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ANTONIO D'AMORE 2 - Copia
Antonio D'Amore, PhD
Group Leader in Tissue Engineering
adamore@fondazionerimed.com

Biographical notes

Dr. Antonio D’Amore is tenured group leader and head of the RiMED Cardiovascular Tissue Engineering laboratory, the team (currently 23 people strong) operates in two locations: Pittsburgh USA – Pitt and Palermo Italy-RiMED Foundation;

Dr D’Amore is also an Associate Professor in the Departments of Surgery and Bioengineering at the University of Pittsburgh and a Full Professor (Chiara Fama) in the Department of Precision Medicine within the School of Medicine, Surgical and Critical Care at the University of Palermo. The research areas of the group he leads include: the development of valve prostheses; vascular grafts; and engineered myocardial walls; quantitative histology; numerical modeling of tissue growth and synthetic material degradation; and bioreactors to simulate tissue engineering and cell proliferation.

He earned his master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Palermo in 2004 and continued his studies at Imperial College London, where he earned a master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering in 2007. In 2011, Prof. D’Amore earned his Ph.D. in Biomechanics and Tissue Engineering through a joint program between the University of Palermo and the University of Pittsburgh. Since 2008, he has served as a consultant in the field of bioengineering in both the United States and Italy.

Scientifical activity

Dr. D’Amore is the author of more than 244 scientific contributions, including 68 peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters, international conference abstracts and extended abstracts, 22 patent applications, 16 issued U.S. and European patents, and software for modeling biological systems. Six of his inventions have been licensed for further development and commercialization.

The translational value of his work has been recognized through honors from professional societies and scientific organizations, including election as a Senior Member of the National Academy of Inventors, the Strazzabosco Award for young engineers—presented under the patronage of the President of the Italian Republic—and the Wallace H. Coulter Foundation Translational Research Award.

As Principal Investigator or Co-Investigator, Dr. D’Amore has secured more than $19.9 million in research funding, including support through NIH R01 and STTR awards, a European Research Council Consolidator Grant, ERC Proof of Concept Grants, and industry-sponsored research.

He is Co-Founder, Board Member, and Chief Technology Officer of Neoolife, the first Ri.MED–UPMC startup dedicated to tissue-engineering technologies for heart valve replacement. Since 2025, he has also served as Italian Co-Chair of the Biotechnology Working Group within the Italy–United States Joint Commission on Science and Technology, promoted by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the U.S. Department of State (MAECI).

Grants

Publications

Journal Paper
Impact of Leaflet Thickness on Polymeric Valve Scaffold Function and Remodeling: Assessment in a 1- and 3-Month Ovine Stented Pulmonary Valve Replacement Model
Drake D. Pedersen , Garrett Coyan , Viktor Balashov , Arianna Adamo, PhD , Patrizia Caruso, PhD , Flaviana Falci , Vesselin Shanov , William E. Katz , David Kokot , Giuseppe D'Ancona , William R. Wagner , Antonio D'Amore, Ph.D.
Journal of Biomedical Materials Research
https://doi.org/10.1002/jbm.a.70139
Journal Paper
Photo-oxidation crosslinked, glutaraldehyde crosslinked, or enzyme and hydrostatic pressure processed decellularized biomaterials for cardiovascular repair do not affect host response in a rat right ventricular outflow flow tract reconstruction (RVOT) model
Parnaz Boodagh †, Laura Modica De Mohac, PhD , Yasurani Hayashi , Danila Vella, PhD , Sang-Ho Ye , Federica Cosentino, PhD , Taro Fujii , Emily Gorge , Garrett Coyan , Laubrie Soto Joan Dario, PhD , Gaetano Burriesci, PhD , William R Wagner , Antonio D'Amore, Ph.D.
Journal of Biomedical Materials Research: Part B - Applied Biomaterials, 113(2):e35529, 2025.
https://doi.org/10.1002/jbm.b.35529
Journal Paper
In Vitro Evaluation of Biomaterials for Heart Valve Prosthesis: High Hydrostatic and Enzymatic Treatments as Alternative for Bio-Derived Materials
Danila Vella, PhD †, Parnaz Boodagh , Laura Modica De Mohac, PhD , Sang-Ho Ye , Federica Cosentino, PhD , Federica Scaglione , Sofia Dei Bardi , Giulia Polizzi , Garrett Coyan , William R. Wagner , Gaetano Burriesci, PhD , Antonio D'Amore, Ph.D. *
Journal of Biomedical Materials Research: Part B - Applied Biomaterials, 113(6): e35592, 2025.
https://doi.org/10.1002/jbm.b.35592
Journal Paper
Mammary tissue-derived extracellular matrix hydrogels reveal the role of irradiation in driving a pro-tumor and immunosuppressive microenvironment
Tian Zhu , Steven M Alves , Arianna Adamo, PhD , Xiaona Wen , Kevin C Corn , Anastasia Shostak , Shereena Johnson , Nicholas D Shaub , Shannon E Martello , Benjamin C Hacker , Antonio D'Amore, Ph.D. , Rizia Bardhan , Marjan Rafat
Biomaterials308, 2024, 122531
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biomaterials.2024.122531
Journal Paper
Redefining vascular repair: revealing cellular responses on PEUU—gelatin electrospun vascular grafts for endothelialization and immune responses on in vitro models
M. A. Rodríguez Soto , A. Riverso-Cortes , I. Orjuela-Garzon , I Fernandez-Calderon , C. Rodriguez , N. Suarez Vargas , C. Ostos , C. Muñoz Camargo , J. C. Cruz, , S. Kim , Antonio D'Amore, Ph.D. , W. R. Wagner , J. C. Briceño ,
Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology
https://doi.org/10.3389/fbioe.2024.1410863
Dissemination
Comparative Assessment of Prosthetic Biomaterials for Cardiac Applications
Danila Vella, PhD †, Parnaz Boodagh †, Laura Modica De Mohac, PhD , Sang-Ho Ye , Federica Cosentino, PhD , Federica Scaglione , William Wagner , Antonio D'Amore, Ph.D. , Gaetano Burriesci, PhD
Proceedings of the 9th World Congress on Electrical Engineering and Computer Systems and Sciences (EECSS’23), ICBES 137, 2023. DOI: 10.11159/icbes23.137
https://avestia.com/EECSS2023_Proceedings/files/paper/ICBES/ICBES_137.pdf
Journal Paper
Polyester urethane urea (PEUU) functionalization for enhanced anti-thrombotic performance: advancing regenerative cardiovascular devices through innovative surface modifications
M.A. Rodriguez-Soto , A.M. Aragón , N.A. Suarez , M. Ayala-Velásquez , G. Peralta-Peluffo , J.C. Cruz , C. Muñoz Camargo , S. Kim , Antonio D'Amore, Ph.D. , W.R. Wagner , J.C. Briceño
Frontiers Bioengineering and Biotechnology
https://doi.org/10.3389/fbioe.2023.1257778
Journal Paper
Continuous Microfiber Wire Mandrel-Less Biofabrication for Soft Tissue Engineering Applications
Arianna Adamo, PhD , Joseph G. Bartolacci , Drake D. Pedersen , Marco G. Traina , Seungil Kim , Antonio Pantano , Giulio Ghersi , Simon C. Watkins , William R. Wagner , Stephen F. Badylak , Antonio D'Amore, Ph.D.
https://doi.org/10.1002/adhm.202270075
Journal Paper
Adipose-derived stem cell sheet under an elastic patch improves cardiac function in rats after myocardial infarction
Noriyuki Kashiyama , Robert L. Kormos , Yasumoto Matsumura , Antonio D'Amore, Ph.D. , Shigeru Miyagawa , Yoshiki Sawa , William R. Wagner
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtcvs.2020.04.150
Journal Paper
Can a Biohybrid Patch Salvage Ventricular Function at a Late Time Point in the Post-Infarction Remodeling Process?
Lindemberg M Silveira-Filho , Garrett N Coyan , Arianna Adamo , Samuel K Luketich , Giorgio Menallo , Antonio D'Amore, Ph.D. , William R Wagner
https://10.1016/j.jacbts.2021.01.004
Journal Paper
A Cell-free Biodegradable Synthetic Artificial Ligament for the Reconstruction of Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) in a Rat Model
Y. Kawakami , K. Nonaka , N. Fukase , Antonio D'Amore, Ph.D. , Y. Murata , P. Quinn , S. Luketich , K. Takayama , T. Matsumoto , J. H. Cummins , M. Kurosaka , R. Kuroda , W. R. Wagner , F. H. Fu , J. Huard
Acta Biomaterialia
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actbio.2020.10.037
Journal Paper
Photo-oxidation crosslinked, glutaraldehyde crosslinked, or enzyme and hydrostatic pressure processed decellularized biomaterials for cardiovascular repair do not affect host response in a rat right ventricular outflow flow tract reconstruction (RVOT) model
Parnaz Boodagh †, Laura Modica De Mohac, PhD , Yasurani Hayashi , Danila Vella, PhD , Sang-Ho Ye , Federica Cosentino, PhD , Taro Fujii , Emily Gorge , Garrett Coyan , Laubrie Soto Joan Dario, PhD , Gaetano Burriesci, PhD , William R. Wagner , Antonio D'Amore, Ph.D. *
Journal of Biomedical Materials Research: Part B - Applied Biomaterials, 113(2):e35529 (2025)
https://doi.org/10.1002/jbm.b.35529
Journal Paper
Development of a semi-automated, bulk seeding device for large animal model implantation of tissue engineered vascular grafts
E. M. Cunnane , K. L. Lorentz , L. Soletti , A. K. Ramaswamy , T. K. Chung , D. G. Haskett , S. K. Luketich , E. T. Tzeng , Antonio D'Amore, Ph.D. , W. R. Wagner , J. S. Weinbaum , D. A. Vorp
Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology
https://doi.org/10.3389/fbioe.2020.597847
Journal Paper
In vivo functional assessment of a novel degradable metal and elastomeric scaffold-based tissue engineered heart valve
Garrett N. Coyan , Antonio D'Amore, Ph.D. , Yasumoto Matsumura , Drake D. Pedersen , Samuel K. Luketich , Vesselin Shanov , William E. Katz , Tirone E. David , William R. Wagner , Vinay Badhwar

The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtcvs.2018.09.128
Journal Paper
Evaluation of Microscopic Structure−Function Relationships of PEGylated Small Intestinal Submucosa Vascular Grafts for Arteriovenous Connection
Karen T. Valencia-Rivero , Juan C. Cruz , Nicolle Wagner-Gutierrez , Antonio D'Amore, Ph.D. , Maria C. Miranda , Rocío López , Albert Guerrero , William Wagner , Néstor Sandoval , Juan C. Briceño
ACS Applied Bio Materials
https://doi.org/10.1021/acsabm.9b00158
Journal Paper
Intramyocardial injection of a fully synthetic hydrogel attenuates left ventricular remodeling post myocardial infarction
Yasumoto Matsumura , Yang Zhu , Hongbin Jiang , Antonio D'Amore, Ph.D. , Samuel K. Luketich , Verena Charwat , Tomo Yoshizumi , Hideyoshi Sato , Brenda Yang , Takafumi Uchibori , Kevin E. Healy , William R. Wagner

Biomaterials

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biomaterials.2019.119289
Journal Paper
Heart valve scaffold fabrication: Bioinspired control of macro-scale morphology, mechanics and micro-structure
Antonio D'Amore, Ph.D. , Samuel K Luketich , Giuseppe M Raffa , Salim Olia , Giorgio Menallo , Antonino Mazzola , Flavio D'Accardi , Tamir Grunberg , Xinzhu Gu , Michele Pilato , Marina V Kameneva , Vinay Badhwar , William R Wagner
Biomaterials
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biomaterials.2017.10.011
Journal Paper
An exploratory study on the preparation and evaluation of a “same-day” adipose stem cell–based tissue-engineered vascular graft
Darren G. Haskett , Kamiel S. Saleh , Katherine L. Lorentz , Alexander D. Josowitz , Samuel K. Luketich , Justin S. Weinbaum , Lauren E. Kokai , Antonio D'Amore, Ph.D. , Kacey G. Marra , J. Peter Rubin , William R. Wagner , David A. Vorp

The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtcvs.2018.05.120
Journal Paper
Aging of the skeletal muscle extracellular matrix drives a stem cell fibrogenic conversion
Kristen M. Stearns-Reider , Antonio D'Amore, Ph.D. , Kevin Beezhold , Benjamin Rothrauff , Loredana Cavalli , William R. Wagner , David A. Vorp , Alkiviadis Tsamis , Sunita Shinde , Changqing Zhang , Aaron Barchowsky , Thomas A. Rando , Rocky S. Tuan , Fabrisia Ambrosio
Aging Cells
https://doi.org/10.1111/acel.12578
Journal Paper
Extracellular matrix fiber microarchitecture is region-specific in bicuspid aortic valve-associated ascending aortopathy
Alkiviadis Tsamis , Julie A. Phillippi , Ryan G. Koch , Patrick G. Chan , Jeffrey T. Krawiec , Antonio D'Amore, Ph.D. , Simon C. Watkins , William R. Wagner , David A. Vorp , Thomas G. Gleason

The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtcvs.2016.02.019
Journal Paper
In Vivo Functional Evaluation of Tissue-Engineered Vascular Grafts Fabricated Using Human Adipose-Derived Stem Cells from High Cardiovascular Risk Populations
Jeffrey T. Krawiec , Justin S. Weinbaum , Han-Tsung Liao , Aneesh K. Ramaswamy , Dominic J. Pezzone , Alexander D. Josowitz , Antonio D'Amore, Ph.D. , J. Peter Rubin , William R. Wagner , David A. Vorp
Tissue Engineering Part A
https://doi.org/10.1089/ten.tea.2015.0379
Patent
Retrievable self-expanding non- thrombogenic low-profile percutaneous atrioventricular valve prosthesis
Vinay Badhwar , Young Jae Chun , Antonio D'Amore, Ph.D. , David S. Schwartzman , William R. Wagner
US patent issued in 03-03-2026, publication number: US 12,564,492. Licensed to Neoolife Inc. in 10-2020.
https://patents.google.com/patent/US10583004B2/en?inventor=%22Antonio%2bd%27Amore%22&oq=%22Antonio%2bd%27Amore%22
Journal Paper
Correlations between transmural mechanical and morphological properties in porcine thoracic descending aorta
Ali Hemmasizadeh , Alkiviadis Tsamis , Rabee Cheheltani , Soroush Assari , Antonio D'Amore, Ph.D. , Michael Autieri , Mohammad F. Kiani , Nancy Pleshko , William R. Wagner , Simon C. Watkins , David Vorp , Kurosh Darvish

Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmbbm.2015.03.004
Dissemination
Collagen fiber architecture in the longitudinal-radial plane of ascending aorta is distinctly different among bicuspid aortic valve and tricuspid aortic valve patients with ascending aortic aneurysm
A. Tsamis , J.A. Phillippi , S. Pasta , Antonio D'Amore, Ph.D. , S. Watkins , W. Wagner , D. Vorp , T. Gleason
Cardiovascular Pathology
Book/Book Chapter
Biomechanics and Finite Element Analysis
Michael Sacks , Antonio D'Amore, Ph.D. , Hobson Chistopher
Biomaterials Science: An Introduction to Materials in Medicine, 3rd ed., Chapter I.1.4 "Biomechanics and Finite Element Analysis." Eds. Ratner, Hoffman, Schoen & Lemons. Elsevier Publisher, 2012. ISBN 9780123746269
Dissemination
Controlling micro-structure to enhance de novo extracellular matrix deposition in elastomeric scaffolds for cardiac tissue regeneration
Antonio D'Amore, Ph.D. , J. Stella , R. Hoff , N. Amoroso , M. Sacks , W. R. Wagner
Journal of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine
Dissemination
Extracellular Matrix Hydrogels Prepared from Porcine Dermis and Urinary Bladder: Structure, Mechanics and In Vivo Remodeling
M. Wolf , K. Daly , E. Brennan-Pierce , S. Johnson , C. Carruthers , Antonio D'Amore, Ph.D. , S. Nagarkar , S. Velankar , S. Badylak
Glycobiology
Dissemination
Unseeded Engineered Valve Leaflets Retain Function and Remodel After Implant in Sheep Right Pulmonary Outflow Tract
A. S Bayoumi , Antonio D'Amore, Ph.D. , E. Aikawa , N. Amoroso , S. E New , A. Cubberley , P. Chen , K. Shapero , R.F Padera , F. J Schoen , W. R Wagner , M. S Sacks , J. E Mayer
CIRCULATION
https://dx.doi.org/http://circ.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/meeting_abstract/126/21_MeetingAbstracts/A19201
Book/Book Chapter
The mechanics of native and engineered cardiac soft tissues
Michael S. Sacks , S. Wognum , J. Stella , E. Joyce , Antonio D'Amore, Ph.D. ,
Comprehensive Biomaterials, Page 27 of 42 Chapter 94 “The Mechanics of Native and Engineered Cardiac Soft Tissue”. Volume 3, 113-132. Elsevier Publisher, 2011. ISBN: 9780080553023
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