Dr. Steven Chisolm ’19 believes the future of medicine is being built layer by layer, literally. What may sound like science fiction, such as 3D printing functional hearts or kidneys for transplant, is quickly becoming possible, and he is among the innovators helping turn that vision into reality.
A proud Florida Polytechnic University mechanical engineering graduate, Chisolm is now a postdoctoral researcher at USF Health Morsani College of Medicine and Heart Institute in Tampa, Florida. His work focuses on exploring the use of new bioprinting technologies that could revolutionize cardiovascular tissue engineering and transform how damaged heart valves are repaired.
“Even though those big solutions are still far off, the exciting part is we’re taking steps to narrow the gap by attacking the fundamental science as you would with any other material,” said Chisolm, who earned a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from the University of Florida (UF).
His research team is developing and testing new methods for 3D printing heart valves and their leaflets, which are the thin tissue flaps that control one-way blood flow. Traditional 3D printers use specialized plastics to build objects one layer at a time.
“Instead, my focus is using inks that combine cells and substances that keep those cells happy. We essentially deposit them in specific locations so they can communicate while still having structure,” said Chisolm, from Hackensack, New Jersey.
Achieving this could dramatically transform heart valve replacement surgery by using 3D-printed models that regenerate over time. That breakthrough could potentially eliminate repeat surgeries, which are needed every five years or more when current artificial or specially treated tissue breaks down.
Chisolm said his path to biomedical research began at Florida Poly.
“I had an opportunity to do research with a professor on the composition of resin used for 3D printing, and that made me very material minded in terms of what goes into printing, both in general and beyond,” he said. “At UF, my advisor led the research on soft materials, like cells, which allowed me to combine my curiosity for printing with biological applications.”
From Chisolm’s earliest days at Florida Poly, he found hands-on research opportunities and small class sizes that enabled him to engage closely with professors and develop the skills that shaped his career journey.
“My engineering classes taught me more than just the basic material; they gave me skills to attack real problems,” he said. “A lot of classes incorporated projects with real-world constraints, so you really had to think about the practical application of what you learned.”
Chisolm encourages students to stay motivated by their goals and passions while relying on personal support networks to push themselves toward success.
“Don’t let anyone, including yourself, limit your own potential,” he said. “I think people are truly capable of anything they put their mind to with enough effort and the right resources.”
Contact:
Lydia Guzmán
Director of Communications
863-874-8557
