The Center for Regenerative Medicine has announced the selection of five new directors on its leadership team. The leaders will fill the positions for associate directors in Arizona and Florida, and enterprise-wide deputy directors for application and translation. These positions report to Andre Terzic, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Center for Regenerative Medicine.

• Associate Director, Arizona: David Lott, M.D.
• Associate Director, Florida: Guojun Bu, Ph.D.
• Deputy Director, Application: Mark Pagnano, M.D.
• Deputy Director, Translation: Atta Behfar, M.D., Ph.D.
• Program (Medical) Director, Regenerative Medicine Suites, Florida: Shane Shapiro, M.D.

David Lott, M.D.

David Lott, M.D., has been named associate director for Arizona. Dr. Lott is a head and neck surgeon and holds the academic rank of associate professor of otolaryngology at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science. He directs the Department of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery/Audiology, Voice Program. He also directs the Head & Neck Regeneration Laboratory, where he and his team research transplantation techniques, tissue engineering, and restoring function of the larynx.

Guojun Bu, Ph.D.,

Guojun Bu, Ph.D., has been named associate director for Florida. Dr. Bu is a consultant in the Department of Neuroscience and a professor of neuroscience at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science. Dr. Bu directs the Mayo Clinic Neuroregeneration Lab. His research is centered on understanding why a specific allele of the apolipoprotein E gene (e4) represents a strong risk factor for Alzheimer's disease.

As associate directors for Arizona and Florida, Drs. Lott and Bu will provide site leadership and contribute to the operational conduct and programmatic integration of regenerative medicine activities. They will support the strategic and business plans for the center and plan and manage leadership development across the site and the enterprise.

Mark Pagnano, M.D.

Mark Pagnano, M.D., has been named deputy director of application. Dr. Pagnano is chair of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery on the Rochester campus and a professor of orthopedics at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science. Dr. Pagnano directs the Musculoskeletal Regeneration Program. His team is investigating articular cartilage restoration for the knee and hip.

In this role, Dr. Pagnano will provide leadership to ensure the successful build-out and implementation of advanced regenerative therapies across the enterprise and engage clinical leaders in prioritizing regenerative medicine service lines that address unmet patient needs.

Atta Behfar, M.D., Ph.D.

Atta Behfar, M.D., Ph.D., has been named deputy director of translation. Dr. Behfar is a consultant in the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine and an associate professor of medicine at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science. Dr. Behfar directs the Van Cleve Cardiac Regenerative Medicine Program, where his team conducts cardiovascular regeneration research to develop technologies to repair heart tissue. Dr. Behfar also serves as the medical director for the Advanced Product Incubator, a manufacturing facility designed to accelerate the development and use of novel regenerative products.

In this role, Dr. Behfar will ensure technological and translational readiness and provide oversight of technological platforms, infrastructure and clinical trials to advance new knowledge to clinical applications.

Shane Shapiro, M.D.

Shane Shapiro, M.D., has been named program (medical) director, regenerative medicine suites in Florida. Dr. Shapiro is a consultant in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery and an assistant professor of orthopedics at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science. Dr. Shapiro was instrumental in establishing the outpatient regenerative medicine therapeutic suites as a dedicated space for clinicians to integrate regenerative technologies into patient care.

In this inaugural position, Dr. Shapiro will build the regenerative medicine therapy suites practice on the Florida campus and establish best practices in the delivery model of regenerative products that will ultimately be implemented across the enterprise.

The Center for Regenerative Medicine thanks Jorge Rakela, M.D., and Thomas Gonwa, M.D., who served as associate directors for Arizona and Florida respectively. Dr. Gonwa also served as deputy director, translation. Center leadership also thanks Brooks Edwards, M.D., who previously served as deputy director, application.

Tags: Andre Terzic, Center for Regenerative Medicine, leadership, Mayo Clinic, Mayo Clinic in Arizona, Mayo Clinic in Florida, mayo clinic medical research, News