Barbara Zavan PhD

Zavan Barbara, Associate Professor of Biomedical Technology, is head of the Tissue Engineering and Regenerative laboratory at the Medical Sciences Department of Ferrara University (Italy). Prof. Zavan received her Ph.D. in Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine from Padova University, where she completed also postdoctoral training in stem cell biology. Prof. Zavan is a member of several scientific societies such as TERMIS and the American Nano Society.

Prof Zavan’s research seeks to understand how changes in stem cell activity impact tissue homeostasis and repair throughout life and to identify systemic molecules or surfaced modifications that are responsible for the regulation of regenerative potential.

Moreover, the aim of Prof. Zavan’s research is to develop functional grafts that have the ability to direct cellular responses, regulate the formation and integration of multiple tissue types, and maintain long-term functionality when introduced into the body. Her group hopes to achieve these goals by elucidating the fundamental mechanisms that govern cell-biomaterial and cell-cell interactions.

She has a multidisciplinary research group focused on both high-quality fundamental science and translation for human health. Research in regenerative medicine within her group includes the directed differentiation of stem cells, the design of novel bioactive scaffolds, and new approaches toward tissue regeneration. She has active collaborations with bioengineers, chemists, and clinicians in order to study stem cell-niche interactions in vitro.