Center for Regenerative Nanomedicine to become new science hub
Former SQI affiliate has become an independent center to develop ‘materials pharmacology’
Northwestern University is embarking on a new chapter in its commitment to advancing the biosciences and fostering interdisciplinary research. On Sept. 1, the Center for Regenerative Nanomedicine (CRN) became a standalone University Research Institute and Center (URIC). Formerly part of the Simpson Querrey Institute for BioNanotechnology (SQI), CRN will now serve as a leading hub for innovative research at the intersection of nanotechnology and regenerative medicine. SQI concluded its operations and closed on Aug. 31.
Northwestern’s nearly two dozen URICs bring together researchers from various fields to create high-impact discoveries. Some 700 faculty members representing more than 100 departments engage in URIC research across diverse disciplines, including the life sciences, quantum science, and engineering. CRN will advance its mission to catalyze research, facilitate the translation of life-changing Northwestern technologies, and forge strategic alliances with global leaders in regenerative medicine.
Visionary leadership
SQI has been a cornerstone of interdisciplinary research at Northwestern for over two decades, led by founding director Samuel I. Stupp (pictured), the Board of Trustees Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, Chemistry, Medicine, and Biomedical Engineering. At CRN, Stupp will now focus on developing and clinically translating regenerative therapies for the brain, spinal cord, and musculoskeletal tissues, among other critical targets for healthy aging.
Stupp is a leading figure in the development of materials based on self-assembly and supramolecular chemistry and is a member of the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering. He has produced more than 700 publications, which has elevated him into the top 1% of highly cited researchers. He has shown how nanomaterials can be engineered to interact with biological systems in previously unimaginable ways. He has produced pioneering work in developing bio-inspired materials, especially the development of self-assembling peptide amphiphiles. These materials can mimic biological structures and processes to open new avenues for regenerative medicine, renewable energy, sustainability, and robotic soft matter. His groundbreaking contributions include developing an injectable therapy that reverses paralysis after severe spinal cord injury. This breakthrough — published in Science in 2021 and dubbed “dancing molecules” in subsequent news coverage — attracted global attention for demonstrating that the motion of molecules within nanostructures is a key feature in their ability to signal cells for regeneration. In July, Stupp reported on the role of this phenomenon in cartilage regeneration, which is critical for healthy aging.
“The launch of the Center for Regenerative Nanomedicine as an independent research institute at Northwestern represents a pivotal moment in our journey to revolutionize medicine,” said Stupp, expressing gratitude to University leadership for supporting this work and its development toward clinical translation. “We want to introduce materials as ‘drugs’ as opposed to ‘devices’ from the FDA’s perspective. A transition to ‘materials pharmacology’ is necessary to truly advance therapies in regenerative medicine, since cells are naturally surrounded by materials and cannot function without them.”
SQI a premier interdisciplinary catalyst
Stupp’s scientific journey began in San José, Costa Rica, leading him to earn a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from UCLA (1972) and a Ph.D. in materials science from Northwestern (1977). He returned to Northwestern in 1999 to establish the Institute for BioNanotechnology in Medicine, later renamed the Simpson Querrey Institute (SQI), thanks to a generous gift from Louis Simpson ’58 (’96 P) and Kimberly Querrey (’22, ’23 P). Under his leadership, SQI became a premier interdisciplinary research hub focused on regenerative medicine, nanotherapeutics, advanced materials, and electroactive biomaterials.
In addition to CRN, SQI hosted the Center for Bio-Inspired Energy Science (CBES) as an affiliate from 2014 to 2020 and the Center for Bio-Integrated Electronics (CBIE) as an affiliate from 2016 to 2019. CBES, a multi-institutional effort also directed by Stupp, received $25 million in funding from the Department of Energy and sought to develop the next frontier in soft materials by designing structures that emulate many of the properties observed in biological systems. A breakthrough from this research is expected to be published soon.
SQI significantly fostered collaborations with faculty across departments such as orthopedics, neurology, and organ transplantation. It also attracted researchers such as renowned bioelectronics expert John Rogers, who later helped establish the Querrey Simpson Institute for Bioelectronics (QSIB). SQI helped catalyze other key faculty hires, including Jonathan Rivnay, Nathan Gianneschi, and Shana Kelley, and the development of the Simpson Querrey Biomedical Research Center’s Bioengineering floor, now home to major research initiatives.
Extending a legacy of research excellence
With CRN’s establishment as an independent URIC, Northwestern reinforces its commitment to innovation in the biosciences, one of the University’s strategic priorities. CRN will continue as a vibrant interdisciplinary research community, bringing together experts from chemistry, engineering disciplines, and the biological sciences to accelerate the discovery and translation of innovative therapies for the brain, spinal cord, and musculoskeletal tissues. It will also remain the home of the ANTEC core facility and the Peptide Synthesis Core, integral to advancing regenerative medicine and nanotechnology research.
“I look forward to continuing the many cross-disciplinary collaborations we launched at SQI, now under the CRN banner,” Stupp said. “In addition, I plan to explore other exciting directions, such as establishing a human organoid effort on the Evanston and Chicago campuses to discover regenerative therapies.”
Stupp expressed his deep gratitude to John Potocsnak and Laura Griggs, and Mike and Mary Sue Shannon for supporting his current research, including support that will benefit CRN as an independent URIC. He also reflected on the past support and incredible generosity of Kimberly Querrey and the late Lou Simpson, which enabled critical research at SQI over the last decade.
Vice President for Research Eric Perreault noted Stupp’s contributions: "Sam’s work is a shining example of how interdisciplinary research can lead to groundbreaking discoveries. His ability to collaborate with faculty across various domains has advanced our understanding of regenerative medicine and inspired a culture of creative and significant collaborations between engineering and medicine at Northwestern.”
Perreault said CRN will remain an important research hub that continues redefining what is possible in regenerative medicine and nanotechnology, paving the way for transformative discoveries that benefit human health for years to come. --Matt Golosinski, director for research communications