Harvard Catalyst Profiles

This project offers an exciting opportunity for students to develop a project at the interface of soft tissue repair, tendon aging, biomaterials, and therapeutics. The aim of this project is to conduct research on translational orthopaedic research, with a focus on exploring the potential of various biomaterials and drug delivery strategies to improve soft tissue repair and to address issues related to tendon aging. The student will work under the supervision of Benjamin Freedman, PhD, a renowned researcher in this field. The student can choose to work on a hands-on project or a review paper/perspective that synthesizes current knowledge in the field. The project will require a commitment of at least 5-10 hours per week for a minimum of 6-12 months. Possible hands-on projects include the development of novel biomaterials for soft tissue repair, testing the efficacy of various drug delivery strategies for promoting tissue repair, and exploring the role of inflammation in tendon aging. The student will have access to cutting-edge equipment and resources to facilitate their research. Alternatively, the student can choose to write a first-authored review paper/perspective that summarizes current knowledge on translational orthopaedic research in biomaterials, drug delivery, and tendon aging. This would involve conducting an extensive literature review, analyzing and synthesizing data, and writing a comprehensive paper that will contribute to the knowledge base in this field.