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McKay Orthopaedic Research Laboratory

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Gullbrand Laboratory

Matthew Fainor

Research Engineer
University of Pennsylvania

Hometown

Allentown, Pennsylvania

Education

B.S. IDEAS (Integrated Degree in Engineering, Arts & Sciences) concentrating in Biomaterials & Biomechanics Engineering and Art & Design, Lehigh University, 2020

Areas of Special Interest

Matthew's interests include tissue engineering, cell therapies, composite biomaterials, and living materials of all kinds. Outside of the lab, Matthew can be found hiking, collaging, making art, knitting, going to concerts, or just sitting on his couch binging reality competition TV. Matthew also writes--shorts for himself and science reporting for his blog Fleshy Futures. 

Awards

  • 2024 Katz Family Award in Orthopaedic Surgery: Recognizing empathy and a focus on diversity and cultural awareness
  • 2019 Undergraduate Sustainability Award, Lehigh University
  • 2019 Grant for Experiential Learning in Health, Lehigh University

Publications

  1. Fainor M*, Frehner SS*, Dulatov G, Ringwood R, Loftus H, Warner C, Bazaz A, Smith HE, Mauck RL, Erickson I, Gullbrand SE. A Human Progenitor Cell-Based Tissue Engineered Intervertebral Disc. Tissue Engineering: Part A. 2025: DOI: 10.1177/19373341251373104
  2. Gullbrand SE, Kiapour A, Barrett C, Fainor M, Orozco BS, Hilliard R, Mauck RL, Hast MW, Schaer TP, Smith HE. Restoration of Physiologic Loading After Engineered Disc Implantation Mitigates Immobilization-Induced Facet Joint and Paraspinal Muscle Degeneration. Acta Biomaterialia. 2025; 192:128-139. DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2024.12.014
  3. 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 Biomaterialia. 2024; 191:276-291. DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2024.11.007
  4. Gullbrand SE, Orozco BS, Fainor M, Meadows K, Hilliard R, Boyes M, Mahindroo S, Mauck RL, Elliott DM, Schaer TP, Smith HE. Intervertebral Disc Degeneration Instigates Vertebral Endplate Remodeling and Facet Joint Pathology in a Large Animal Model. European Cells and Materials. 2023; 47:125-141. DOI: 10.22203/eCM.v047a09
  5. Muir VG, Fainor M, Orozco BS, Hilliard RL, Boyes M, Smith HE, Mauck RL, Schaer TP, Burdick JA, Gullbrand SE. Injectable Radiopaque Hyaluronic Acid Granular Hydrogels for Intervertebral Disc Repair. Advanced Healthcare Materials. 2023; 13(25):2303326. DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202303326
  6. Fainor M*, Orozco BS*, Muir VG, Mahindroo S, Gupta S, Mauck RL, Burdick JA, Smith HE, Gullbrand SE. Mechanical Crosstalk Between the Intervertebral Disc, Facet Joints, and Vertebral Endplate Following Acute Disc Injury in a Rabbit Model. JOR Spine. 2023; 6(4):e1287. DOI: 10.1002/jsp2.1287 
  7. Fainor M, Mahindroo S, Betz KR, Augustin J, Smith HE, Mauck RL, Gullbrand SE. A Tunable Calcium Phosphate Coating to Drive In Vivo Osseointegration of Composite Engineered Tissues. Cells Tissues Organs. 2023. DOI: 10.1159/000528965
  8. Gupta S, Xiao R, Fainor M, Mauck RL, Smith HE, Gullbrand SE. Level Dependent Alterations in Human Facet Cartilage Mechanics and Bone Morphometry with Spine Degeneration. Journal of Orthopaedic Research. 2022; 1-10. DOI: 10.1002/jor.25407
  9. Camacho P, Behre A, Fainor M, Seims KB, Chow LW. 2021 Biomaterials Science Emerging Investigators Issue: Spatial Organization of Biochemical Cues in 3D-Printed Scaffolds to Guide Osteochondral Tissue Engineering. Biomaterials Science. 2021. DOI: 10.1039/D1BM00859E
  10. Camacho P, Fainor M, Seims KB, Tolbert JW, Chow LW. Fabricating Spatially Functionalized 3D-Printed Scaffolds for Osteochondral Tissue Engineering. Journal of Biological Methods. 2021;8(1):e146. DOI: 10.14440/jbm.2021.353

Selected Conference Abstracts and Presentations

Invited Talks
  1. Fainor M & Gullbrand SE. Orthopaedic Research and the Quest to Repair Intervertebral Discs. La Salle University Biology Seminar Series. 2023. Invited Talk.
  2. Fainor M & Hast MW. Engineering the Intervertebral Disc: Modulating Cell Differentiation Through Material and Chemical Signaling. Cheyney University. 2023. Invited Talk.
Podium Presentations
  1. Fainor M, Baranyai AJ, Mauck RL, Smith HE, Gullbrand SE. IL-1beta Does Not Exacerbate Cell Death in a Large-Scale Tissue-Engineered Intervertebral Disc. 2025 ORS PSRS Spine Research Symposium. Podium Presentation.
  2. Orozco BS, Fainor M, Muir V, Mahindroo S, Gupta S, Burdick J, Mauck RL, SMith HE, Gullbrand SE. Intervertebral Disc and Facet Crosstalk in a Rabbit Puncture Model of Disc Degeneration. Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the Orthopaedic Research Society 2023. Podium Presentation.
  3. Gullbrand SE, Orozco BS, Fainor M, Hilliard RL, Schaer TP, Elliot DM, Mauck RL, Smith HE. Restoration of Physiologic Loading Improves Outcomes in Engineered Disc Implanted-Spinal Motion Segments. Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the Orthopaedic Research Society 2023. Podium Presentation.
Posters
  1. Fainor M, Bazaz A, Smith HE, Gullbrand SE. Assessing Cell Therapy Retention and Survival Across a Spectrum of Intervertebral Disc Degeneration. Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the Orthopaedic Research Society 2025. Poster Presentation.
  2. Orozco BS, Fainor M, Muir VG, Schaer TP, Burdick JA, Gullbrand SE. Restoration of Degenerative Disc Function Contributes to Facet Cartilage Recovery in a Large Animal Model. Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the Orthopaedic Research Society 2025. Poster Presentation.
  3. Fainor M, Bazaz A, Mauck RL, Smith HE, Gullbrand SE. Controlled Delivery of Deferoxamine in a Subcutaneous Model of Semi-Orthotopic Bone Formation. 2024 ORS PSRS 7th International Spine Research Symposium. Poster Presentation.
  4. Fainor M, Bazaz A, Augustin J, Mauck RL, Smith HE, Gullbrand SE. Engineering Composite Tissues: Coupling Angiogenesis and Osteogenesis via Material and Chemical Signals. Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the Orthopaedic Research Society 2024. Poster Presentation.
  5. Fainor M, Dulatova G, Freshener S, Smith HE, Mauck RL, Heaton WL, Gullbrand SE. Characterizing Discogenic Cell Based Tissue Engineered Disc Replacements. Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the Orthopaedic Research Society 2024. Poster Presentation.
  6. Fainor M, Augustin J, Mauck RL, Gullbrand SE. In Situ Delivery of Microspheres to Promote Local Vascularization in Composite Structures. Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the Orthopaedic Research Society 2023. Poster Presentation.
  7. Fainor M, Augustin J, Smith HE, Mauck RL, Gullbrand SE. Driving Osteogenesis in Composite Biomaterials Using Tunable Hydroxyapatite Surface Modifications. 2022 ORS PSRS 6th International Spine Research Symposium. Poster Presentation.
  8. Fainor M, Betz, KR, Mahindroo S, Locke RC, Smith HE, Mauck RL, Gullbrand SE. The Effects of Hydroxyapatite Coating on Poly(caprolactone) Micromechanics and Mesenchymal Stem Cell Behavior. 2022 Orthopaedic Research Society Annual Meeting. Poster Presentation.
  9. Fainor M, Mahindroo S, Gupta S, Mauck RL, Smith HE, Gullbrand SE. Intervertebral Disc and Facet Cross-Talk in a Rabbit Puncture Model of Spine Degeneration. 2022 Orthopaedic Research Society Annual Meeting. Poster Presentation.
  10. Fainor M, Camacho P, Behre A, Schaer TP, Chow LW. 3D Printing Peptide-Functionalized Scaffolds for Osteochondral Regeneration. 2020 David and Lorraine Freed Undergraduate Research Symposium. Poster Presentation.
  11. Fainor M, Camacho P, Behre A, Schaer TP, Chow LW. Characterizing Effects of Sterilization and Cell Culture on Peptide-Functionalized 3D-Printed Scaffolds. 2019 Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES) Annual Meeting. Poster Presentation.
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