Shilpa Sant, Ph.D - Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Shilpa Sant, PhD is an Assistant Professor at University of Pittsburgh in the Departments of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Bioengineering. Before joining Pitt, she was a Ruth Kirschstein NRSA Interdisciplinary training fellow at the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, and the Centre for Bioengineering at Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School in Boston, MA.

Dr. Sant received a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Technology from University of Montreal, Canada, a Masters degree in Pharmacology and a Bachelors degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Mumbai. She has extensive research experience in diverse fields including materials science, polymer chemistry, drug delivery, tissue engineering, natural and synthetic biomaterials and microfabrication. Her postdoctoral research involved fabrication of functionalized bioinspired materials and scaffolds applicable for the heart valve and tooth germ tissue engineering. She has contributed over 20 articles in peer-reviewed journals, 2 book chapters and currently editing a book entitled "Biomedical Nanomaterials in Tissue Engineering: Fabrication and Applications". Dr. Sant's exemplary achievements in research have been recognized by prestigious fellowships: Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NIH, USA), Post-doctoral Fellowship (Le Fonds Quebecoise de Recherche sur Nature et Technologies (FQRNT), Canada), Post-graduate Scholarship B (Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), Canada). She has also received several awards including "2013 CMBE-BMES Rising Star-Fellow Award", "2010 Society For Biomaterials-STAR Award" to name a few.

Dr. Sant's research goals are to develop an independent and multidisciplinary research program at the interface of biomaterials, controlled drug delivery, and tissue engineering. Specifically, she aims to develop tissue-engineered tumor models that recreate the three-dimensional structure, cell-cell/cell-ECM interaction, stromal environments, and signalling cues present in vivo. Dr. Sant is a member of the Biomedical Engineering Society, Controlled Release Society, American Association of Cancer Research, the Indian Pharmaceutical Association, and Sigma Xi.

2011-2012 Interdisciplinary Training Fellow, Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering

Harvard University/ Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston

2008-2011 Research Fellow, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston

Vinayak Sant, PhD is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at University of Pittsburgh. Vinayak completed his BS in Pharmaceutical sciences and MS in Pharmaceutics from University of Pune, India. He then pursued Ph. D at University of Mumbai, India in Pharmaceutics with specialization in novel drug delivery systems and moved to University of Montreal, Canada for postdoctoral research in the area of nanotechnology for solubility and bioavailability enhancement. Vinayak joined University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy after 9 years of industrial experience in companies such as Pharmascience Inc., Montreal, Canada, Labopharm Inc, Laval, Canada and Patheon Inc., Mississauga, Canada. His expertise include novel oral and parenteral dosage form development, nano/microparticulate delivery systems for solubility enhancement and cGMP manufacturing for IND / NDA filings. Vinayak has filed 5 patents and contributed in the development of platform technologies for modified/sustained drug delivery generating IP rights that have been successfully commercialized. At School of Pharmacy, Vinayak will be responsible for Non-thesis based Masters program in Pharmaceutical Sciences. He will also leverage his industrial and research experience to support other faculty members in their research programs.

2011-2012 Senior Technical Project Leader, Pharmaceutical Development Services, Patheon Inc.,

2004-2006 Scientist, Formulation Development, Pharmascience Inc., Montreal, Canada

2001-2004 Postdoctoral Fellow, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Montreal, Canada

2001-2001 Formulation Development Executive, Bharat Serums and Vaccines Ltd., India

Yingfei completed his BS in Pharmaceutical Engineering in 2012 at East China University of Sci & Tech, Shanghai, China. He then completed MS in pharmaceutical Sciences at University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy in October 2013. Before joining the Sant lab, he was a medicinal chemist working at synthetic methodology and new drug discovery lab. Currently, he is pursuing PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences. His research focuses on the synthesis of novel elastomers for tissue engineering and drug/gene delivery applications.

Akhil completed Bachelor of Pharmacy (2008-2012) from Gujarat Technological University, India. After joining Sant lab in August 2013, he pursed an MS in Pharmaceutical Sciences in Sant lab. He has been working on development of bioactive and biomimetic materials and augmenting the regeneration of damaged native tissues. His overall research interests include development of synthetic scaffolds mimicking natural extracellular matrix and study of cell-matrix interactions for bone and skeletal muscle regeneration.

Tanvi completed her Bachelor in Pharmacy from the Institute of Chemical Technology in Mumbai, India in May 2017. She joined the Sant lab in Fall 2017 and is currently pursuing her MS-Thesis in Pharmaceutical Sciences. A budding entrepreneur with a strong background in formulation development and drug delivery, she is currently getting hands on experience in molecular biology.

Vibishan Balasubramanian

Visiting Undergraduate Researcher

	Sant Lab Developing Biomimetic Microenvironments for Regenerative Therapies Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, PA

	Principal Investigators Shilpa Sant, Ph.D Shilpa Sant, PhD is an Assistant Professor at University of Pittsburgh in the Departments of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Bioengineering. Before joining Pitt, she was a Ruth Kirschstein NRSA Interdisciplinary training fellow at the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, and the Centre for Bioengineering at Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School in Boston, MA. Dr. Sant received a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Technology from University of Montreal, Canada, a Masters degree in Pharmacology and a Bachelors degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Mumbai. She has extensive research experience in diverse fields including materials science, polymer chemistry, drug delivery, tissue engineering, natural and synthetic biomaterials and microfabrication. Her postdoctoral research involved fabrication of functionalized bioinspired materials and scaffolds applicable for the heart valve and tooth germ tissue engineering. She has contributed over 20 articles in peer-reviewed journals, 2 book chapters and currently editing a book entitled "Biomedical Nanomaterials in Tissue Engineering: Fabrication and Applications". Dr. Sant's exemplary achievements in research have been recognized by prestigious fellowships: Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NIH, USA), Post-doctoral Fellowship (Le Fonds Quebecoise de Recherche sur Nature et Technologies (FQRNT), Canada), Post-graduate Scholarship B (Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), Canada). She has also received several awards including "2013 CMBE-BMES Rising Star-Fellow Award", "2010 Society For Biomaterials-STAR Award" to name a few. Dr. Sant's research goals are to develop an independent and multidisciplinary research program at the interface of biomaterials, controlled drug delivery, and tissue engineering. Specifically, she aims to develop tissue-engineered tumor models that recreate the three-dimensional structure, cell-cell/cell-ECM interaction, stromal environments, and signalling cues present in vivo. Dr. Sant is a member of the Biomedical Engineering Society, Controlled Release Society, American Association of Cancer Research, the Indian Pharmaceutical Association, and Sigma Xi. Past Positions: 2011-2012 Interdisciplinary Training Fellow, Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering Harvard University/ Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston 2008-2011 Research Fellow, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston 2008-2008 Clinical Research Assistant, Labopharm Inc., Canada 2000-2002 Senior Research Fellow, SNDT Women's University, Mumbai, India 1999-2000 Lecturer in Pharmacology, University of Mumbai, India 1997-1999 Junior Research Fellow, Bombay College of Pharmacy, Mumbai, India Vinayak Sant, Ph.D Vinayak Sant, PhD is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at University of Pittsburgh. Vinayak completed his BS in Pharmaceutical sciences and MS in Pharmaceutics from University of Pune, India. He then pursued Ph. D at University of Mumbai, India in Pharmaceutics with specialization in novel drug delivery systems and moved to University of Montreal, Canada for postdoctoral research in the area of nanotechnology for solubility and bioavailability enhancement. Vinayak joined University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy after 9 years of industrial experience in companies such as Pharmascience Inc., Montreal, Canada, Labopharm Inc, Laval, Canada and Patheon Inc., Mississauga, Canada. His expertise include novel oral and parenteral dosage form development, nano/microparticulate delivery systems for solubility enhancement and cGMP manufacturing for IND / NDA filings. Vinayak has filed 5 patents and contributed in the development of platform technologies for modified/sustained drug delivery generating IP rights that have been successfully commercialized. At School of Pharmacy, Vinayak will be responsible for Non-thesis based Masters program in Pharmaceutical Sciences. He will also leverage his industrial and research experience to support other faculty members in their research programs. Past Positions 2011-2012 Senior Technical Project Leader, Pharmaceutical Development Services, Patheon Inc., Mississauga, Canada 2006-2011 Manager, Formulation Development, Labopharm Inc., Laval, Canada 2004-2006 Scientist, Formulation Development, Pharmascience Inc., Montreal, Canada 2001-2004 Postdoctoral Fellow, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Montreal, Canada 2001-2001 Formulation Development Executive, Bharat Serums and Vaccines Ltd., India Postdoc researcher Manjulata Singh, PhD Graduate Students Yingfei Xue PhD student, Pharmaceutical Sciences Yingfei completed his BS in Pharmaceutical Engineering in 2012 at East China University of Sci & Tech, Shanghai, China. He then completed MS in pharmaceutical Sciences at University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy in October 2013. Before joining the Sant lab, he was a medicinal chemist working at synthetic methodology and new drug discovery lab. Currently, he is pursuing PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences. His research focuses on the synthesis of novel elastomers for tissue engineering and drug/gene delivery applications. Akhil Patel PhD student, Pharmaceutical Sciences Akhil completed Bachelor of Pharmacy (2008-2012) from Gujarat Technological University, India. After joining Sant lab in August 2013, he pursed an MS in Pharmaceutical Sciences in Sant lab. He has been working on development of bioactive and biomimetic materials and augmenting the regeneration of damaged native tissues. His overall research interests include development of synthetic scaffolds mimicking natural extracellular matrix and study of cell-matrix interactions for bone and skeletal muscle regeneration. Tanvi Shah MS student, Pharmaceutical Sciences Tanvi completed her Bachelor in Pharmacy from the Institute of Chemical Technology in Mumbai, India in May 2017. She joined the Sant lab in Fall 2017 and is currently pursuing her MS-Thesis in Pharmaceutical Sciences. A budding entrepreneur with a strong background in formulation development and drug delivery, she is currently getting hands on experience in molecular biology. Urmi Chheda Undergraduate Students Research Scientist Qiaoke Gong Lab Alumni Tatyana Yatsenko Bioengineering Undergraduate Kishor Sarkar, PhD Postdoctoral Research Fellow Sumit Goenka Visiting Research Scholar Maria Jaramillo, PhD Postdoctoral Research Fellow Jr-Jiun Liou (Jean) Visiting Research Scholars Rebecca Hartley Bioengineering Undergraduate Yuka Higuchi Bioengineering Undergraduate Dan Mason NT-MS Student Shilpaa Mukundan MS Student Yuzhe Chen MS Student Vibishan Balasubramanian Visiting Undergraduate Researcher Abdul Sami Visiting Researcher Sameera Sansare Visiting Researcher Prithivirajan Durairajan Visiting Undergraduate Researcher Supraja Ranganahan Visiting Undergraduate Researcher Vijetha G.V Viju Visiting Undergraduate Researcher Sricharani rao Balmuri Visiting Undergraduate Researcher Harini Venkata Krishnan MS Student Yohann Pitale MS Student Lavanya Kondiparthi MS Student