Bachelor of Science, Materials Science & Engineering, 
Rekha Nair
Research
Molecular factors synthesized by stem cells may be capable of stimulating tissue regenerative events observed following stem cell transplantation therapies. The focus of my research is to acellularize embryoid bodies using solvent extraction methods in order to obtain extracellular matrices representing the dynamic microenvironment of stem cells actively undergoing differentiation. Acellular embryoid body-derived matrices may provide a novel and inherently flexible route to deliver potent embryonic morphogenic cues to adult injured and diseased tissues to promote functional regeneration.
Selective Awards
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship (2006-2009)
Hilton Head Student Travel Award (2007, 2008, 2009)
TERMIS NA Student Travel Award (2007)
For full list, please see CV
Patents
McDevitt TM, Nair R. Acellularized Tissues Derived from Differentiating Embryonic Stem Cells. Provisional patent, filed November 8, 2005.
Publications
Shukla S*, Nair R*, Rolle MW, Braun KR, Johnson PY, Wight TN, McDevitt TC. Hyaluronan and versican synthesis by embryonic stem cells undergoing embryoid body differentiation, in revision. (*equally contributing authors)
Nair R, Shukla S, McDevitt TC. Acellular matrices derived from differentiating embryonic stem cells. Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A, 87(4): 1075-1085 (2008).
Nair R, Ngangan AV, McDevitt TC. Efficacy of solvent extraction methods for acellularization of embryoid bodies. Journal of Biomaterials Science Polymer Edition 19(6): 801-819 (2008).
Selective Presentations
Rekha Nair*, Shreya Shukla, Luke A. Hiatt, Todd C. McDevitt. Acellular Matrices Derived from Differentiating Embryonic Stem Cells. Podium Presentation, 8th World Biomaterials Congress, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, May 28 – June 1, 2008.
Rekha Nair*, Alyssa V. Ngangan, Luke A. Hiatt, Shreya Shukla, Todd C. McDevitt.
Extracellular Matrix Synthesis by Differentiating Embryonic Stem Cells. Poster Presentation, Southeast Society for Developmental Biology, Atlanta, Georgia, April 11-12, 2008.
Rekha Nair, Todd C. McDevitt*. Novel Acellularized Biomaterials Derived from Differentiating Embryonic Stem Cells. Regenerate World Congress on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, oral presentation, April 24-27, 2006.
Society for Biomaterials Annual Meeting - "Development of an Acellular Stem Cell-Derived Biomaterial" - Poster Presentation by Rehka Nair in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania April 26-29, 2006.
For full list, please see CV
Biography
Rekha Nair graduated with her Bachelor of Science degree in 2004 from the University of Florida (U.F.), where she majored in Materials Science and Engineering and minored in French. During her tenure at U.F., Rekha served as vice president of the Society of Plastics Engineers and as president of the March of Dimes Collegiate Council. She performed research in Dr. Christopher Batich’s lab in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, where she worked on the early detection of oral cancer cells using folate immobilized microspheres. In August 2004, she joined the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology/Emory University. Rekha entered Todd McDevitt’s laboratory, where she is currently a Ph.D. candidate working on the isolation of extracellular matrix from differentiating embryonic stem cells.