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Staff Profiles

Dr JESSICA SCHIAVI

PhD

Contact Details

Research Fellow
Biomedical Engineering
Alice Perry Building
E: jessica.schiavi@nuigalway.ie
https://twitter.com/JessicaSchiavi_
 
researcher
 

Biography

Dr Jessica Schiavi-Tritz is a research fellow in the Department of Biomedical Engineering. Her research interest focuses on understanding the effect of pathological microenvironments on cells, and specifically, bone cells to expand knowledge on bone fragility.

She was awarded a PhD in Cell Biology - Bioengineering from the University of Lorraine, Nancy, France. After a Bachelor in Biology (2006), she completed her Master in Bioengineering (Honors). Then, she was granted a PhD fellowship from the doctoral school BioSE (2008) at the University of Lorraine, in the cartilage engineering group at the UMR CNRS 7561 headed by Pr. Stoltz (France).
Jessica’s research was focus on developing a new strategy to repair whole osteochondral defects. She developed a process to fabricate a stratified scaffold based on alginate hydrogel laden with human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from the aspirate bone marrow. Within this scaffold MSCs differentiated into chondrocyte and hypertrophic chondrocyte in the different layers. Moreover, she validated the biomechanical resistance of the stratified scaffold. In parallel, she taught during 4 years (2008-2012) in the Bachelor and Master of Health Science (biostatistics, work physiology and biochemistry) in the college of medicine in Nancy, France.

After passing her PhD in November 2011, she started a post-doctoral researcher position in the Regenerative Nanomedicine group of Dr Nadia Benkirane-Jessel at the University of Strasbourg (France), where she worked on providing a smart scaffold to repair bone and osteochondral defects during surgery. The aim was to accelerate tissue regeneration by adsorbing growth factors and/or seeding human mesenchymal stem cells on the biomaterial.

Since 2015, she is working in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at NUI Galway. First, within the group of Professor Laoise McNamara on a mechanobiological approach to treat osteoporosis and on several aspects of bone mechanobiology (engineering, metastasis, modeling, fragility). She is currently working on the ERC started grant of Dr Ted Vaughan on the study of bone fragility in type 2 diabetes. 

Since 2010, she published 17 peer-reviewed articles and several congress articles and abstracts and supervised 10 MSc students in Biomedical Sciences and Engineering.

Contract Researchers

  Researcher Name Project Role Funding Body
Research Fellow Multiscale Mechanics of Bone Fragility in Type-2 Diabetes (MULT2D) - ERC Starting grant hold by Ted Vaughan Studying bone matrix composition and alterations during type 2 Diabetes
Postdoctoral researcher Mechanobiology based approaches for treatment of osteoporosis Investigating the effect of estrogen withdrawal on bone cells under mechanical stimulations Science Foundation Ireland (SFI)
Postdoctoral researcher Nanomedicine regenerative applied to bone Development of a biomaterial functionalised with growth factors to regenerate large bone defect

Peer Reviewed Journals

  Year Publication
(2021) 'Designing Hydrogel-Based Bone-On-Chips for Personalized Medicine'
Gabriele Nasello, Mar Cóndor, Ted Vaughan, Jessica Schiavi (2021) 'Designing Hydrogel-Based Bone-On-Chips for Personalized Medicine'. Applied Science, 11 (10) [DOI] [Details]
(2020) 'Mechanical stimuli and matrix properties modulate cancer spheroid growth in three-dimensional gelatin culture'
Curtis, KJ;Schiavi, J;Mc Garrigle, MJ;Kumar, V;McNamara, LM;Niebur, GL (2020) 'Mechanical stimuli and matrix properties modulate cancer spheroid growth in three-dimensional gelatin culture'. Journal Of The Royal Society Interface, 17 [DOI] [Details]
(2020) 'Alterations in osteocyte mediated osteoclastogenesis during estrogen deficiency and under ROCK-II inhibition: An in vitro study using a novel postmenopausal multicellular niche model'
Simfia, I;Schiavi, J;Mcnamara, LM (2020) 'Alterations in osteocyte mediated osteoclastogenesis during estrogen deficiency and under ROCK-II inhibition: An in vitro study using a novel postmenopausal multicellular niche model'. Experimental Cell Research, 392 [DOI] [Details]
(2020) 'Primary Human Osteoblasts Cultured in a 3D Microenvironment Create a Unique Representative Model of Their Differentiation Into Osteocytes'
Nasello, G;Alaman-Diez, P;Schiavi, J;Perez, MA;McNamara, L;Garcia-Aznar, JM (2020) 'Primary Human Osteoblasts Cultured in a 3D Microenvironment Create a Unique Representative Model of Their Differentiation Into Osteocytes'. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 8 [DOI] [Details]
(2020) 'ROCK-II inhibition suppresses impaired mechanobiological responses in early estrogen deficient osteoblasts'
Simfia I;Schiavi J;McNamara LM; (2020) 'ROCK-II inhibition suppresses impaired mechanobiological responses in early estrogen deficient osteoblasts'. Experimental Cell Research, 396 (1) [DOI] [Details]
(2019) 'Secondary alterations in bone mineralisation and trabecular thickening occur after long-term estrogen deficiency in ovariectomised rat tibiae, which do not coincide with initial rapid bone loss'
O'Sullivan, LM,Allison, H,Parle, EE,Schiavi, J,McNamara, LM (2019) 'Secondary alterations in bone mineralisation and trabecular thickening occur after long-term estrogen deficiency in ovariectomised rat tibiae, which do not coincide with initial rapid bone loss'. Osteoporosis International, [DOI] [Details]
(2019) 'A phase field approach for bone remodeling based on a second-gradient model'
Ganghoffer, JF,Rahouadj, R,Boisse, J,Schiavi, J (2019) 'A phase field approach for bone remodeling based on a second-gradient model'. Mechanics Research Communications, 96 :37-44 [DOI] [Details]
(2017) 'The role of adhesion junctions in the biomechanical behaviour and osteogenic differentiation of 3D mesenchymal stem cell spheroids'
Griffin, FE,Schiavi, J,McDevitt, TC,McGarry, JP,McNamara, LM (2017) 'The role of adhesion junctions in the biomechanical behaviour and osteogenic differentiation of 3D mesenchymal stem cell spheroids'. Journal Of Biomechanics, 59 :71-79 [DOI] [Details]
(2017) 'Mimicking the Biochemical and Mechanical Extracellular Environment of the Endochondral Ossification Process to Enhance the In Vitro Mineralization Potential of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells'
Freeman, FE;Schiavi, J;Brennan, MA;Owens, P;Layrolle, P;McNamara, LM (2017) 'Mimicking the Biochemical and Mechanical Extracellular Environment of the Endochondral Ossification Process to Enhance the In Vitro Mineralization Potential of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells'. Tissue Engineering Part A, 23 :1466-1478 [DOI] [Details]
(2018) 'Mechanical stimulations on human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells enhance cells differentiation in a three-dimensional layered scaffold'
Schiavi, J.,Reppel, L.,Charif, N.,de Isla, N.,Mainard, D.,Benkirane-Jessel, N.,Stoltz, J. F.,Rahouadj, R.,Huselstein, C. (2018) 'Mechanical stimulations on human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells enhance cells differentiation in a three-dimensional layered scaffold'. J Tissue Eng Regen Medj Tissue Eng Regen Med, [DOI] [ARAN Link] [Details]
(2016) 'PRIMARY CILIA EXPRESSION IN BONE MARROW IN RESPONSE TO MECHANICAL STIMULATION IN EXPLANT BIOREACTOR CULTURE'
Coughlin, TR;Schiavi, J;Varsanik, MA;Voisin, M;Birmingham, E;Haugh, MG;McNamara, LM;Niebur, GL (2016) 'PRIMARY CILIA EXPRESSION IN BONE MARROW IN RESPONSE TO MECHANICAL STIMULATION IN EXPLANT BIOREACTOR CULTURE'. European Cells & Materials, 32 :111-122 [DOI] [ARAN Link] [Details]
(2015) 'Active implant combining human stem cell microtissues and growth factors for bone-regenerative nanomedicine'
Schiavi, J;Keller, L;Morand, DN;De Isla, N;Huck, O;Lutz, JC;Mainard, D;Schwinte, P;Benkirane-Jessel, N (2015) 'Active implant combining human stem cell microtissues and growth factors for bone-regenerative nanomedicine'. Nanomedicine, 10 :753-763 [DOI] [Details]
(2015) 'Chondrogenic induction of mesenchymal stromal/stem cells from Wharton's jelly embedded in alginate hydrogel and without added growth factor: an alternative stem cell source for cartilage tissue engineering'
Reppel, L;Schiavi, J;Charif, N;Leger, L;Yu, H;Pinzano, A;Henrionnet, C;Stoltz, JF;Bensoussan, D;Huselstein, C (2015) 'Chondrogenic induction of mesenchymal stromal/stem cells from Wharton's jelly embedded in alginate hydrogel and without added growth factor: an alternative stem cell source for cartilage tissue engineering'. Stem Cell Research & Therapy, 6 [DOI] [ARAN Link] [Details]
(2015) 'A living thick nanofibrous implant bifunctionalized with active growth factor and stem cells for bone regeneration'
Eap, S;Keller, L;Schiavi, J;Huck, O;Jacomine, L;Fioretti, F;Gauthier, C;Sebastian, V;Schwinte, P;Benkirane-Jessel, N (2015) 'A living thick nanofibrous implant bifunctionalized with active growth factor and stem cells for bone regeneration'. International Journal Of Nanomedicine, 10 :1061-1074 [DOI] [ARAN Link] [Details]
(2014) 'Collagen implants equipped with 'fish scale'-like nanoreservoirs of growth factors for bone regeneration'
Eap, S;Ferrand, A;Schiavi, J;Keller, L;Kokten, T;Fioretti, F;Mainard, D;Ladam, G;Benkirane-Jessel, N (2014) 'Collagen implants equipped with 'fish scale'-like nanoreservoirs of growth factors for bone regeneration'. Nanomedicine, 9 :1253-1261 [DOI] [Details]
(2012) 'Constitutive equations for Ca2+-alginate gels'
Magnenet, V;Schiavi-Tritz, J;Huselstein, C;Rahouadj, R (2012) 'Constitutive equations for Ca2+-alginate gels'. Journal Of The Mechanical Behavior Of Biomedical Materials, 5 :90-98 [DOI] [Details]
(2012) 'Human Stem Cells and Articular Cartilage Tissue Engineering'
Stoltz, JF;Huselstein, C;Schiavi, J;Li, YY;Bensoussan, D;Decot, V;De Isla, N (2012) 'Human Stem Cells and Articular Cartilage Tissue Engineering'. Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, 13 :2682-2691 [Details]
(2010) 'Designing a three-dimensional alginate hydrogel by spraying method for cartilage tissue engineering'
Tritz, J;Rahouadj, R;de Isla, N;Charif, N;Pinzano, A;Mainard, D;Bensoussan, D;Netter, P;Stoltz, JF;Benkirane-Jessel, N;Huselstein, C (2010) 'Designing a three-dimensional alginate hydrogel by spraying method for cartilage tissue engineering'. Soft Matter, 6 :5165-5174 [DOI] [Details]

Book Chapters

  Year Publication
(2012) 'Articular cartilage engineering'
Huselstein, C.,De Isla, N.,Tritz, J,Stoltz, J. F. (2012) 'Articular cartilage engineering' In: Biomedical and Health Research - Regenerative medicine and cells therapyBiomedical and Health Research - Regenerative medicine and cells therapy. book: IOS Press. [Details]

Conference Publications

  Year Publication
(2010) BIO-MEDICAL MATERIALS AND ENGINEERING
Tritz-Schiavi, J;Charif, N;Henrionnet, C;de Isla, N;Bensoussan, D;Magdalou, J;Benkirane-Jessel, N;Stoltz, JF;Huselstein, C (2010) Original approach for cartilage tissue engineering with mesenchymal stem cells BIO-MEDICAL MATERIALS AND ENGINEERING , pp.167-174 [DOI] [Details]

Other Journals

  Year Publication
(2012) 'Does Making Method of Alginate Hydrogel Influence the Chondrogenic Differentiation of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells?'
Jessica Schiavi, Naceur Charif, Natalia de Isla, Danièle Bensoussan, Jean-François Stoltz, Nadia Benkirane-Jessel, Céline Huselstein (2012) 'Does Making Method of Alginate Hydrogel Influence the Chondrogenic Differentiation of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells?' engineering, 4 (10B) :110-113. [DOI] [ARAN Link] [Details]

Honours and Awards

  Year Title Awarding Body
2017 Best presentation MMDR group

Professional Associations

  Association Function From / To
European Orthopaedic Research Society (EORS) Member 01-SEP-18 /
European Calcified Tissue Society (ECTS) Member 01-MAY-20 /
American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR) Member 01-SEP-20 /

Education

  Year Institution Qualification Subject
2011 Lorraine University PhD in Bioengineering Cartilage engineering
2008 Lorraine University (University Henri Poincaré) Master in Bioengineering Bioengineering

Languages

  Language
English
French
German
Italian

Consultancy

  Client Description
José Manuel García-Aznar and Gabriele Nasello
Consulting as biological expert for the publication of the article Mechano-driven regeneration predicts response variations in large animal model based on scaffold implantation site and individual mechano-sensitivity by G. Nasello et al., Bone, 2021. (Acknowledgment)

Reviews

  Journal Role
Cell And Tissue Research Reviewer
Plos One Reviewer
Acta Biomaterialia Reviewer
Tissue Engineering Part A Reviewer
Integrative Biology Reviewer
Cellular Physiology And Biochemistry Reviewer
Peerj Reviewer
Medical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and clinical research Reviewer
Journal Of Tissue Engineering And Regenerative Medicine Reviewer

Teaching Interests

Mechanobiology, physiology, cell biology

Recent Postgraduate Students

  Graduation Name Degree Primary Supervisor
2019 Daniel Doherty MSc in Biomedical Science
2020 Aoife Carr MSc in Biomedical Science
2016 Edward Doyle MSc in Biomedical Science
2020 Tanya O’ Brien MSc in Biomedical Science
2019 Amala Jenith Joshi Remo Msc Y
2020 René Varghese Msc Y

Modules Taught

  Term/Year Module Title Module Code Subject / Desc
2011-12 Statistics (2nd year Biomedical Sciences, Lorraine University) Statistics