headshot of George Hussey

George Hussey

Assistant Professor
gsh8@pitt.edu
(412) 624-5252
Bioengineering Department

overview

The primary focus of my research program is the discovery, development, and clinical translation of extracellular matrix (ECM)-based and other natural biopolymer materials for functional tissue reconstruction. These interests also extend into an in-depth understanding of the molecular mechanisms of constructive tissue remodeling, specifically in examining the host remodeling response and the effect of biomaterials on immunomodulation, with the broad goal of identifying molecular targets to regulate these effects. Bio-interface interactions, including the role of biopolymers, constitutive phospholipids and incorporated (extracellular) RNA on matrix biology and the host tissue response, are prime targets of my investigations. My research program utilizes the full spectrum of investigative platforms including biochemical and molecular approaches, cell signal transduction, bioengineering and biomaterial science, computational modeling, and preclinical animal studies. The overall objective is to understand the mechanisms of host-biomaterial interactions, and to utilize those interactions for improved clinical outcomes to repair tissue damaged by trauma, disease or ageing. A second arm of my research is focused on the development of methods and processes that can advance production of ECM-based therapies from laboratory protocols to large-scale, cGMP-compatible manufacturing processes, and enable the rapid clinical translation of the next generation of regenerative medicine-based therapies. Over the past decade, these research pursuits have culminated in over 33 peer reviewed scientific publications and 11 patent applications that focus on development of new technologies to repair tissue after traumatic injury or disease. I currently serve as Co-PI or Co-Investigator on numerous DARPA, Medical Technology Enterprise Consortium (MTEC), NIH and Industry funded research; and I am a co-leader of a laboratory that consists of 4 staff scientists, 3 postdoctoral fellows, 3 predoctoral students, 8 undergraduate students, a technical support staff, and an administrative support staff. The laboratory is an active training environment for scientists in various career stages. In addition to my academic duties, I am a scientific co-founder and Vice President of Research and Development at ECM Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical stage regenerative medicine startup company that aims to develop and commercialize regenerative medicine-based products for clinical use. I am fortunate from these experiences to have participated in the full range of translational science, from initial observations in the laboratory to the development of clinical interventions

about

PhD, Cleveland State University

Crum, R.J., Capella-Monsonís, H., Chang, J., Dewey, M.J., Kolich, B.D., Hall, K.T., El-Mossier, S.O., Nascari, D.G., Hussey, G.S., & Badylak, S.F. (2023). Biocompatibility and biodistribution of matrix-bound nanovesicles in vitro and in vivo. Acta Biomater, 155, 113-122.Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.actbio.2022.11.026.

Crum, R.J., Huckestien, B.R., Dwyer, G., Mathews, L., Nascari, D.G., Hussey, G.S., Turnquist, H.R., Alcorn, J.F., & Badylak, S.F. (2023). Mitigation of influenza-mediated inflammation by immunomodulatory matrix-bound nanovesicles. Sci Adv, 9(20), eadf9016.American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adf9016.

Behre, A., Tashman, J.W., Dikyol, C., Shiwarski, D.J., Crum, R.J., Johnson, S.A., Kommeri, R., Hussey, G.S., Badylak, S.F., & Feinberg, A.W. (2022). 3D Bioprinted Patient-Specific Extracellular Matrix Scaffolds for Soft Tissue Defects. Adv Healthc Mater, 11(24), e2200866.Wiley. doi: 10.1002/adhm.202200866.

Cramer, M., Pineda Molina, C., Hussey, G., Turnquist, H.R., & Badylak, S.F. (2022). Transcriptomic Regulation of Macrophages by Matrix-Bound Nanovesicle-Associated Interleukin-33. Tissue Eng Part A, 28(19-20), 867-878.Mary Ann Liebert. doi: 10.1089/ten.TEA.2022.0006.

Crum, R.J., Capella-Monsonis, H., Badylak, S.F., & Hussey, G.S. (2022). Extracellular Vesicles for Regenerative Medicine Applications. APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL, 12(15), 7472.MDPI. doi: 10.3390/app12157472.

Crum, R.J., Hall, K., Molina, C.P., Hussey, G.S., Graham, E., Li, H., & Badylak, S.F. (2022). Immunomodulatory matrix-bound nanovesicles mitigate acute and chronic pristane-induced rheumatoid arthritis. NPJ Regen Med, 7(1), 13.Springer Nature. doi: 10.1038/s41536-022-00208-9.

Murdock, M.H., Hussey, G.S., Chang, J.T., Hill, R.C., Nascari, D.G., Rao, A.V., Hansen, K.C., Foley, L.M., Hitchens, T.K., Amankulor, N.M., & Badylak, S.F. (2022). A liquid fraction of extracellular matrix inhibits glioma cell viability in vitro and in vivo. Oncotarget, 13(1), 426-438.Impact Journals. doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.28203.

Turner, N.J., Quijano, L.M., Hussey, G.S., Jiang, P., & Badylak, S.F. (2022). Matrix Bound Nanovesicles Have Tissue-Specific Characteristics That Suggest a Regulatory Role. Tissue Eng Part A, 28(21-22), 879-892.Mary Ann Liebert. doi: 10.1089/ten.TEA.2022.0091.

Pineda Molina, C., Hussey, G.S., Liu, A., Eriksson, J., D'Angelo, W.A., & Badylak, S.F. (2021). Role of 4-hydroxybutyrate in increased resistance to surgical site infections associated with surgical meshes. Biomaterials, 267, 120493.Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2020.120493.

Hussey, G.S., Nascari, D.G., Saldin, L.T., Kolich, B., Lee, Y.C., Crum, R.J., El-Mossier, S.O., D'Angelo, W., Dziki, J.L., & Badylak, S.F. (2020). Ultrasonic cavitation to prepare ECM hydrogels. Acta Biomater, 108, 77-86.Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.actbio.2020.03.036.

Hussey, G.S., Pineda Molina, C., Cramer, M.C., Tyurina, Y.Y., Tyurin, V.A., Lee, Y.C., El-Mossier, S.O., Murdock, M.H., Timashev, P.S., Kagan, V.E., & Badylak, S.F. (2020). Lipidomics and RNA sequencing reveal a novel subpopulation of nanovesicle within extracellular matrix biomaterials. Sci Adv, 6(12), eaay4361.American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). doi: 10.1126/sciadv.aay4361.

Li, T., Zhang, Z., Bartolacci, J.G., Dwyer, G.K., Liu, Q., Mathews, L.R., Velayutham, M., Roessing, A.S., Lee, Y.C., Dai, H., Shiva, S., Oberbarnscheidt, M.H., Dziki, J.L., Mullet, S.J., Wendell, S.G., Wilkinson, J.D., Webber, S.A., Wood-Trageser, M., Watkins, S.C., Demetris, A.J., Hussey, G.S., Badylak, S.F., & Turnquist, H.R. (2020). Graft IL-33 regulates infiltrating macrophages to protect against chronic rejection. J Clin Invest, 130(10), 5397-5412.American Society for Clinical Investigation. doi: 10.1172/JCI133008.

Hussey, G.S., Dziki, J.L., Lee, Y.C., Bartolacci, J.G., Behun, M., Turnquist, H.R., & Badylak, S.F. (2019). Matrix bound nanovesicle-associated IL-33 activates a pro-remodeling macrophage phenotype via a non-canonical, ST2-independent pathway. J Immunol Regen Med, 3, 26-35.Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.regen.2019.01.001.

Murdock, M.H., Chang, J.T., Luketich, S.K., Pedersen, D., Hussey, G.S., D'Amore, A., & Badylak, S.F. (2019). Cytocompatibility and mechanical properties of surgical sealants for cardiovascular applications. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg, 157(1), 176-183.Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2018.08.043.

Pineda Molina, C., Hussey, G.S., Eriksson, J., Shulock, M.A., Cárdenas Bonilla, L.L., Giglio, R.M., Gandhi, R.M., Sicari, B.M., Wang, D., Londono, R., Faulk, D.M., Turner, N.J., & Badylak, S.F. (2019). 4-Hydroxybutyrate Promotes Endogenous Antimicrobial Peptide Expression in Macrophages. Tissue Eng Part A, 25(9-10), 693-706.Mary Ann Liebert. doi: 10.1089/ten.TEA.2018.0377.

Saldin, L.T., Patel, S., Zhang, L., Huleihel, L., Hussey, G.S., Nascari, D.G., Quijano, L.M., Li, X., Raghu, D., Bajwa, A.K., Smith, N.G., Chung, C.C., Omstead, A.N., Kosovec, J.E., Jobe, B.A., Turner, N.J., Zaidi, A.H., & Badylak, S.F. (2019). Extracellular Matrix Degradation Products Downregulate Neoplastic Esophageal Cell Phenotype. Tissue Eng Part A, 25(5-6), 487-498.Mary Ann Liebert. doi: 10.1089/ten.TEA.2018.0105.

van der Merwe, Y., Faust, A.E., Sakalli, E.T., Westrick, C.C., Hussey, G., Chan, K.C., Conner, I.P., Fu, V.L.N., Badylak, S.F., & Steketee, M.B. (2019). Author Correction: Matrix-bound nanovesicles prevent ischemia-induced retinal ganglion cell axon degeneration and death and preserve visual function. Sci Rep, 9(1), 15799.Springer Nature. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-50829-2.

van der Merwe, Y., Faust, A.E., Sakalli, E.T., Westrick, C.C., Hussey, G., Chan, K.C., Conner, I.P., Fu, V.L.N., Badylak, S.F., & Steketee, M.B. (2019). Matrix-bound nanovesicles prevent ischemia-induced retinal ganglion cell axon degeneration and death and preserve visual function. Sci Rep, 9(1), 3482.Springer Nature. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-39861-4.

Dziki, J.L., Hussey, G., & Badylak, S.F. (2018). Alarmins of the extracellular space. Semin Immunol, 38(C), 33-39.Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.smim.2018.08.004.

Hussey, G.S., Cramer, M.C., & Badylak, S.F. (2018). Extracellular Matrix Bioscaffolds for Building Gastrointestinal Tissue. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol, 5(1), 1-13.Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.jcmgh.2017.09.004.

Hussey, G.S., Dziki, J.L., & Badylak, S.F. (2018). Extracellular matrix-based materials for regenerative medicine. NATURE REVIEWS MATERIALS, 3(7), 159-173.Springer Nature. doi: 10.1038/s41578-018-0023-x.

Ansa-Addo, E.A., Zhang, Y., Yang, Y., Hussey, G.S., Howley, B.V., Salem, M., Riesenberg, B., Sun, S., Rockey, D.C., Karvar, S., Howe, P.H., Liu, B., & Li, Z. (2017). Membrane-organizing protein moesin controls Treg differentiation and antitumor immunity via TGF-β signaling. J Clin Invest, 127(4), 1321-1337.American Society for Clinical Investigation. doi: 10.1172/JCI89281.

Faust, A., Kandakatla, A., van der Merwe, Y., Ren, T., Huleihel, L., Hussey, G., Naranjo, J.D., Johnson, S., Badylak, S., & Steketee, M. (2017). Urinary bladder extracellular matrix hydrogels and matrix-bound vesicles differentially regulate central nervous system neuron viability and axon growth and branching. J Biomater Appl, 31(9), 1277-1295.SAGE Publications. doi: 10.1177/0885328217698062.

Hussey, G.S., Keane, T.J., & Badylak, S.F. (2017). The extracellular matrix of the gastrointestinal tract: a regenerative medicine platform. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol, 14(9), 540-552.Springer Nature. doi: 10.1038/nrgastro.2017.76.

Gupta, S., Hau, A.M., Al-Ahmadie, H.A., Harwalkar, J., Shoskes, A.C., Elson, P., Beach, J.R., Hussey, G.S., Schiemann, W.P., Egelhoff, T.T., Howe, P.H., & Hansel, D.E. (2016). Transforming Growth Factor-β Is an Upstream Regulator of Mammalian Target of Rapamycin Complex 2-Dependent Bladder Cancer Cell Migration and Invasion. Am J Pathol, 186(5), 1351-1360.Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2016.01.008.

Howley, B.V., Hussey, G.S., Link, L.A., & Howe, P.H. (2016). Translational regulation of inhibin βA by TGFβ via the RNA-binding protein hnRNP E1 enhances the invasiveness of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transitioned cells. Oncogene, 35(13), 1725-1735.Springer Nature. doi: 10.1038/onc.2015.238.

Huleihel, L., Hussey, G.S., Naranjo, J.D., Zhang, L., Dziki, J.L., Turner, N.J., Stolz, D.B., & Badylak, S.F. (2016). Matrix-bound nanovesicles within ECM bioscaffolds. Sci Adv, 2(6), e1600502.American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). doi: 10.1126/sciadv.1600502.

Link, L.A., Howley, B.V., Hussey, G.S., & Howe, P.H. (2016). PCBP1/HNRNP E1 Protects Chromosomal Integrity by Translational Regulation of CDC27. Mol Cancer Res, 14(7), 634-646.American Association for Cancer Research (AACR). doi: 10.1158/1541-7786.MCR-16-0018.

Loneker, A.E., Faulk, D.M., Hussey, G.S., D'Amore, A., & Badylak, S.F. (2016). Solubilized liver extracellular matrix maintains primary rat hepatocyte phenotype in-vitro. J Biomed Mater Res A, 104(7), 1846-1847.Wiley. doi: 10.1002/jbm.a.35778.

Loneker, A.E., Faulk, D.M., Hussey, G.S., D'Amore, A., & Badylak, S.F. (2016). Solubilized liver extracellular matrix maintains primary rat hepatocyte phenotype in-vitro. J Biomed Mater Res A, 104(4), 957-965.Wiley. doi: 10.1002/jbm.a.35636.

Hussey, G.S., Howley, B.V., & Howe, P.H. (2015). Post-transcriptional mapping reveals critical regulators of metastasis. Oncoscience, 2(10), 831-832.Impact Journals. doi: 10.18632/oncoscience.207.

Hussey, G.S., Link, L.A., Brown, A.S., Howley, B.V., Chaudhury, A., & Howe, P.H. (2012). Establishment of a TGFβ-induced post-transcriptional EMT gene signature. In Katz, E. (Ed.). PLoS One, 7(12), e52624.Public Library of Science (PLoS). doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0052624.

Beach, J.R., Hussey, G.S., Miller, T.E., Chaudhury, A., Patel, P., Monslow, J., Zheng, Q., Keri, R.A., Reizes, O., Bresnick, A.R., Howe, P.H., & Egelhoff, T.T. (2011). Myosin II isoform switching mediates invasiveness after TGF-β-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 108(44), 17991-17996.Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1106499108.

Chaudhury, A., Hussey, G.S., & Howe, P.H. (2011). 3'-UTR-mediated post-transcriptional regulation of cancer metastasis: beginning at the end. RNA Biol, 8(4), 595-599.Taylor & Francis. doi: 10.4161/rna.8.4.16018.

Chaudhury, A., Hussey, G.S., & Howe, P.H. (2011). 3′-UTR-mediated post-transcriptional regulation of cancer metastasis: Beginning at the end. RNA Biology, 8(4).

Hussey, G.S., Chaudhury, A., Dawson, A.E., Lindner, D.J., Knudsen, C.R., Wilce, M.C.J., Merrick, W.C., & Howe, P.H. (2011). Identification of an mRNP complex regulating tumorigenesis at the translational elongation step. Mol Cell, 41(4), 419-431.Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.molcel.2011.02.003.

Chaudhury, A., Hussey, G.S., Ray, P.S., Jin, G., Fox, P.L., & Howe, P.H. (2010). TGF-beta-mediated phosphorylation of hnRNP E1 induces EMT via transcript-selective translational induction of Dab2 and ILEI. Nat Cell Biol, 12(3), 286-293.Springer Nature. doi: 10.1038/ncb2029.

Crum, R.J., Hall, K., Molina, C.P., Hussey, G.S., Graham, E., Li, H., & Badylak, S.F. (2022). Matrix Bound Nanovesicles As A Novel Extracellular Matrix Therapy For The Treatment Of Rheumatoid Arthritis. In TISSUE ENGINEERING PART A, 28, (pp. 6-7).

Hall, K.T., Fisher, S., Hussey, G.S., & Badylak, S.F. (2022). Therapeutic Potential Of Matrix Bound Nanovesicles In Rodent Model Of Ulcerative Colitis. In TISSUE ENGINEERING PART A, 28, (pp. 28-29).

Hussey, G.S., & Badylak, S.F. (2022). MATRIX BOUND NANOVESICLES: THE NEXT GENERATION OF ECM-BASED MATERIALS. In TISSUE ENGINEERING PART A, 28, (pp. S146-S147).

Hussey, G.S., & Badylak, S.F. (2022). DEVELOPMENT OF FABRICATION METHODS FOR LARGE-SCALE MANUFACTURING OF CLINICAL GRADE ECM HYDROGELS. In TISSUE ENGINEERING PART A, 28, (p. S152).

Li, J., Al Matour, B., Sato, T., Badylak, S.F., Hussey, G.S., Scott, M.J., & Arteel, G.E. (2022). THERAPEUTIC MATRIX-BOUND NANOVESICLES (MBV) PROTECT AGAINST EXPERIMENT ALCOHOL-ASSOCIATED LIVER DISEASE IN MICE. In HEPATOLOGY, 76, (pp. S983-S984).

Turner, N.J., Quijano, L.M., Hussey, G.S., Jiang, P., Badylak, S.F., Badylak, S.F. (2022). Compositional Analysis Confirms Matrix Bound Nanovesicles Have Tissue Specific Characteristics Suggesting A Regulatory Role In Homeostasis. In TISSUE ENGINEERING PART A, 28, (pp. 195-196).

Al Matour, B., Sato, T., Li, J., Merchant, M.L., Wilkey, D., Badylak, S.F., Hussey, G.S., Arteel, G.E., & Scott, M.J. (2021). EXPERIMENTAL ALCOHOL EXPOSURE ALTERS MATRIX-BOUND VESICLE CARGO AND MACROPHAGE ACTIVATION. In HEPATOLOGY, 74, (pp. 212A-213A).

Sato, T., Al Matour, B., Li, J., Merchant, M.L., Wilkey, D., Badylak, S.F., Hussey, G.S., Scott, M.J., & Arteel, G.E. (2021). EXPERIMENTAL FIBROSIS ALTERS MATRIX-BOUND VESICLES CARGO THAT DO NOT REVERT AFTER HISTOLOGIC RECOVERY. In HEPATOLOGY, 74, (pp. 813A-814A).

Zhang, Z., Liu, Q., Li, T., Hussey, G.S., Velayutham, M., Dziki, J.L., Mathews, L.R., Lee, Y.C., Dwyer, G.K., Dai, H., Roessing, A.S., Shiva, S., Oberbarnscheidt, M.H., Badylak, S.F., & Turnquist, H.R. (2019). Local IL-33 Regulates Heart Transplant Infiltrating Myeloid Cells Metabolism and Differentiation to Protect against Chronic Rejection. In AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TRANSPLANTATION, 19, (p. 526).

Hussey, G.S., & Badylak, S.F. (2017). Nanovesicles within ECM Bioscaffolds as Regulators of the Strength of Soft Tissue Repair. In TISSUE ENGINEERING PART A, 23, (p. S15).

Hussey, G.S., Dziki, J.L., Turnquist, H.R., & Badylak, S.F. (2017). Il-33 As a Key Signaling Molecule for the Therapeutic Effects of ECM Bioscaffolds for Cardiac Repair. In TISSUE ENGINEERING PART A, 23, (p. S29).

Molina, C.P., Hussey, G.S., Dziki, J.L., Eriksson, J., & Badylak, S.F. (2017). Antimicrobial Peptides with Biologic and Biosynthetic Scaffolds for Regenerative Medicine. In TISSUE ENGINEERING PART A, 23, (pp. S28-S29).

Torres, C.M., Reing, J.E., Molina, C.P., Hussey, G.S., & Badylak, S.F. (2017). Tissue-Specific Extracellular Matrix Hydrogel Promotes the Growth and Differentiation of Lgr5+Intestinal Stem Cells into Viable Enteroids. In JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF SURGEONS, 225(4), (p. S204).Wolters Kluwer. doi: 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2017.07.470.

Molina, C.P., Giglio, R.M., Hussey, G.S., Sicari, B.M., Gandhi, R.M., & Badylak, S.F. (2016). Expression of Antimicrobial Peptides by Macrophages Exposed to Solubilized Extracellular Matrix. In TISSUE ENGINEERING PART A, 22, (p. S98).