Darcy Wagner, PhD, recently appointed as a Canada Excellence Research Chair in Lung Regenerative Medicine at McGill University, is spearheading the development of bioengineered therapies for both acute and chronic lung diseases. Her groundbreaking research leverages advanced 3D bioprinting to precisely generate lung tissue, reflecting her commitment to addressing global lung health issues.
For Wagner, the scarcity of organ donations transcends public health concerns, rooted deeply in personal tragedy.
“When I was young, my best friend needed a kidney transplant,” she recounts, “but he died while waiting on the list.” “It’s the personal driving force behind what I’ve done for my entire career.”
This loss profoundly impacted her, fueling her lifelong dedication to her field. Interestingly, Wagner’s journey into lung regeneration was serendipitous. Initially trained in mechanical engineering, she acquired critical skills in materials, manufacturing, and computational modeling. During her PhD in biomedical engineering, focused on bone tissue, she stumbled upon a lung tissue engineering project. Despite her lack of prior experience with lung tissues, she quickly realized her passion for this area. “And then I never left lung regeneration,” she notes, underscoring her enduring commitment to this vital research field.
Dr. Wagner is a Professor in the Departments of Medicine and Biomedical Engineering at McGill’s Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences.
Read more:
After a tragic loss, a career devoted to organ regeneration. McGill Health e-News, July 31, 2024
After a tragic loss, a career devoted to organ regeneration
Darcy Wagner, PhD, leads the charge in advancing bioengineered therapies for acute and chronic lung diseases, centred on advanced 3D bioprinting for precise lung tissue generation. RI-MUHC News. August 8, 2024