I'm Matthew Fainor.
Scientist. Storyteller. Maker.
My work explores how biology will craft and impact our possible futures, asking critical questions of the systems we have in place for making innovative, effective, and climate-positive biotechnologies a reality. As a tissue engineer, my research focuses on regenerative medicine, biofabrication, and collaboration with other species (our own cells included). As a storyteller, I've written about the maverick designers, artists, and educators reshaping our relationships with biology and the natural world. And as a maker, I dream of a world where traditional practices of making come together with biology to help us better connect with each other in new, imaginative ways.
The Fleshy Futures Blog
An industry blog for those interested in living materials of all kinds and their impact on people and planet. Written by a working tissue engineer and scientist, Fleshy Futures: Tissue Engineering the 21st Century covers the stories of scientists, engineers, and, artists developing cutting-edge tissue engineering technologies (and yes, we’re going to use the term tissue engineering broadly to describe an ecosystem of regenerative, mostly living biotechnologies). We’ll be talking to people wrestling with the challenges of biology on many fronts.
Illustration
Collection of illustrations, collages, photographs, schematics, 3D-renderings, and experiments.
Current Research
The Gullbrand
Lab
The Gullbrand Lab seeks to better understand and treat intervertebral disc disease. Chronic back pain is the most common cause of disability worldwide and is most prominently caused by the degeneration and collapse of the intervertebral discs. To treat this, surgeons most commonly resort to spinal fusions, which replace our dynamic soft disc tissue with solid metal and bone. Much of our lab's research focuses on developing solutions that will help patients avoid needing spinal fusions altogether. To that end, much of my time is dedicated to growing a living tissue-engineered replacement intervertebral disc that recreates the functionality of the healthy disc and eliminates the pain that often accompanies intervertebral disc collapse.
Former Research
The Chow Lab
The Chow Lab designs and synthesizes modular biomaterials for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications. My work in the lab with Dr. Paula Camacho focused on continuously 3D-printing peptide-modified polymer scaffolds meant to regenerate the knee's osteochondral interface (the gradient of tissues that span cartilage and bone).
A peek into my love of making.
My journey into biotechnology and biomaterials started with my love for crafting, my love for art, and my love for accessories. Enjoy some of the creations from my making journey thus far.
