Shay Soker, PhD

Shay Soker, Ph.D., Associate Professor

Dr. Soker received his Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in 1985. He received his Master’s Degree in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in 1987 and his PhD in Biology from the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology in 1993.

SYNOPSIS OF AREA OF INTEREST:

1. Neovascularization and innervation of engineered tissues. We are studying ways to enhance the vascularization and innervation of bio-engineered tissues using growth factors and cells.
2. Circulating endothelial progenitor cells in angiogenesis. We are studying the effects of vascular diseases and angiogenic factors on the levels and functions of endothelial progenitor cells.
3. Stem cells for tissue engineering. We are characterizing novel sources of stem cells and their differentiation into various lineages for tissue engineering applications.
4. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors. We are studying augmentation and suppression of VEGF activities by manipulation of VEGF receptors.

DETAILED AREA OF INTEREST: The goals in tissue engineering include the replacement of damaged, injured or missing body tissues with biologically compatible substitutes. To engineer large functional tissues, adequate vascularization and innervation are essential. Dr. Soker is an expert in the field of angiogenesis. His research is focused on the molecular and cellular biology of the vascular system, especially on vascular growth factors and their receptors. Prior studies conducted by Dr. Soker showed that supplementation of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) enhanced engineered tissue vascularization and Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) induced axonal regeneration. At the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Dr. Soker is developing new approaches to enhance the growth of blood vessels and nerves into the engineered or regenerated tissue by: 1) Incorporation of angiogenic and neurogenic factors in the bioengineered tissue, 2) Seeding the scaffolds of the engineered tissue with endothelial or neuronal progenitor cells; and 3) Pre-vascularization of scaffolds prior to cell seeding.

Dr. Soker also oversees the stem cell and genomic research at the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine. The goals of these studies are to isolate and characterize new source of stem cells and to employ them for tissue engineering and regeneration. Further evaluation of these stem cells takes advantage of new technologies to study gene expression. By performing gene array analyses on the stem cells, as they differentiate into multiple lineages and forming tissue in vivo, we are able to identify key cellular processes that are essential for differentiation and tissue formation. Further research is now combining the gene array data and the use of stem cells for regeneration and engineering of tissues such as: pancreatic islets, cardiac muscles, heart valves, skeletal muscles, fat and blood vessels.