Tissue Engineering Pioneer Dr. Joseph P. Vacanti Agrees to Chair New Scientific Advisory Board for Bioengineered Organ Developer HART

HOLLISTON, Mass., Nov. 11, 2015

Dr. Vacanti commented, "I have been involved in the field of tissue engineering since its inception due to the potential to replace or regenerate tissue or organs and re-establish normal function. I was attracted to HART because of the very significant work they have done in the field of regenerative medicine. Having gotten to know the team and their work more closely, I am very excited to spearhead the formation of their Scientific Advisory Board as Chairman. I look forward to contributing to HART's mission of driving further advances in regenerative organ development and translating their product candidates to the clinic."

HART's CEO, Jim McGorry, commented, "As one of the world's most accomplished and respected physicians in the field of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, Dr. Vacanti is a tremendous addition to the HART team, and we are excited that he has assumed the leadership of our Scientific Advisory Board. Jay's passion and his research and surgical experience will greatly complement our technology and development programs."

About Dr. Vacanti

Dr. Vacanti has worked in the field of tissue engineering since its beginnings in the early 1980's - a mission that stems from his long-held interest in solving the problem of organ shortages. He has held academic appointments at Harvard Medical School since 1974; has authored over 320 original reports, 69 book chapters, 54 reviews and over 473 abstracts. Dr. Vacanti has 81 patents or patents pending in the United States, Canada, Europe and Japan. Dr. Vacanti's current medical affiliations include:

• John Homans Professor of Surgery, Harvard Medical School
• Chief, Department of Pediatric Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Emeritus
• Surgeon-in-Chief, Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, Emeritus
• Deputy Director, Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital
• Director, Laboratory for Tissue Engineering and Organ Fabrication, Mass. General Hospital
• Principal Faculty Member, Harvard Stem Cell Institute
• Chief, Pediatric Transplantation, Massachusetts General Hospital

Over the past 15 years, Dr. Vacanti has researched the creation of complete vascular networks as part of implantable tissue engineered devices that allow the fabrication of large, complex living structures such as vital organs or extremities. Dr. Vacanti was a founding co-president of what is now the Tissue Engineering Regenerative Medicine International Society (TERMIS) with 5,000 active members from 80 countries. He was also founding senior editor of "Tissue Engineering," a journal serving TERMIS members, 1,700 libraries in 20 countries and provided free online to 106 developing nations.

Dr. Vacanti earned his Bachelor of Science, summa cum laude, from Creighton University in 1970, his MD, with high distinction, from the University of Nebraska College of Medicine, and an MS from Harvard Medical School. Dr. Vacanti trained in General Surgery at the Massachusetts General Hospital, in Pediatric Surgery at Children's Hospital, Boston, and in Transplantation at the University of Pittsburgh.