New Fellowship Launches to Help End the Organ Shortage CrisisThe A. James Clark School of Engineering at the University of Maryland, College Park (UMCP) and the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) at the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) are proud to announce the selection of Martin Carrasco as the first inaugural Mickey Dale Family Foundation Endowed Distinguished Graduate Fellowship in Bioengineering. This new fellowship, made possible through the Mickey Dale Family Foundation, supports UMCP and UMSOM’s shared mission to revolutionize organ transplantation and bring the world closer to a future where no one waits for an organ. As a second-year Ph.D. student in bioengineering, Carrasco brings both technical expertise and fresh perspective to this new role. His work with John P. Fisher, chair of the Fischell Department of Bioengineering and Distinguished University Professor at UMCP, focuses on developing a two-chamber kidney bioreactor, a small-scale device designed to culture kidney-specific cells in a biomimetic environment. This system helps mature kidney cells to more closely resemble their natural function inside the body, a step critical to advancing tissue engineering applications and eventually creating viable kidney constructs for transplantation.
Carrasco will be co-advised by Fisher and Dr. Raphael P.H. Meier, Associate Professor of Surgery at UMSOM and Liver, Kidney, and Pancreas Transplant Surgeon at the University of Maryland Medical Center. “This fellowship is an investment in the future of transplantation science,” says Fisher. “By empowering young researchers like Martin, we’re building the foundation for innovations that will not only advance the science of organ engineering but also directly improve patient care. Martin’s work exemplifies the collaborative spirit between engineering and medicine that is essential to eliminating the transplant waiting list.”
On the clinical side, Carrasco will collaborate with Meier, whose research explores the use of mesenchymal stem cells to treat organ failure. Carrasco’s bioreactor platform could one day be adapted to “precondition” stem cells for use in therapies targeting end-stage kidney disease, building on Meier’s work with liver and pancreas applications. “As bioengineers, it’s easy to get lost in the benchwork and forget that the ultimate goal is to help patients,” Carrasco says. “Translational projects like these are a reminder of that. I’d encourage students not to be afraid of entering a space they’re unfamiliar with. Sometimes the best opportunities come from trying something new.” The Mickey Dale Distinguished Fellowship was created to support innovative research at the intersection of engineering and medicine, including efforts to improve organ preservation, develop new transplantation techniques, and explore regenerative medicine solutions such as 3D-printed organs and stem cell therapies. “I am very excited about the opportunity to leverage the excellence in bioengineering at College Park and combine it with our expertise in transplant science at the University of Maryland School of Medicine to develop forefront techniques in organ preservation, regenerative medicine, and transplantation, with the ultimate goal of benefiting patients here in Maryland,” says Meier. The fellowship is part of a larger vision by the Mickey Dale Family Foundation, which was established to honor the life and legacy of Mickey Dale by advancing education and life-saving research. Over two decades of giving have focused on supporting students and innovative programs at UMCP, culminating in this new effort to end the organ shortage crisis. “Our mission is urgent and focused on ending the organ shortage crisis,” says Jennifer Dale of the Mickey Dale Family Foundation. “The University of Maryland is perfectly positioned to lead this charge, combining world-class bioengineering and medical expertise to create real solutions that save lives.” In addition to funding the fellowship, the Mickey Dale Family Foundation will support an ongoing symposium series hosted by UMCP and UMSOM. The symposium will bring together experts, clinicians, researchers, and students to share the latest advances in organ transplantation research, inspire collaboration, and attract more partners to this life-saving mission. The Mickey Dale Fellowship highlights the partnership between UMCP and UMSOM to improve health care and patient outcomes by uniting engineering, computer science, and medicine. The two institutions are also the proud home of the Edward & Jennifer St. John Center for Translational Engineering and Medicine (CTEM), where researchers address pressing health challenges and drive innovations that improve lives. For more information about the Mickey Dale Family Foundation and its mission to eliminate the organ waiting list, visit: https://mickeydalefamilyfoundation.com/.
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