Professor Hollister's research group, the Scaffold Tissue Engineering Group (STEG), develops biomaterial platform systems (termed scaffolds) for tissue reconstruction. The STEG specifically focuses on the computational design, manufacturing and pre-clinical testing of degradable scaffold material systems. These system can be used to deliver stem cells, genes and proteins to regenerate tissue defects resulting from disease (for instance due to tumor resection), trauma, or abnormal development. Specific clinical applications include spine fusion and disc repair, craniomaxillofacial (CMF) reconstruction, orthopaedic trauma and joint reconstruction, and cardiovascular reconstruction.