In a significant stride toward advancing the understanding of fibrotic diseases, Dr. Catherine Whittington, an associate professor at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), has been awarded a prestigious CAREER Award from the National Science Foundation (NSF). This five-year grant, totaling $629,998, empowers Whittington and her team to develop innovative laboratory models that simulate fibrosis in three critical tissues: pancreas, skin, and uterine fibroids. These models hold promise for unraveling the complex mechanobiological phenomena behind fibrosis, a pathological condition marked by excessive scarring that compromises tissue flexibility and function.
Fibrosis arises when normal tissue repair mechanisms become dysregulated, resulting in the accumulation of dense extracellular matrix components such as collagen. Over time, this leads to stiffening of the affected tissue and impairs organ performance. Diseases like chronic pancreatitis, keloid scars, and uterine fibroids exemplify the clinical burden of fibrosis, with current treatments often limited to symptom management rather than disease reversal. Whittington’s work intends to provide foundational tools for probing the cellular and molecular drivers of fibrosis, thereby opening avenues for targeted therapeutic interventions.
The central innovation of Whittington’s research lies in the engineering of biomimetic in vitro models that recapitulate the intricate microenvironment of fibrotic tissues. These models utilize biomaterials, including collagen-based matrices integrated with human-derived cells, to faithfully replicate the biomechanical properties and cellular interactions seen in vivo. By situating these composite tissues in micro-scale wells on laboratory plates comparable in size to index cards, the system offers high-throughput capabilities while preserving biologically relevant complexity.
What sets this approach apart is the ability to systematically manipulate hormonal cues, mechanical stresses, and various environmental stimuli within these models. This control facilitates the precise dissection of mechanotransduction pathways – processes by which cells sense and respond to mechanical forces – believed to play a pivotal role in fibrosis progression. Investigating how variations in extracellular stiffness and biochemical signals influence fibroblast activation and matrix remodeling could illuminate critical checkpoints for intervention.
Beyond the technical sophistication, Whittington emphasizes the translational potential. Current animal models for fibrosis fall short in recapitulating human tissue-specific nuances, thus limiting predictive power for clinical outcomes. By leveraging advanced tissue engineering techniques, these novel platforms could bridge the translational gap, enabling drug screening and mechanistic studies with higher fidelity to human disease states.
Whittington’s expertise in biomedical engineering is complemented by a robust research trajectory spanning cancer, lymphatic disorders, and tissue mechanics. After earning her PhD at Purdue University, she engaged in postdoctoral research at Eli Lilly and Company and contributed as a visiting scholar. Since joining WPI in 2018, her laboratory has dissected how cellular microenvironments modulate disease progression, particularly focusing on pancreatic fibrosis where tissue stiffening exacerbates pathological outcomes.
Integral to the CAREER Award’s mission is the coupling of cutting-edge research with dynamic educational outreach. Whittington plans to expand STEM education through programs targeting high school students involved in WPI’s Frontiers summer program. Additionally, she will collaborate with local health initiatives, including Worcester’s Epworth Medical Program, to develop patient-centric educational resources that demystify fibrotic diseases and their impact on health.
This educational interface extends to mentoring undergraduate research teams who partner with community clinics, addressing health disparities through innovative STEM applications. Whittington articulates that enhancing medical literacy and inspiring future scientists are vital components of her laboratory’s work, enabling the broader societal impact of scientific discovery.
At a broader institutional level, WPI embodies a project-based learning philosophy, fostering student engagement with real-world scientific and technological challenges. Its R1 research classification reflects a sustained commitment to pioneering inquiry and interdisciplinary collaboration. Whittington’s award continues this tradition by integrating rigorous bioengineering research with community engagement.
The models developed by Whittington’s team are anticipated to generate insights into the cellular crosstalk and matrix dynamics that underpin fibrotic remodeling. Understanding how mechanical and chemical factors interweave to exacerbate tissue scarring will be instrumental in formulating intervention strategies that either halt or reverse fibrosis. Given the pervasive nature of fibrotic diseases and their association with diverse pathologies, the implications of this research resonate across multiple domains of biomedical science.
Fibrosis research has historically been hampered by the absence of representative human tissue systems suitable for comprehensive mechanistic studies. Whittington’s approach to combining biological materials with precise biomechanical modulation stands to reposition the field. The capacity to replicate disease-specific microenvironments in a controlled setting offers unprecedented opportunities for therapeutic innovation, potentially reshaping clinical approaches toward conditions once deemed intractable.
Through this CAREER Award, Whittington not only contributes novel scientific tools but also fosters a pipeline for developing therapeutics informed by deep mechanistic understanding. By elucidating how cellular interfaces and matrix stiffness dictate fibrotic progression, her research lays the groundwork for personalized medicine approaches targeting fibrosis at its root causes.
In summary, the NSF CAREER-funded project spearheaded by Catherine Whittington at WPI signifies a transformative endeavor in fibrosis modeling and biomedical education. By engineering sophisticated in vitro systems that emulate fibrotic tissues and incorporating expansive educational outreach, the project stands at the nexus of innovation, discovery, and societal impact in the fight against fibrotic diseases.
Subject of Research: Fibrosis modeling in pancreas, skin, and uterine tissues using engineered laboratory models
Article Title: NSF CAREER Award Propels Development of Advanced Fibrosis Models in Biomedical Engineering
News Publication Date: August 20, 2025
Web References:
– Worcester Polytechnic Institute: https://www.wpi.edu/people/faculty/cfwhittington
– NSF CAREER Award: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2442285&HistoricalAwards=false
– WPI Biomedical Engineering Department: https://www.wpi.edu/academics/departments/biomedical-engineering
Image Credits: Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Keywords: Biomedical engineering, fibrosis, pancreatitis, keloid scars, uterine fibroids, tissue engineering, mechanotransduction, modeling, biomedical research, STEM education, human health, translational research
