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Gullbrand Laboratory

Hunter Levis, PH.D.

Postdoctoral Fellow
University of Pennsylvania

Hometown

West Des Moines, Iowa

Education

B.S. Biomedical Engineering, University of Utah
Ph.D. Biomedical Engineering, University of Utah

Areas of Special Interest

Hunter's interests include regenerative medicine, CRISPR cell engineering, cell therapies, mechanobiology, and drug delivery. When not in lab, you can find Hunter outside riding his bikes, running, camping, skiing, exploring coffee shops, going to concerts, or reading. 

Awards

  • 2025 ORS Spine Section Podium Award Winner
  • 2024 ORS PSRS Poster Award Winner for Next Generation Treatments

Publications

  1. Levis H, Weston J, Austin B, Larsen B, Ginley-Hidinger M, Gullbrand SE, Lawrence B, Bowles RD. Multiplex gene editing to promote cell survival using low-pH clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats activation (CRISPRa) gene perturbation. Cytotherapy. 2023 May 27:S1465-3249(23)00932-5. doi: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2023.05.001. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37245150.
  2. Levis H, Lewis C, Fainor M, Lawal A, Stockham E, Weston J, Farhang N, Gullbrand SE, Bowles RD. Targeted CRISPR regulation of ZNF865 enhances stem cell cartilage deposition, tissue maturation rates, and mechanical properties in engineered intervertebral discs. Acta Biomater. 2024 Nov 8:S1742-7061(24)00661-5. doi: 10.1016/j.actbio.2024.11.007. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39521313.
  3. Weston J, Levis H, Lawrence B, Somoza R, Bowles RD. CRISPRa Genome-wide Screen Identifies Novel Gene Targets for Osteogenic Cell Engineering. Journal of Tissue Engineering. October 2025.
  4. Weston J, Austin B, Levis H, Zitnay J, Weiss JA, Lawrence B, Bowles RD. Towards the Development of a Tissue Engineered Gradient utilizing CRISPR-guided Gene Modulation. Tissue Engineering: Part A February 7, 2024. http://doi.org/10.1089/ten.TEA.2023.0352
  5. Stover JD, Trone MAR, Weston J, Lewis C, Levis H, Farhang N, Philippi M, Zeidan M, Lawrence B, Bowles RD. Therapeutic CRISPR epigenome editing of inflammatory receptors in the intervertebral disc. Mol Ther. 2024 Nov 6;32(11):3955-3973. doi: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2024.09.022. Epub 2024 Sep 17. PMID: 39295148.

Selected Conference Abstracts and Presentations

Invited Talks
  1. Levis, H (2025). CRISPR-guided Gene Modulation in Musculoskeletal Cell and Tissue Engineering. Utah Medical Association. Salt Lake City, UT.
Podium Presentations
  1. 2016 BMES Podium Presentation: Hunter Levis, Niloofar Farhang, Xue Yin, Joshua D. Stover, Brandon Lawrence, Robert D. Bowles, CRISPR Epigenome Editing to Promote Osteogenic Differentiation in Adipose-Derived Stem Cells.  Paper Presented at: BMES 2016 Annual Meeting.
  2. 2019 Podium Presentation: Jacob Weston, Hunter Levis, Bryton Davis, Brandon Lawrence, Robert D. Bowles. Driving Osteogenesis in ASCs by Targeting BMP Antagonists with CRISPR Epigenome Editing. Paper #207; Paper Presented at: ORS 2019 Annual Meeting; February 4, 2019; Austin, TX
  3. 2022 BMES Podium Presentation: Hunter Levis, Jacob Weston, Brooke Austin, Jared Zitnay, Brandon Lawrence, Robby D. Bowles. CRISPRi and CRISPRa Engineered Bone Gradients for Application to Ligament/Tendon Tissue Engineering. Podium Presentation at: BMES 2022 Annual Meeting: October 12-14, 2022
  4. 2023 UBEC Podium Presentation: Hunter Levis, Ameerah Lawal, Sarah E. Gullbrand, Robby D. Bowles. CRISPRa of Novel Gene, BLST, Amplifies Cartilage Deposition in Engineered Disc. Podium Presentation at: UBEC 2023 Annual Meeting; September 9, 2023.
  5. 2025 ORS Podium Presentation: Hunter Levis, Matthew Fainor, Sarah E. Gullbrand, Robby D. Bowles. Targeted Multiplex CRISPRa Upregulation of Novel Gene, ZNF865, Enhances Cell Infiltration, Cartilage Deposition and Mechanical Properties of Human-sized Engineered Discs. Podium Presentation at ORS 2025 Annual Meeting: February 9-14, 2025.
  6. 2025 PSRS Podium Presentation: Hunter Levis, Lauren Kelly, Jessica R. Kramer, Robby D. Bowles. Applications of ZNF865 CRISPR-activation Upregulation in Biopharmaceutics. Podium Presentation at PSRS 2025 Meeting: November 11, 2025
Posters
  1. 2017 ORS Poster Presentation:  Hunter Levis, Niloofar Farhang, Xue Yin, Joshua D. Stover, Brandon Lawrence, Robert D. Bowles, CRISPR Epigenome Editing to Promote Osteogenic Differentiation in Adipose-Derived Stem Cells.  Poster Presented at: ORS 2017 Annual Meeting.
  2. 2021 ORS Poster Presentation: Jacob Weston, Hunter Levis, Brooke Austin, Matthew Ginley-Hidinger, Brandon Lawrence, Robert D. Bowles, Genome-Wide CRIPSR-Activation Screen for Identifying Pro-Survival Targets in ASCs.  Poster Presented at: ORS 2021 Annual Meeting; February 12-16, 2021; Virtual.
  3. 2021 BMES Poster Presentation: Hunter Levis, Jacob Weston, Brooke Austin, Matthew Ginley-Hidinger, Brandon Lawrence, Robert D. Bowles, Multiplex Regulated CRISPRa Editing to Improve Cell Survival in ECM Producing Cells.  Poster Presented at: BMES 2021 Annual Meeting 
  4. 2022 ORS Poster Presentation:  Hunter Levis, Jacob Weston, Brooke Austin, Matthew Ginley-Hidinger, Brandon Lawrence, Robert D. Bowles, Multiplex Regulated CRIPSRa Editing Improves Cell Viability in ECM Producing Cells.  Poster Presented at: ORS 2022 Annual Meeting; February 4-8, 2022; 
  5. 2022 BMES Poster Presentation: Hunter Levis, Elise Stockham, Jacob Weston, Robby D. Bowles, CRISPR-activation of a Novel Gene Increases Target Gene Expression in CRISPR-activation Multiplex Upregulated Cells.  Poster Presented at: BMES 2022 Annual Meeting; October 12-14, 2022;
  6. 2023 BMES Podium Presentation: Hunter Levis, Christian Lewis, Robby D. Bowles. CRISPR Regulation of a Novel Gene, BLST, to Modulate Cellular Activity and Senescence. Podium Presentation at: BMES 2023 Annual Meeting: October 11-14, 2023.
  7. 2022 ORS PSRS Poster Presentation: Hunter Levis, Jacob Weston, Brooke Austin, Matthew Ginley-Hidinger, Brandon Lawrence, Robert D. Bowles, Synergistic Multiplex CRISPR-activation of RNF14 Improves Extracellular Matrix Deposition in Low-pH Media in dCas9-VPR ACAN/Col2 Upregulated Adipose-Derived Stem Cells.  Poster Presented at: ORS PSRS 2022 Biennial Meeting; November 6-10, 2022.
  8. 2022 ORS PSRS Poster Presentation: Hunter Levis, Jacob Weston, Bryce Larsen, Rodrigo Somoza, Brandon Lawrence, Robby D. Bowles, Novel-Unidentified Targets for Driving Osteogenesis in ASCs Using a Genome-Wide CRISPRa Screen.  Poster Presented at: ORS PSRS Biennial Meeting; November 6-10, 2022.
  9. 2022 ORS PSRS Poster Presentation: Hunter Levis, Elise Stockham, Jacob Weston, Robby D. Bowles, Increased Extracellular Matrix Deposition using Synergistic Multiplex CRISPR-activation of a Novel Gene in ACAN/Col2 Upregulated Adipose-Derived Stem Cells.  Poster Presented at: ORS PSRS Biennial Meeting; November 6-10, 2022.
  10. 2023 ORS Poster Presentation: Hunter Levis, Elise Stockham, Jacob Weston, Robby D. Bowles, Novel Gene for Amplifying Tissue Engineered Cartilage Deposition.  Poster Presented at: ORS Annual Meeting; February 10-14, 2023;
  11. 2023 UBEC Poster Presentation: Hunter Levis, Christian Lewis, Robby D. Bowles. CRISPR Regulation of a Novel Gene, BLST, to Modulate Cellular Activity and Senescence. Poster Presented at: UBEC 2023 Annual Meeting: September 9, 2023. 
  12. 2023 BMES Poster Presentation: Hunter Levis, Ameerah Lawal, Sarah E. Gullbrand, Robby D. Bowles. CRISPRa of Novel Gene, BLST, Amplifies Cartilage Deposition in Engineered Disc. Poster Presentation at: BMES 2023 Annual Meeting; October11-14, 2023. 
  13. 2024 ORS Poster Presentation: Hunter Levis, Ameerah Lawal, Sarah E. Gullbrand, Robby D. Bowles. CRISPRa of Novel Gene, ZNF865, Amplifies Cartilage Deposition in Engineered Disc. Poster Presentation at: ORS 2024 Annual Meeting; February 2-6.
  14. 2024 ORS Poster Presentation: Christian Lewis, Hunter Levis, Robby D. Bowles. CRISPR Regulation of a Novel Gene, ZNF865, to Modulate Cellular Activity and Senescence in Intervertebral Disc Disease. Poster Presentation at: ORS 2024 Annual Meeting; February 2-6.
  15. 2024 ORS Poster Presentation: Matthew Trone, Joshua Stover, Christian Lewis, Hunter Levis, Matthew Philippi, Brandon Lawrence, Robby D. Bowles. CRISPRi Editing of TNFRA and IL6ST Reduces Pain Sensitivity in Disc Degeneration. Poster Presentation at: ORS 2024 Annual Meeting; February 2-6.
  16. 2024 BMES Poster Presentation: Hunter Levis, Matthew Fainor, Ameerah Lawal, Sarah E. Gullbrand, Robby D. Bowles. Targeted Multiplex CRISPRa Upregulation of ACAN, Col2a1, and Novel Gene, ZNF865, Enhances Cell Infiltration, Cartilage Deposition and Mechanical Properties of Human-sized Engineered Discs. Poster Presentation at: BMES 2024 Annual Meeting; October 23-26. 
  17. 2024 SOARS Poster Presentation: Hunter Levis, Matthew Fainor, Ameerah Lawal, Sarah E. Gullbrand, Robby D. Bowles. Targeted Multiplex CRISPRa Upregulation of ACAN, Col2a1, and Novel Gene, ZNF865, Enhances Cell Infiltration, Cartilage Deposition and Mechanical Properties of Human-sized Engineered Discs. Poster Presentation at: ORS SOARS Summit 2024 Regional Meeting; September 13.
  18. 2024 ORS PSRS Poster Presentation: Hunter Levis, Matthew Fainor, Sarah E. Gullbrand, Robby D. Bowles. Targeted Multiplex CRISPRa Upregulation of ACAN, Col2a1, and Novel Gene, ZNF865, Enhances Cell Infiltration, Cartilage Deposition and Mechanical Properties of Human-sized Engineered Discs. Poster Presentation at: ORS PSRS International Spine Research Symposium 2024 Meeting; November 10-14.
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