapting to a changing “business of science.”

Recently, in collaboration with Carnegie Mellon and other local institutions, we have formed agile “strike teams” that cross institutional boundaries. Projects are chosen based on public impact, and team composition is fluid, drawing expertise wherever needed.

Which emerging breakthroughs in regenerative medicine excite you most, and how close are they to clinical use?
The FDA’s Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy (RMAT) designation has become a critical accelerator: there are now hundreds of RMAT‑labeled products in the pipeline, and many have reached the market. This pathway demonstrates how regenerative therapies can move through regulatory processes more efficiently.

However, not every promising scientific advance will translate immediately into a commercial product. Much of what appears remarkable in journals must go through rigorous de‑risking before it reaches clinical use. That said, several current market products, especially in cell and gene therapies, are impressive in their own right.

Tissue engineering is advancing rapidly, particularly with 3D bioprinting. A burgeoning area is in vivo tissue reprogramming: converting existing tissues, such as skin or fat, into the types of tissue that have lost function, for example, blood vessels or nerve cells. This approach bypasses the need for stem cells and lab manipulation. At McGowan, we pioneered in vivo reprogramming, turning abundant tissue into needed tissue directly in the living body. We have published results in creating blood vessels and nerve cells this way, and additional applications will be published soon. One of these is being spun out via Pitt.INC.

Historically, McGowan has had clinical impact through extracellular matrix–based products in wound care and cardiovascular devices initiated by our scientists. That tradition continues: our priority is impact, not merely academic publications.

Another major development is integrating artificial intelligence into regenerative medicine. We now partner locally, including with Carnegie Mellon and private firms, to develop AI systems that accelerate design, testing, and implementation of biomedical solutions.

As regenerative medicine advances, what role do you see for Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania in that future?
The state of Pennsylvania has committed to building around McGowan a robust healthcare and biotech economy. McGowan is not just an academic department; it is intended as a responsive engine for local health needs.

In the past, professors who wanted to commercialize would have to form companies individually and seek funding on their own. Now, with structures like Pitt.INC, faculty are guided toward market pathways with institutional investment support. Pittsburgh’s School of Medicine is backing this model, reducing the burden on individual investigators.

Moreover, UPMC Enterprise, which is the health system’s technology evaluation arm, has become a significant investor in technology development. So, there is a dual scaffold: Pitt.INC and UPMC Enterprise. These structures support principal investigators who may lack experience in commercialization.

While many efforts focus on biomedical devices and related interventions, this ecosystem can foster greater translational success. The infrastructure and commitment in Pennsylvania position Pittsburgh to play a major role in shaping the future of regenerative medicine.

Why is community-based care important in reaching underserved populations?
Community engagement is critical, especially when reaching underserved populations. I chair the national consortium’s community engagement section, and we’ve built a strong local program to match.

In our clinics, we serve about 20,000 unique patients each year. Yet the highest-risk individuals, often African Americans from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, were rarely attending. To address this, McGowan began holding events in Black churches, offering free foot screenings and health education.

Many in these communities have a deep-rooted mistrust of research due to historical abuses. We focus on relationship-building by inviting community members onto advisory committees and maintaining a consistent presence in their spaces. In the past six months, we’ve seen a significant increase in participation.

We’ve also launched creative outreach tools like the “Rock Your Socks, Check Those Knocks” campaign, distributing socks printed with foot care tips and QR codes linking to educational animations. People are using them, scanning the codes, and coming into the clinic. Some patients are uninsured, so we partnered with hospitals to provide free care when needed. Nurses and doctors visit churches and offer screenings with no insurance required. Sometimes flexibility is necessary to ensure care reaches those who need it most.

Community engagement wasn’t my original area of expertise. But I recognized a need, learned on the job, and asked for help. People stepped up. Governors, local leaders, Democrats, and Republicans alike have offered support. There’s no political divide here — only a shared commitment to serving people who have been left behind.

How is the institute building economic inclusion through workforce development in rural areas?
In rural Pennsylvania, we’ve focused on direct engagement. I recently held public meetings in counties like Forest County, among the most economically disadvantaged in the state. We met in schools, gathered local leaders and industry representatives, and received enthusiastic support.

That led to the development of the ARISE (Appalachian Regional Initiative for Stronger Economies) – BARMA (Biotechnology and Regenerative Medicine Advancement of Appalachian Economy. This federally funded program, backed by the governors of Pennsylvania and West Virginia, is designed to create biotech career pathways for high school graduates and two-year college students.

ARISE-BARMA is not a traditional academic route. It’s a skilling and apprenticeship model aimed at immediate employability. More than 50 companies and universities are participating, working together to deliver training and job placement throughout rural regions in both states.

This reflects a larger philosophy. The healthcare economy is growing rapidly, fueled by aging demographics and advancing technology. But without targeted inclusion, only the highly educated will benefit, leaving the rest behind. That gap is already contributing to social unrest.

As someone who came from a blue-collar background and immigrated to the U.S., I see the consequences of exclusion clearly. Scientific leadership can’t just focus on discovery and commercialization. It also must ensure that new opportunities are accessible to all, especially in communities that have historically been overlooked.

What are the institute’s top scientific and economic priorities over the next five to 10 years?
These priorities are deeply connected. Scientific innovation, in my view, is the engine of economic development. Repeating old models will not keep pace with global advances. Innovation is no longer concentrated in the West. Countries like China are investing and accelerating at scale. Technology has leveled the playing field, so the advantage now lies in ecosystems, not geography.

Pittsburgh has that ecosystem. With institutions like Carnegie Mellon, McGowan, and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, which is the largest academic health system in the country, we are in a strong position. We’ve chosen several key focus areas: extracellular matrix technologies, tissue engineering, and 3D bioprinting. These efforts are supported by existing intellectual property and a robust translational structure.

Tissue reprogramming is another priority. We are developing methods to transform common tissues, such as skin or fat, into needed tissues like blood vessels, nerve cells, or even insulin-producing tissue beneath the skin. One such innovation, now commercialized, can detect blood glucose and release insulin automatically, eliminating the need for injections.

Because disruptive innovation often moves slowly through regulatory pathways, we maintain a balanced portfolio. Some projects, such as collagen-based solutions, carry less risk and move quickly. Others, with greater long-term impact, require more time.