Dr. Laura Crisa, MD, PhD is the recipient of The 2018 ITHS Collaboration Innovation Award for her project entitled “Pre-clinical modeling of a novel tissue engineering technology for improved cell engraftment”. In collaboration with UWMDI investigator Dr. Vincenzo Cirulli, MD, PhD, and UWMDI Affiliate Investigator Dr. Cole DeForest, PhD (Dept of Bioengineering), the goal of this project is to test PEG hydrogels engineered with pro-angiogenic and immune-protective moieties as support of pancreatic islet transplants.