Description of Research: Research activities can be divided into six areas of research. Generally, the work can be described as large animal reproductive physiology with an emphasis on 1) production of transgenic livestock, particularly swine and cattle, with improved production characteristics; 2) molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in embryonic stem cell development/ differentiation and early embryonic gene expression; 3) genetic evaluation, molecular gene mapping in livestock, early embryonic genotype evaluation; 4) development of remote sensing and microfludic handling methods for mammalian embryos; 5) the use of stem cells (adult and embryonic) for tissue engineering and cell-base therapies and 6) the use assisted reproductive technologies (in vitro maturation, in vitro fertilization, embryo culture, non-invasive embryo evaluation and embryo transfer) to improve livestock and food production. Long term goals are to 1) identify genes that regulate reproduction, lactation and growth; 2) develop methodologies in embryos to edit, transfer and utilize these genes for the genetic improvement of livestock; and 3) devise strategies for using stem cells for cell and tissue replacement.

Biographical Information: Matthew B. Wheeler is a professor of biotechnology and developmental biology, director of the Transgenic Livestock Facility, a faculty member in the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology’s Tissue Engineering Group, and an affiliate faculty member in the Beckman Institute Biological Sensors Group. He researches reproductive biology, tissue engineering and stem cells, and holds numerous patents in stem cells, gene transfer and transgenic livestock. His research led to the development of 3-D airway splints for infants with tracheobronchomalacia and to bone replacement implants. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in animal sciences from the University of California-Davis and a doctorate in physiology and biophysics from Colorado State University. Since joining the Department of Animal Sciences in 1989, he has consistently been rated one of its top teachers, and received several awards, including the 1999 D.E. Becker Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching and Counseling, the 2001 H.H. Mitchell Award for Excellence in Research and Graduate Teaching. He was named a University Scholar in 2002. Dr. Wheeler received the College of ACES Funk Award for Excellence (2012), the International Embryo Technology Society’s Distinguished Service Award (2015), the Carle Foundation Hospital Friends of Research Award (2013), and the UIUC Distinguished Faculty Leadership Award (2016), the “Mentor of the Year Award Award”, International Embryo Technology Society (2017). He has also been named an Honorary Lifetime Member of both the Brazilian Embryo Transfer Society and the International Embryo Technology Society.