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Associate Research Scientist
New York University Grossman School of Medicine
I am Ryosuke Nakamura, an Associate Research Scientist in Rehabilitation Medicine at the New York University Grossman School of Medicine. I have been investigating the fundamentals of tissue regeneration in the head and neck and seek to develop novel methods to improve current therapeutic strategies.
My research experience started with studies of the extracellular matrix at Hokkaido University in Japan. During my PhD, I investigated the role(s) of ECM molecules with a particular emphasis on heparan sulfate proteoglycans (~2014).
After my PhD studies, I worked at Fukushima Medical University (2014~2016) and subsequentlyI at Kyoto University School of Medicine (2016~2019) to conduct otolaryngological research. I built upon my training to improve tissue engineering techniques to regenerate the upper airway. In this work, I combined tracheal grafts consisting of three-dimensional collagen scaffolds with heparin, an analogue of the heparan sulfate chain, to improve retention of growth factors in the graft. Additionally, I supplemented mesenchymal stem cells and multiple growth factors to the graft. These grafts were implanted into defected animal tracheae, and accelerated regeneration of tracheal epithelium. In parallel with the work on the trachea, I investigated regeneration of other organs in the head and neck. I created injuries in rodent VFs and assessed the recovery of epithelial barrier function and the phenotypic shift of macrophages.
I transitioned from Japan to complete a postdoctoral fellowship with Dr. Ryan Branski in 2019. Currently, my work focuses on cell signaling pathways associated with VF fibrosis, and interaction of different cell types in the VF. We recently published our work on TGF-β/SMAD, glucocorticoid, and Hippo signaling in VF fibroblasts.