Read about Andrés García, Ph.D., in the March 2005 issue. When
he was 11 years old, Andrés García had pins inserted into his
thigh bones to keep them from degenerating. Inspired by the
healing power of biomaterials, he now is studying how cells
interact with these synthetic products. He has built a tool that
lets him and others study how and why cells stick to a surface,
like the pins in his leg. It could lead to a new framework for
studying the role of cell stickiness in human health and
biology, as well as new implantable medical devices.