Antonio D’Amore, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Departments of Surgery and Bioengineering at the University of Pittsburgh. He also serves as a tenured Group Leader and Head of the Cardiovascular Tissue Engineering Laboratory at Fondazione Ri.MED.
Dr. D’Amore is also Full Professor of Bioengineering through the “Chiara Fama” program (Exceptional Distinction) in the Department of Precision Medicine in Medical, Surgical and Critical Care at the University of Palermo. His research program focuses on the development of tissue-engineered heart valve prostheses, vascular grafts, and myocardial constructs, as well as quantitative histology, computational modeling of tissue growth and biomaterial degradation, and the design of bioreactors for tissue engineering and cell-culture applications.
He received his master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Palermo in 2004 and subsequently completed a master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering at Imperial College London in 2007. In 2011, he earned his PhD in Biomechanics and Tissue Engineering through a joint program between the University of Palermo and the University of Pittsburgh. Since 2008, he has also served as a bioengineering consultant in both the United States and Italy.
Dr. D’Amore is the author of more than 244 scientific contributions, including 68 peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters, international conference abstracts and extended abstracts, 22 patent applications, 16 issued U.S. and European patents, and software for modeling biological systems. Six of his inventions have been licensed for further development and commercialization.
The translational value of his work has been recognized through honors from professional societies and scientific organizations, including election as a Senior Member of the National Academy of Inventors, the Strazzabosco Award for young engineers—presented under the patronage of the President of the Italian Republic—and the Wallace H. Coulter Foundation Translational Research Award.
As Principal Investigator or Co-Investigator, Dr. D’Amore has secured more than $19.9 million in research funding, including support through NIH R01 and STTR awards, a European Research Council Consolidator Grant, ERC Proof of Concept Grants, and industry-sponsored research.
He is Co-Founder, Board Member, and Chief Technology Officer of Neoolife, the first Ri.MED–UPMC startup dedicated to tissue-engineering technologies for heart valve replacement. Since 2025, he has also served as Italian Co-Chair of the Biotechnology Working Group within the Italy–United States Joint Commission on Science and Technology, promoted by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the U.S. Department of State.
Dr. D’Amore’s Cardiovascular Tissue Engineering Laboratory, currently 23 people strong, operates in two locations: Pittsburgh and Palermo, and combines mechanistic studies of the relationships among scaffold microstructure, mechanical behavior, biomaterial degradation, and endogenous tissue growth with the development of novel biomaterials and regenerative strategies for unmet clinical needs in cardiovascular medicine.
The laboratory’s ongoing NIH-, ERC-, and industry-funded projects integrate in silico, in vitro, and in vivo approaches through three complementary stages of biomimicry:
1. Observe — Quantify relevant structural, mechanical, and biological features of native tissues and organs.
2. Understand — Elucidate the mechanisms underlying the observed properties and biological responses.
3. Develop — Reproduce the identified properties and mechanisms, fabricate tissue surrogates, and evaluate their performance.
Education & Training
- MSc - Mechanical Eng - Univ. of Palermo - Italy
- MSc - Biomedical Eng - Imperial College London - UK
- PhD - Biomedical Eng - Univ. of Pittsburgh - Univ of Palermo - USA & Italy
Representative Publications
Dr. D’Amore’ publications can be reviewed through PubMed. A list of selected publications is also provided below:
[J. A. 11] D. D. Pedersen, G. Coyan, V. Balashov, A. Adamo, P. Caruso, F. Falci, V. Shanov, W. E. Katz, D. Kokoc, G. D’Ancona, W. R. Wagner, A. D’Amore. Impact of leaflet thickness on polymeric valve scaffold function and remodeling: assessment in a 1- & 3-month ovine stented pulmonary valve replacement model. Accepted on Journal of Biomedical Materials Research: Part A, IF 4.2.
[J. A. 10] S. Filiciani, L. Modica de Mohac, A. Adamo, M. Di Giuseppe, M. Malekhosseini, P. Caruso, M. Gallina, F. Cosentino, P. E. Gagliardi, F. Chiaraluce, A. D. Quiroga, J. R. Dangelo, A. D’Amore. Maximizing regeneration while minimizing host response: a comparative in vivo study of bioengineered polyurethane and commercial meshes for breast reconstruction. Accepted on Bio-Design and Manufacturing, IF 7.9.
[J. A. 9] D. Vella, P. Boodagh, L. Modica de Mohac, S-H, Ye, F. Cosentino, F. Scaglione; S. Dei Bardi; G. Polizzi, G. Coyan, W. R. Wagner, G. Burriesci, and A. D’Amore. In vitro evaluation of biomaterials for heart valve prosthesis: high hydrostatic and enzymatic treatments as alternative for bio-derived materials. Journal of Biomedical Materials Research: Part B - Applied Biomaterials. Volume 113, Issue 6, 2025, IF 3.2.
[J. A. 8] P. Boodagh*, L. Modica De Mohac*, Y. Hayashi1, D. Vella, S.-Ho Ye, F. Cosentino, T. Fujii, E. Gorge, G. Coyan, J. Laubrie Soto, G. Burriesci, W. R. Wagner and A. D’Amore. Photo-oxidation crosslinked, glutaraldehyde crosslinked, or enzyme and hydrostatic pressure processed decellularized biomaterials for cardiovascular repair do not affect host response in a rat right ventricular outflow flow tract reconstruction (RVOT) model. Journal of Biomedical Materials Research: Part B - Applied Biomaterials. Volume 113, Issue 2, 2025, IF 3.2.
[J. A. 7] A. Adamo, J. Bartolacci, M. Traina, A. Pantano, G. Ghersi, W. Wagner, S.F. Badylak, A. D’Amore. Bioprocessing, structure, mechanics and evaluation of micro-fiber based biodegradable suture material. Advanced Healthcare Materials, 2022, 11 (13), 2102613, IF 9.93. Selected as the Journal front cover for the June 2022 issue.
[J. A. 6] A. Adamo, A. Bruno, G. Menallo, M.G. Francipane, M. Fazzari, E. Ardizzone, W. Wagner,
A. D’Amore. An automatic blood vessel detection algorithm for tissue engineering applications and quantitative histology. Annals of Biomedical Engineering, 2022, 50 (4), 387-400, 5Y-IF.4.2.
[J. A. 5] G. Coyan, L. Silveira Filho, Y. Matsumura, S. Luketich, W. Katz, V. Badhwar, W. Wagner,A. D’Amore. Acute in vivo functional assessment of a stentless elastomeric biodegradable tricuspid valve. J. of Cardiovascular Translational Research 2020,13:796-805 , IF 2.75.
[J. A. 4] A. D’Amore, M. Fazzari, H. Jiang, S. K. Luketich, M. E. Luketich, R. F. Hoff, D. L. Jacobs, X. Gu, S. F. Badylak, B. A. Freeman, W.R. Wagner. Nitro-oleic acid (NO2-OA) release enhances regional angiogenesis in a rat abdominal wall defect model. Tissue Engineering Part A, 2018 Jun;24(11- 12):889-904, IF 3.50. McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine' paper and picture of the month (12-2017).
[J. A. 3] A. D’Amore, T. Yoshizumi., S. K. Luketich, M. T. Wolf, X. Gu, M. Cammarata, R. Hoff, S.F. Badylak, and W. R. Wagner. Bi-layered polyurethane-extracellular matrix cardiac patch improves ischemic ventricular wall remodeling in a rat model. Biomaterials 2016 (107), 1–14, IF 10.23.
[J.A. 2] A. D’Amore, N. Amoroso, R. Gottardi, C. Hobson, C. Carruthers, S. Watkins, W. Wagner, M. Sacks. From single fiber geometry to macro-mechanics: A structural finite-element model for elastomeric fibrous biomaterials. Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials 2014, 39, 146–161, 5Y-IF 3.56.
[J.A. 1] A. D’Amore, J. Stella, W. Wagner and M. Sacks. Characterization of the Complete Fiber Network Topology of Planar Fibrous Tissues and Scaffolds. Biomaterials 2010; 31:(20) 5345-5354, IF 10.23.
Research, Clinical, and/or Academic Interests
D’Amore’s cardiovascular tissue engineering laboratory research interests:
-Tissue-engineered heart valves
-Tissue-engineered vascular grafts
-Tissue-engineered cardiac patches
-Bioreactors for enhanced extracellular matrix elaboration
-Native/engineered tissue image-based structural and histopathological analysis
-Native/engineered tissue numerical models for mechanics and tissue growth
Education and training
The laboratory is committed to higher education and provides 1-2 PhD scholarship/year. We are currently 23 people strong operating in two locations: Pitt-Pittsburgh and RiMED-Palermo.
Research Grants
Selected, active grants:
1. (2026-2030) NIH R01 #1R01HL183174-01, “Structural Biomimicry to Improve Engineered Heart Valve Leaflet Function and Remodeling”, PI: A. D’Amore, Co-Is: Drs G. Coyan Vanderbilt University, G. Ferrari Columbia University, W. Wagner Pitt.
2. (2026-2027) PN RIC 2021-2027 BRIEFS ). topic: Artificial Intelligence and robotics for electrodeposition process applied to medical devices, PI: A. D’Amore, Host: UNIPA;
3. (2026 - 2027) ERC - PoC #101248605, “Haemostratum” sole PI: A. D’Amore. Host: RiMED. Partners: Pitt;
4. (2025-2029) NIH R01 # R01HL174945, “Minimally Invasive Targeted Injection of Thermoresponsive Hydrogels for Cardiomyopathy”, PI: W. Wagner, University of Pittsburgh. Co-Is: Drs A. D’Amore Pitt, F. Riviere Carnegie Mellon University.
5. (2024 – 2026) PNRR, Call: Proof of concept section 2024, “Benign and malignant esophageal stricture, an innovative approach to address an unmet clinical need: a biohybrid polymer - extracellular matrix, drug-eluting, esophageal prosthesis able to provide sustained mechanical support, actively prevent re-stenosis and induce constructive tissue remodeling”, P.I. Traina Mario, role Co-PI-Unit Coordinator A. D’Amore. Partners: ISMETT and Ri.MED Foundation.
6. (2023 - 2026) ERC - PoC # 101123370, “Biochord” sole PI: A. D’Amore. Host: RiMED. Partners: ISMETT, Pitt;
7. (2023 - 2026) Italian Minister of Health, call: Proof of Concept 2022“Exploiting the power of human induced pluripotent stem cell extracellular vesicles as a new anti-inflammatory drug for lung ischemia reperfusion injury” PI: L. Lazzari, role Co-Investigator: A. D’Amore. Funded for €969k Partners: Fondazione Ca'Granda - Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, ISMETT, RiMED.
8. (2021-2026) European Research Council Consolidator Award # 101002561, Engineering the mitral valve: bioinspired control of structure and function for enhanced in vivo performance, (BIOMITRAL). Sole Principal -Investigator: A. D’Amore, Host institution: Fondazione RiMED, Italy, partners: University of Pittsburgh and Istituto Mediterraneo per i Trapianti e le Terapie ad Alta Specializzazione (ISMETT-IRCCS).