Karin Wuertz-Kozak
Professor
Karin Wuertz-Kozak
Professor
Education
BS, MS, University of Regensburg (Germany); Ph.D., University of Ulm (Germany); MBA, University of Cumbria (UK)
Bio
Dr. Wuertz-Kozak is a pharmacist by training, holds a Ph.D. in Human Biology from the University of Ulm in Germany and an MBA in Leadership and Sustainability from the University of Cumbria in the UK. After a Postdoc at the University of Vermont in the US, she was a group leader at the University of Zurich and the ETH Zurich in Switzerland. Before joining RIT in October 2019, she held the position of Assistant Professor at ETH Zurich for 3 years, where she was the recipient of the Swiss National Science Foundation Professorship Award. At RIT, Dr. Wuertz-Kozak holds the position of Kate Gleason Endowed Professor of Biomedical Engineering and leads the Tissue Regeneration and Mechanobiology Laboratory. Her laboratory aims to understand the cellular mechanisms underlying specific pathologies, with a focus on inflammation, and to utilize this knowledge for the development of novel treatment options that allow for tissue regeneration and pain reduction. Specifically, the group uses cells, biomaterials, biologics, genome engineering, and mechanical cues to promote tissue regeneration.
Select Scholarship
Bermudez-Lekerika P, Crump KB, Wuertz-Kozak K, Le Maitre CL, Gantenbein B: Sulfated hydrogels as primary intervertebral disc cell culture systems. Gels 2024, 10(5), 330
Bjorgvinsdottir O, Ferguson S, Gudjonsson T, Snorradottir B, Wuertz-Kozak K: The Influence of Physical and Spatial Substrate Characteristics on Endothelial Cells. Materials Today Bio 2024, 26: 101060
Cazzanelli P, Lamoca M, Hausmann ON, Mesfin A, Puvanesarajah V, Hitzl W, Haglund L, Wuertz-Kozak K: Exploring the Impact of TLR-2 Signaling on miRNA Dysregulation in Intervertebral Disc Degeneration. Advanced Biology 2024, 28:e2300581
Ceballos-Santa MC, Sierra A; Zalbidea IK, Lazarus E, Marin-Montealegre V, Ramesh S, Iglesias P, Wuertz-Kozak K, Rivero IV: Aloe vera-based Biomaterial Ink for 3D Bioprinting of Wound Dressing Constructs. Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part B: Applied Biomaterials 2024, 112(2), e3579
Bitterli T, Schmid D, Ettinger L, Krupkova O, Bach FC, Tryfonidou MA, Meij BP, Pozzi P, Steffen F, Wuertz???Kozak K, Smolders LA: Targeted screening of inflammatory mediators in spontaneous degenerative disc disease in dogs reveals an upregulation of the tumor necrosis superfamily. JOR Spine 2024, 7 (1) e1292
Schoeller J, Wuertz-Kozak K, Ferguson SJ, Rottmar M, Elbs-Glatz Y, Avaro J, Chung M, Rossi RM: Ibuprofen-loaded electrospun poly (ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol) nanofibers for wound dressing applications. Nanoscale Advances 2023, 5 (8) 2261-2270
Currently Teaching
In the News
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May 13, 2024
Mikkael Lamoca receives Fulbright scholarship to complete cutting-edge STEM cell research
Conducting hands-on research was a hallmark of the time Mikkael Lamoca ‘24 (biomedical engineering), ‘24 MS (science, technology, and public policy) spent at RIT. A Fulbright award presents him a new opportunity to conduct cutting-edge research at one of the top universities in Asia.
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April 1, 2024
RIT faculty member becomes fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering
Becoming an AIMBE Fellow is one of the organization's most prestigious honors, representing the most accomplished individuals across academia, industry, education, clinical practice, and government.
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September 1, 2023
RIT researchers pioneer solutions for degenerative disc disease and back pain
Researchers are improving non-invasive treatment options for degenerative disc disease, an ailment that impacts 3 million adults yearly in the U.S. Using state-of-the-art gene editing technology in mesenchymal stem cells, the researchers will add to the growing field of regenerative medicine, the process of producing cellular therapies to alleviate pain and lack of mobility.
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February 23, 2024
Wuertz-Kozak co-authors journal article
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April 19, 2022
Wuertz-Kozak joins leadership team of lumbar spine society