Assistant Professor
Education
- V.M.D. (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine), University of Pennsylvania (2017)
- Ph.D., Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania (2016)
- B.S.E., Biomedical Engineering, Duke University (2009)
Biography
Dr. Feini (Sylvia) Qu is an Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery & Sports Medicine and Mechanical Engineering, an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Bioengineering, and a core faculty member at UW's Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine. Dr. Qu is the Allan Treuer-Ted Wagner, MD Endowed Chair in Regenerative Spine Surgery. Dr. Qu trained as a veterinarian-scientist at the University of Pennsylvania and was a postdoctoral fellow at Washington University in St. Louis prior to joining the University of Washington.
Research
The long-term goal of our research is to understand the cellular and molecular mechanisms of musculoskeletal tissue regeneration, especially with respect to the bones and connective tissues of limbs and joints, and then leverage this knowledge to regenerate lost or diseased structures using stem cells, gene editing, and biomaterials. Our lab uses the mouse digit tip, one of the few mammalian systems that exhibits true regeneration, to identify pathways that regulate tissue patterning and outgrowth after amputation. Armed with a better understanding of the cues that direct complex tissue formation in adulthood, we will develop therapeutic strategies that enhance the regeneration of limbs and joints after injury and degenerative disease in patients.
Research Interests
Regenerative Medicine, Mechanobiology, Tissue Engineering, Drug Delivery, Stem Cells
Honors and Awards
- Young Investigator Award, Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine - 2024
- Early Career Achievement in STEM, Seattle Chapter American Women in Science - 2024
- Alice L. Jee Young Investigator Award, Orthopaedic Research Society - 2023
- NIH K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award - 2022
- NIH F32 Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) - 2019
- New Investigator Recognition Award, Orthopaedic Research Society - 2019
- 1st Place, Ph.D. Competition, Summer Biomechanics, Bioengineering, & Biotransport Conference - 2015