Addressing the Unmet Scientific Challenges in Osteosarcoma Treatment through Innovative Engineering Techniques

Dr. Fiona Freeman is an Assistant Professor in the School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering at University College Dublin (UCD). She graduated in Biomedical Engineering in 2011 and earned her PhD from the University of Galway in 2016, focusing on developing new strategies for bone tissue regeneration. Afterward, Dr. Freeman was awarded two prestigious postdoctoral fellowships: the Government of Ireland IRC Postdoctoral Research Fellowship and the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Global Fellowship. These fellowships provided her with opportunities to work as a postdoctoral researcher in renowned labs at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Brigham and Women's Hospital, Johns Hopkins University, and Trinity College Dublin. In September 2022, Dr. Freeman was appointed as the first Ad Astra fellow in the School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering. Her current research focuses on using innovative engineering techniques to gain a better understanding of and develop novel therapeutics for treating osteosarcoma, a paediatric bone cancer. As part of her research, Dr. Freeman identified a novel microRNA, miR-29b, as a potential therapeutic target for osteosarcoma. She formulated miR-29b nanoparticles and delivered the miRNA to the tumour site using a hyaluronic-based hydrogel delivery system. The results showed a significant decrease in tumour burden, increased survival rates, and enhanced regeneration of the damaged bone surrounding the tumour. These findings have the potential to revolutionize osteosarcoma treatment and improve patient outcomes by significantly reducing the primary tumour mass and providing crucial data that will inform the design of future therapies for young patients. Dr. Freeman conducted this work in collaboration with researchers at MIT and Brigham and Women's Hospital. In the coming years, Dr. Freeman is dedicated to building upon this research and advancing this technology toward clinical application. --- What We Do at MIB Agents: PROGRAMS: End-of-Life MISSIONS Gamer Agents Agent Writers Prayer Agents Healing Hearts - Bereaved Parent and Sibling Support Ambassador Agents - Peer Support Warrior Mail Young Adult Survivorship Support Group EDUCATION for physicians, researchers and families: OsteoBites, weekly webinar & podcast with thought leaders and innovators in Osteosarcoma MIB Book: Osteosarcoma: From our Families to Yours RESEARCH: Annual MIB FACTOR Research Conference Funding multiple $100,000 and $50,000 grants annually for OS research MIB Testing & Research Directory The Osteosarcoma Project partner with Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard ... Kids are still dying with 40+ year old treatments. Help us MakeItBetter. https://www.mibagents.org​ Help support MIB Agents, Donate here https://give-usa.keela.co/embed/YAipuSaWxHPJP7RCJ SUBSCRIBE for all the Osteosarcoma Intel