Temitope Obisesan

Temitope Obisesan is a PhD candidate specializing in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine (TERM) in the labs of Dr. Pamela Moalli and Dr. Steve Abramowitch.

Her research focuses on the cellular response of human vaginal fibroblasts in the context of pelvic organ prolapse (POP), a gynecologic condition in which pelvic organs, such as the bladder, uterus, or rectum, descend into the vaginal canal due to weakened or stretched tissues and muscles.

 

Given the high failure rates of pelvic organ prolapse repairs and complications associated with mesh use, Temitope is investigating the biomechanics and biological mechanisms underlying tissue regeneration and repair. Her goal is to develop innovative treatments for pelvic organ prolapse.

 

Temitope is a Magee Women's Research Institute (MWRI) Fellow and a Biotechnology Scholar for the 2026 Scholar Mentoring & Development Program (SMDP). She is an Associate member at Sigma Xi and a Student & Young Investigator (SYIS) at the Tissue Engineering & Regenerative Medicine International Society (TERMIS). 

 

She previously served as:

  • Professional Development Chair for the graduate BMES from June 2023 - June 2025
  • Vice President of the International Engineering Students' Organization (IESO) from October 2022 - June 2024
  • President of the International Engineering Students' Organization (IESO) from July 2025 - June 2026

 

Temitope is passionate about mentoring emerging scientists in STEM. She gives back by mentoring undergraduate students in bioengineering research and by reviewing publications for the annual University of Pittsburgh Bioengineering publication called Ingenium: 2025 SSoE Ingenium by PITT | SWANSON School of Engineering - Issuu

  • Master of Science, Healthcare Informatics, Middle Tennessee State University
  • Bachelor of Science, Microbiology, Bowen University

  • Obisesan, T., & Moalli, P. (2026). Stress-Induced Vaginal Remodeling: Fibroblast Mechanotransduction and Mesh Complications. Urogynecology (Phila), 32(6), 581-592.Wolters Kluwer. doi: 10.1097/SPV.0000000000001852.
  • Therriault, M.A., Knight, K., Kottapalli, S., Obisesan, T., Harinath, M., Brown, B.N., & Moalli, P.A. (2026). Macrophage-to-myofibroblast transition (MMT) - An adverse response to polypropylene mesh implanted for pelvic organ prolapse repair surgery in a non-human primate model. Biomaterials, 328, 123861.Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2025.123861.
  • Therriault, M.A., Knight, K., Kottapalli, S., Obisesan, T., Harinath, M., Brown, B.N., & Moalli, P.A. (2025). Macrophage-to-Myofibroblast Transition (MMT) - an adverse response to polypropylene mesh implanted for pelvic organ prolapse repair surgery in a non-human primate model. bioRxiv, 2025.11.03.686251.Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. doi: 10.1101/2025.11.03.686251.
  • Knight, K., Breedlove, S., Obisesan, T., Egnot, M., Daneshdoost, N., King, G., Meyn, L., Gall, K., & Moalli, P. (2024). Vaginal host response to polycarbonate urethane, an alternative material for the repair of pelvic organ prolapse. Acta Biomater, 189, 298-310.Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.actbio.2024.09.040.

  • Therriault, M., Obisesan, T., Knight, K., Brown, B., & Moalli, P. (2026). Tension increases the vaginal fibrotic response to polypropylene mesh implanted for pelvic organ prolapse repair. In REPRODUCTIVE SCIENCES, 33(1).
  • Obisesan, T., Ye, J., Fulton, M., Malikkal, S., & Moalli, P. (2025). Probing Fibroblast Mechanobiology in Pelvic Organ Prolapse: An In Vitro Stiffness-driven Model. In TISSUE ENGINEERING PART A, 31(23-24).
  • Therriault, M., Obisesan, T., Knight, K., Brown, B., & Moalli, P. (2025). Macrophage Polarization: Impact on Matrix Remodeling and Downstream Healing Outcomes. In TISSUE ENGINEERING PART A, 31(23-24).
  • Obisesan, T., Kottapalli, S., Wang, Y.L., Abramowitch, S., & Moalli, P. (2024). Unraveling The Matrix: Decoding Vagina Fibroblast Cell Responses To Substrate Stiffnesses. In TISSUE ENGINEERING PART A, 30(15-16), (pp. S280-S281).
  • Knight, K.M., Daneshdoost, N., Breedlove, S., Obisesan, T., Therriault, M., King, G.E., Palcsey, S.L., Gall, K., & Moalli, P.A. (2023). Assessment of the Host Response to a Novel Elastomeric Membrane Using the Rabbit Model. In JOURNAL OF WOMENS HEALTH, 32(11), (p. A22).