Work Address
4 Memorial Drive
Home Address
3618 Rittenhouse St.
Bethesda, MD 20892 Washington, DC 20015
(301) 451-6624 (512) 914-9091 d4acve@gmail.com
HIGHLIGHTS
 Expertise in mesenchymal stromal/stem cell biology (adipose- and bone-marrow-derived) in different species (human, murine, porcine), innate immune (monocyte/macrophages, neutrophils) and skin cell biology (fibroblasts, and keratinocytes) utilizing various culture models.
 Strong understanding of staining/imaging techniques and biochemical assays for characterizing viability, cell lysis, apoptosis, necrosis, and protein expression in culture.
 Knowledge of animal handling and surgery (murine and porcine) in cutaneous wounds
(partial- and full-thickness), histological, and immunochemical characterizations.
 Significant experience working in multidisciplinary teams collaborating with engineers, scientists, and physicians.
 Previous experience mentoring undergraduate and graduate students in various laboratory techniques and teaching in hands-on laboratory modules.
 Excellent communications skills with successful experiences writing manuscripts and grant applications as well as presenting at national and regional conferences.
 Laboratory manager experience maintaining chemical and biological safety regulatory compliance, human blood donor records, and animal protocols.
EDUCATION
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering, Spring 2014
 Thesis title: Development of gelatin/poly(ethylene) glycol biomatrices that encapsulate mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs) for modulating inflammatory host response in cutaneous wounds and resolving Staphylococcus aureus infection.
M.S. in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Spring 2012
University of Texas at Austin
B.S. in Biomedical Engineering, Spring 2009
WORK EXPERIENCE
Postdoctoral Fellow
Advisor: Prof. Thomas A. Wynn
2014 - present
Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, National
Institutes of Health
Graduate Research Assistant 2009 - 2014
Advisor: Prof. Weiyuan John Kao Ph.D.
Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison
 Synthesized and characterized biomaterials for the encapsulation of anchoragedependent cells (MSCs/fibroblasts) as well as understanding contact-dependent inflammatory monocyte response
 Designed co-culture models (transwell or microfluidic) to investigate MSC immunoregulation of pro-inflammatory monocyte/macrophages and MSC multidifferentiation potential
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 Applied MSC-biomaterials to full-thickness wounds to assess wound resolution
(closure and reepithelialization) and foreign body host response (neutrophil and macrophage infiltration)
 Ascertained the macrophage immunophenotype via temporal cytokine release and cell surface marker expression in vitro and in full-thickness cutaneous wounds.
 Investigated MSC delay of neutrophil apoptosis and enhancement of bactericidal/bacteriostatic activity against Staphylococcus aureus (biofilm or planktonic bacteria).
 Assessed the retention of male MSC DNA using porcine sry-specific primers from excised intradermally injected female porcine wound skin tissues.
Teaching Assistant 2010 - present
Instructors: Prof. Weiyuan John Kao, Ph.D.; John Puccinelli, Ph.D.
Biomedical Engineering 430: Biological Interactions with Materials
Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison
 Taught implant design and characterization in a hands-on laboratory module
Phlebotomy Technician 2007 - 2009
Blood and Tissue Center of Central Texas, Austin, TX
 Collected vital signs, performed phlebotomy, red cell apheresis, and maintained donor records
Intramural Research Training Award
Awarded in support of one year of postdoctoral study
09/08/14
Biomaterials Day Travel Award
Awarded travel award for SFB conference at Case Western Reserve University
Graduate Engineering Research Scholars Fellowship
Awarded in support of two years of graduate study
10/26/13
Society for Biomaterials Proteins and Cells at Interfaces SIG Poster Award 05/30/13
Honorable Mention Poster Award at the SFB Annual Meeting and Exposition
01/09/09
University Co-operative Society Undergraduate Research Fellowship
Awarded funding for an independent research project
GRANTS
01/08/08
National Institutes of Health (R21HL115482) (PI: Weiyaun John Kao) 01/09/13
“Human macrophage immunophenotype modulated by biomaterial-encapsulated MSC”
Awarded $400,000 in funding for a collaborative research project
1. Cantu DA , Hematti P, Kao WJ. Cell encapsulating biomaterial regulates MSC differentiation and macrophage immunophenotype. Stem Cell Translational Medicine
2012; 1: 740-749. (IF: 7.701)
2. Summer SE, Kleinbeck KR, Cantu DA , Kim J, Faucher LD, Bentz ML, Kao WJ,
Hematti P. Local delivery of allogeneic bone marrow and adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stromal cells for cutaneous wound healing in a porcine model. Journal of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine 2014; DOI: 10.1002/term.1700. (IF:
2.826)
3. Cantu DA , Kao WJ. Combinatorial biomatrix/cell-based therapies for restoration of host tissue architecture and function. Advanced Healthcare Materials 2013; 2: 1544-
1563. (IF: 14.829)
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4. Xu K, Cantu DA , Fu Y, Kim J, Zheng X, Hematti P, Kao WJ. Thiol-ene Michael-type formation of gelatin/poly(ethylene glycol) biomatrices for three-dimensional mesenchymal stromal/stem cell administration to cutaneous wounds. Co-first authors.
Acta Biomaterialia 2013; 9(11): 8802-8814. (IF: 5.378)
1. Cantu DA, Rose WE, Hematti P, Kao WJ. Encapsulated mesenchymal stromal/stem cells and leukocyte immunomodulation had nominal impact on the elimination of established Staphylococcus aureus biofilms (poster presentation). Society for
Biomaterials Annual Meeting and Exposition in Denver, Colorado (April, 2014).
2. Cantu DA , Xu K, Fu Y, Kim J, Zheng X, Hematti P, Kao WJ. Bilateral regulation of human monocytes and matrix-encapsulated mesenchymal stromal/stem cells in vitro and in full-thickness cutaneous wounds (poster presentation). Society for Biomaterials
Annual Meeting and Exposition in Boston, Massachusetts (April, 2013).
 Encore oral presentation at the Annual Biomaterials Day held at Case Western
Reserve University in Cleveland, OH (October, 2013)
3. Cantu DA , Xu K, Fu Y, Kim J, Zheng X, Hematti P, Kao WJ. Thiol-ene Michael-type formation of gelatin/polyethylene glycol biomatrices for 3-D mesenchymal stromal/stem cell presentation to cutaneous wounds (poster presentation). Department of Surgery Annual Research Summit Translational Research in Madison, WI (January,
2013).
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
Biomedical Engineering Graduate Student Association
American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists
Graduate Engineering Research Scholars
Society for Biomaterials
PROFESSIONAL COMMITTEES
Graduate Engineering Research Scholar Outreach Committee
Pharmaceutics Graduate Research Meeting
RECREATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
Madison Minotuars Rugby Club
Madison Volleyball League
Wisconsin Rugby Club
UW Intramural Soccer
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