Research
Research in the Sammarco lab spans several regenerative approaches:
- Cell metabolism and mitochondrial signaling.
- Limb tissue replacement.
- Sensory nerves in musculoskeletal regeneration.
Our research uses a digit amputation model of bone and soft tissue regeneration. Amputation of the distal one-third of the third phalangeal element of the digit tip results in high-fidelity replacement of bone and soft tissue. More proximal amputations in the second phalangeal element or limb results in callus formation, fibrotic scarring and failure to regenerate.
We use these two models to understand the complex interactions of a multitissue regenerative system and identify the mechanisms that drive cell differentiation and patterning during the regenerative process.
Funding
Dr. Sammarco's research receives grant funding from the Department of Defense and the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.
Research collaborators
Dr. Sammarco welcomes synergistic collaborations to promote regeneration.
Our current Mayo Clinic research collaborators are:
Our current external research collaborators are:
- Jennifer Simkin, Ph.D.
- Assistant Professor
- University of Kentucky College of Medicine
- Lexington, Kentucky
- Robert Tower, Ph.D.
- Assistant Professor
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
- Dallas, Texas
- Jessica Lehoczky, Ph.D.
- Assistant Professor
- Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Harvard Medical School
- Boston, Massachusetts
- Volkhard Lindner, M.D., Ph.D.
- Faculty Scientist III
- MaineHealth Institute for Research
- Scarborough, Maine
- Anyonya Guntur, Ph.D.
- Faculty Scientist I
- MaineHealth Institute for Research
- Scarborough, Maine
- Kevin Hoffseth, Ph.D.
- Assistant Professor
- Louisiana State University College of Engineering
- Baton Rouge, Louisiana
- Catherine McCusker, Ph.D.
- Assistant Professor
- University of Massachusetts
- Boston, Massachusetts