Congratulations to the University of Pittsburgh for their MTEC award: “Enhanced Biologic Scaffold for Volumetric Muscle Loss”
Published on May 28, 2025
Dr. Stephen Badylak and the University of Pittsburgh have been awarded MTEC funding to advance treatment for volumetric muscle loss using antibiotic-coated ECM surgical mesh. Building on promising human study results, the team will assess clinical efficacy and explore alternative antibiotic coatings in preclinical models to enhance muscle regeneration.
Award Highlight
Led by Dr. Stephen Badylak, the University of Pittsburgh has recently received an MTEC award to treat volumetric muscle loss (VML). Surgical mesh materials composed of extracellular matrix (ECM) can promote functional tissue remodeling by mechanisms that include stem cell maturation and differentiation and modulation of the host immune response toward a regulatory, pro-healing phenotype.
From 2011 to 2015, the team conducted a 13-patient human cohort study in which ECM surgical meshes (including XenMatrix™) were used to treat VML. Results showed significant restoration of vascularized, innervated, and functional skeletal muscle with a marked improvement in the quality of life for all patients. In this MTEC-funded project, the team will: 1) Determine efficacy of an antibiotic-coated ECM surgical mesh (XenMatrix™ AB) for the promotion of muscle regeneration in human patients, and 2) Evaluate alternative antibiotic coatings in preclinical rodent models.
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University of Pittsburgh
The Center for Military Medicine Research (CMMR) at the University of Pittsburgh is dedicated to advancing medical research for wounded service members and their families. The center focuses on trauma, emergency, and critical care, leveraging the university's strengths in medical and engineering fields, and collaborating with Carnegie Mellon University's robotics and AI expertise. CMMR aims to enhance trauma care for warfighters and civilians, contributing to the defense innovation economy.
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