Dr. Peter Corridon
Dr. peter corridon Assistant Professor Biomedical Engineering and Biotechnology

Contact Information
peter.corridon@ku.ac.ae +971 2 312 3777

Biography

Dr. Peter R. Corridon, is a member of Khalifa University's Department of Biomedical Engineering and Biotechnology,who is at the forefront of regenerative medicine technologies that repurpose slaughterhouse waste into biotechnological advancements. With projects that echo the UAE's commitment to eco-sustainability, he leads efforts to transform cameline and ovine tissues into medical grafts and extract valuable biomolecules to support tissue engineering and regenerative medicine strategies. His work, supported by Government of Abu Dhabi and international industrial partners, showcases the UAE's drive towards a sustainable, non-oil-based economy. Also, as the Associate Dean for Student Affairs (Ag), a founding faculty member of the College of Medicine and Health Sciences, and past Director of the Pre-Medicine Bridge Program, Dr. Corridon has blended his administrative acumen with his research endeavors to increase student matriculation and retention, to support the next generation of medical students and biomedical scientists.


Education
  • Ph.D., Medical Biophysics & Biomolecular Imaging, Indiana University, School of Medicine - Bloomington, IN, United States of America
  • M.B.A.: Executive MBA Program, University of Colorado, Business School, Denver, CO, United States of America
  • M.Eng., Biomedical Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute - Troy, NY, United States of America
  • M.S., Applied Mathematics, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute - Troy, NY, United States of America
  • M.S, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Tuskegee University - Tuskegee, AL, United States of America
  • B.A., Mathematics, Linguistics, Sociology, University of The West Indies - St. Augustine Campus, Trinidad & Tobago

Teaching
  • Human Physiology and Modeling (ISYE360)
  • Introduction to Physiology and Immunology (BUSS204)

Affiliated Research Institutes/Centers
  • Center for Biotechnology

Research
Research Interests
  • Regenerative medicine
  • Tissue Engineering
  • Biofabrication

Research Projects

The UAE government has established various priorities as key focus sectors, including developing a knowledge economy, a world-class healthcare system, and environmental sustainability. In alignment with this directive, we aim to offer a unique local opportunity by creating a foundation for industrial-scale efforts to drive sustainability and healthcare innovation through repurposing local slaughterhouse waste. In this project, we define our platform, which comprises three research instruments: tissue-engineered xenografts, surveys, and case study contextual analytics. Collectively, these efforts will support the innovative introduction of local tissue-engineering programs that can help address the shortage of transplantable organs. To achieve this, we plan to create a high-throughput system that generates copious quantities of xenografts from discarded ovine and camel organs/tissues, gauge public attitudes toward xenotransplantation, and gain an in-depth, multifaceted understanding of this circular bioeconomy opportunity in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Municipality, and HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed and HH Sheikh Hazaa Bin Zayed’s Advanced Scientific Group.

Valvular incompetence, leading to blood pooling and chronic insufficiency, poses a significant global healthcare challenge. Addressing the limitations of current treatments, my laboratory proposes a novel therapy using hydrogels made from the decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) of discarded human and animal valvular tissues. These hydrogels offer a tissue-specific environment, encouraging ECM reconstitution in valvular walls and aiding cellular differentiation to maintain vascular integrity. Utilizing advances in sclerosing solutions and image-guided infusion, we're exploring hydrogels enriched with patient-specific stem cells to restore valvular function in early- stage incompetence, potentially redefining varicose vein disease treatment. To mitigate the risk of pathogen transfer from cadaveric tissues, we plan to employ a novel plasma sterilization technology for hydrogel and wound sanitization in in vivo applications. This approach aims to improve patient
outcomes amidst a prevalent health issue.

Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA, 22:6n-3) is an essential omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, abundant in the brain and eyes. DHA is crucial for maintaining these vital organs' structural integrity and physiological functions. Within the brain, DHA is concentrated in the gray matter, synaptic membranes, and hippocampus. Likewise, in the eyes, substantial quantities can be found in the retina, with lower levels in the cornea and lens. Previous studies have outlined the potential for culturing marine heterotrophic protists in ways that provide cost-effective and sustainable DHA biosynthesis. Similarly, our previous work on repurposing slaughterhouse waste has highlighted this underutilized source of brain and ocular tissue, which can support the extraction of valuable nutrients like DHA. In this project, we will examine the current state of the art related to DHA production from these two sources, explore potential applications, and outline the possible benefits that may be generated from our approaches, with an emphasis on ocular diseases, as we devise novel methods to generate these essential biomolecules from biowaste.


Research Staff and Graduate Students:

Students
Xinyu Wang PhD Student, Biomedical Engineering and Biotechnology
Meklit Ghetnet Shibru BS Student, Biomedical Engineering and Biotechnology
Zehara Mohammed Ali BS Student, Biomedical Engineering and Biotechnology
Mohammed Ruhan Goltay BS Student, Biomedical Engineering and Biotechnology
Additional Info

Dr. Corridon's research interests include regenerative engineering, transplantation, in vivo imaging, biomaterials, and 3D bioprinting. His scientific contributions have been recognized by several national and international awards. He has been invited to deliver more than 50 lectures worldwide. He also serves on the Editorial Board of PLOS One, Frontiers in Neurosciences, Frontiers in Physiology (Renal Physiology), Frontiers in Physiology (Integrative Physiology), Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology (Biomaterials), Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology (Biosensors and Biomolecular Electronics), and Frontiers for Young Minds (Human Health). 

Linked profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/petercorridon/

Vacancies

Postdoctoral Fellow specializing in hydrogel development and decellularization technologies as we continue to uncover value in sustainable tissue engineering for regenerative medicine applications.

Key Requirements:

PhD Required: Applicants must hold a PhD from a reputable institution.
Specialization in Cell Culture: Extensive expertise and knowledge in cell culture, cell differentiation, and cell seeding on scaffolds is essential.
Specialization in Hydrogel Development: Profound expertise and knowledge in hydrogel development are necessary.
Experience in Decellularization/Recellularization Technologies: Candidates should have expertise or experience with decellularization technologies.
We seek an individual passionate about significantly contributing to our ongoing projects. If you meet these requirements and are eager to bring your expertise to our team, we would love to hear from you!