Research Themes:

Biomaterials and Regenerative Medicine
Molecular and Cellular Engineering

Education

PhD (pharmacology), University of Washington, 1987
BS (biochemistry), University of California Davis 1982

Research Interests

• Tissue Engineering
• Biointerfacial Control of Cell Behavior
• Foreign Body Response
• Ectopic Calcification in Biomaterials and Disease
• Bioengineered Cell Therapy

Contact Information

Department of Bioengineering
University of Washington
Box 355061
William H. Foege Building, Room N330L
Phone: 206-543-0205, 206-221-5826
Fax: 206-616-9763
E-mail

Research Description

Current projects include 1) identifying and applying biomimetic strategies to create biointerfaces for soft and hard tissue regeneration 2) biomolecular control of the foreign body reaction, with particular emphasis on the macrophage-mediated inflammatory response to biomaterials, 3) mechanistic studies aimed at developing novel therapeutic targets and approaches for treating ectopic calcification in disease and medical devices

Teaching Activities

• BIOEN 502: Cellular Bioengineering
• BIOEN 579: Host Response to Biomaterials
• BIOEN 586: Tissue Engineering (Cell and Matrix Modules)
• BIOEN 490: Introduction to Biomaterials (Foreign Body Reaction Modules)

Professional Experience

• 1998 Pharmacology Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Washington
• 1998-1999 Pathology Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Washington
• 1990 Research Associate, University of Washington
• 1991-1992 Lecturer, University of Washington
• 1992-1997 Research Assistant Professor, University of Washington
• 1997-1998 Research Associate Professor, Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington
• 1998-present Associate Professor, Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington
• 1998-2008 Deputy Director, University of Washington Engineered Biomaterials (UWEB)
• 2004-present Professor, Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington
• 2004-present Adjunct Professor, Department of Pathology, University of Washington
• 2004-present Adjunct Professor, Department of Oral Biology, University of Washington

Honors and Awards

• 1982 Departmental Citation in Biochemistry, University of California at Davis
• 1982 Highest Honors, University of California – Davis
• 1985 Pacific Northwest Association of Toxicologists’ Outstanding Graduate Student Presentation Award
• 1982-1988 Pacific NIEHS Environmental Pathology/Toxicology Training Grant, University of Washington
• 1988-1989 Pacific NIH Cardiovascular Pathology Training Grant
• 1996-2001 American Heart Association Established Investigator Award
• 2003 Advances in Mineral Metabolism Investigator Award

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Selected Publications

• Giachelli CM, Bae N, Almeida M, Denhardt DT, Alpers CE, Schwartz SM. Osteopontin is elevated during neointima formation in rat arteries and is a novel component of human atherosclerotic plaques. J Clin Invest 92:1686-1696, 1993.
• Liaw L, Skinner MP, Raines EW, Ross R, Cheresh DA, Schwartz SM, Giachelli CM. The adhesive and migratory effects of osteopontin are mediated via distinct cell surface integrins: Role of avb3 in smooth muscle migration to osteopontin in vitro. J Clin Invest 95:713-724, 1995.
• Giachelli CM, Lombardi D, Johnson RJ, Murry CE, Almeida M. Evidence for a role of osteopontin in macrophage infiltration in response to pathological stimuli in vivo. Amer J Pathol 152: 353-358, 1998.
• Wada T, McKee MD, Steitz S, Giachelli CM. Calcification of vascular smooth muscle cell cultures: inhibition by osteopontin. Circ Res 84: 166-178, 1999.
• Jono S, Peinado C., Giachelli CM. Phosphorylation of osteopontin is required for inhibition of vascular smooth muscle cell calcification. J Biol Chem 275:20197-20203, 2000.
• Jono S, McKee, MD, Murry CE, Shioi A, Nishizawa Y, Mori K, Morii H, Giachelli CM. Phosphate regulation of vascular smooth muscle calcification. Circ Res 87:e10-e17, 2000.
• Steitz SA, Speer MY, Curinga G, Ying-Yang H, Haynes P, Aebersold R, Schinke T, Karsenty G, Giachelli CM. Smooth muscle cell phenotypic transition associated with calcification: upregulation of Cbfa-1 and down-regulation of smooth muscle lineage markers. Circ Res, 2001.
• Steitz SA, McKee MD, Liaw L, Giachelli CM. Osteopontin inhibits mineral deposition and promotes regression of ectopic calcification. Amer J Path 16:2035-2046, 2002.
• Tsai A, Rice J, Liaw L, Ratner B, Giachelli CM.  Osteopontin reduces foreign body giant cell formation in response to biomaterial implantation.  Biomaterials, 26:5835-43, 2005.
• Wiester LM, Giachelli CM. Expression and function of the integrin, a9b1, in bovine aortic valve interstitial cells. J Heart Valve Disease, 12: 605-616, 2003.
• Cuy JL, Beckstead BL, Brown CD, Hoffman AS, Giachelli CM. Adhesive protein interactions with chitosan: consequences for valve endothelial cell growth on tissue-engineering materials. J Biomed Mater Res, 67A: 538-547, 2003.
• Ohri R, Tung E, Rajachar R, Giachelli CM.  Mitigation of ectopic calcification in osteopontin-deficient mice by exogenous osteopontin:  efficacy, potency and mechanism.  Calcified Tissue Intl, 76:307-15, 2005.
• Beckstead, B.L. and C.M. Giachelli.  “Mimicking cell-cell interactions at the biomaterial-cell interface” J Biomed Mater Res A. 2006 Oct;79(1):94-103.
• Li X, Ying-Yang H, Giachelli CM. Role of the Sodium Dependent Phosphate Cotransporter, Pit-1, in Vascular Smooth Muscle Calcification. Circ Res. 2006 98:905-12, 2006.
• M. Linnes, B.D. Ratner, C.M. Giachelli. A Fibrinogen Based Precision Microporous Scaffold for Tissue Engineering: Development and Characterization.  Biomaterials, 28(35):5298-306, 2007.
• Rajachar R, Truong A, Giachelli CM.  The influence of surface mineral and osteopontin on the formation and function of murine bone marrow macrophage derived osteoclasts, J Biomed Mater Res, J Mater Sci Mat med, 2008.