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- Katrina M. Knight, PhD
Katrina M. Knight, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Director; CampBioE 2.0, Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh
My lab aims to improve the lives of women with pelvic floor disorders through the development of novel and innovative treatments. Outside of research, it is my goal to increase the number of minority scholars pursuing an education and/or career in STEM and medicine (STEM+). I aspire to be a role model for these scholars. It is hard to see yourself in a field where no one looks like you. I truly believe that if you can see it, you can be it, and I hope to be that motivational spark for the next generational of STEM+ leaders.
Katrina M. Knight, PhD
Research in Brief
Dr. Katrina Knight's research focuses on improving women's health by developing innovative treatments for pelvic floor disorders, such as pelvic organ prolapse (prolapse). By understanding the complications associated with current surgical meshes used in prolapse repairs, her work aims to create safer and more effective solutions for women worldwide.
Current Projects
- Development of novel biomaterials for pelvic organ prolapse repair
- Biomechanical analysis of synthetic mesh complications
- Translational research in pelvic floor tissue engineering
- Director of CampBioE 2.0, promoting STEM and medicine among youths in 2nd – 12th grade
Selected Publications
- Knight K, Meyn L and Moalli P (2025) Characterizing the structural properties and porosity of mid-urethral slings with varied manufacturing techniques. Front. Bioeng. Biotechnol. 13:1543808. doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2025.1543808.
- Therriault MA, Kottapalli S, Artsen A, Knight K, King G, Meyn L, Brown BN, Moalli PA. Profiling of the macrophage response to polypropylene mesh burden in vivo. Biomaterials. 2025 Jul;318:123177. doi: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2025.123177. Epub 2025 Feb 11. PubMed PMID: 39961254; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC12225754.
- Knight K, Breedlove S, Obisesan T, Egnot M, Daneshdoost N, King G, Meyn L, Gall K, Moalli P. Vaginal host response to polycarbonate urethane, an alternative material for the repair of pelvic organ prolapse. Acta Biomater. 2024 Nov;189:298-310. doi: 10.1016/j.actbio.2024.09.040. Epub 2024 Oct 1. PubMed PMID: 39362452; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC11719981.
- Bachtiar EO, Knight K, Moalli P, Gall K. Deformation and Durability of Soft Three-Dimensional-Printed Polycarbonate Urethane Porous Membranes for Potential Use in Pelvic Organ Prolapse. J Biomech Eng. 2023 Sep 1;145(9). doi: 10.1115/1.4062490. PubMed PMID: 37216313; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC10259470.
- Knight KM, King GE, Palcsey SL, Suda A, Liang R, Moalli PA. Mesh deformation: A mechanism underlying polypropylene prolapse mesh complications in vivo. Acta Biomater. 2022 Aug;148:323-335. doi: 10.1016/j.actbio.2022.05.051. Epub 2022 Jun 6. PubMed PMID: 35671876; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC9453339.
- Knight KM, King GE, Palcsey SL, Artsen AM, Abramowitch SD, Moalli PA. A soft elastomer alternative to polypropylene for pelvic organ prolapse repair: a preliminary study. Int Urogynecol J. 2022 Feb;33(2):327-335. doi: 10.1007/s00192-021-04792-0. Epub 2021 Apr 16. PubMed PMID: 33860812; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC8521573.
- Knight KM, Artsen AM, Routzong MR, King GE, Abramowitch SD, Moalli PA. New Zealand white rabbit: a novel model for prolapse mesh implantation via a lumbar colpopexy. Int Urogynecol J. 2020 Jan;31(1):91-99. doi: 10.1007/s00192-019-04071-z. Epub 2019 Aug 15. PubMed PMID: 31418044; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC7061177.
- Knight KM, Moalli PA, Abramowitch SD. Preventing Mesh Pore Collapse by Designing Mesh Pores With Auxetic Geometries: A Comprehensive Evaluation Via Computational Modeling. J Biomech Eng. 2018 May 1;140(5):0510051-8. doi: 10.1115/1.4039058. PubMed PMID: 29350744; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC7104754.
- Liang R, Knight K, Easley D, Palcsey S, Abramowitch S, Moalli PA. Towards rebuilding vaginal support utilizing an extracellular matrix bioscaffold. Acta Biomater. 2017 Jul 15;57:324-333. doi: 10.1016/j.actbio.2017.05.015. Epub 2017 May 6. PubMed PMID: 28487243; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5639927.
- Liang R, Knight K, Barone W, Powers RW, Nolfi A, Palcsey S, Abramowitch S, Moalli PA. Extracellular matrix regenerative graft attenuates the negative impact of polypropylene prolapse mesh on vagina in rhesus macaque. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2017 Feb;216(2):153.e1-153.e9. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2016.09.073. Epub 2016 Sep 8. PubMed PMID: 27615441; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5290183.
- Knight KM., Egnot BR., Barone WR., Moalli PA. “Biological and Synthetic Grafts in Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery”. Cardozo, L., & Staskin, D. (Eds.). (2023). Textbook of Female Urology and Urogynecology: Surgical Perspectives (5th ed.). CRC Press. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003144243, Chapter 89, pp. 965-989.
- Knight KM., Egnot BR., Moalli PA. “Synthetic Mesh and Biologic Grafts: Properties and Biomechanics”. Walters and Karram Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery 5th Edition. Ed. Matthew D. Barber, Catherine S. Bradley, Mickey M. Karram, Mark D. Walters. Netherlands, Elsevier, 2021, Chapter 7, pp. 93-114.
- Knight K., Moalli P., Liang R. “Basic Science of Vaginal Mesh”. The Innovation and Evolution of Medical Devices – Vaginal Mesh Kits. Ed. S. Abbas Shobeiri. Switzerland, Springer, 2019, Chapter 8, pp. 173-194.
- Knight K. and Moalli PA. “Mechanics of Pelvic Floor Prosthetic Devices”. Biomechanics of the Female Pelvic Floor, edited by Lennox Hoyte and Margot Damaser, Netherlands, Elsevier Inc., 2016, Chapter 7, pp. 149-178.
Research Group
Sophya Breedlove, BS
Rikki Rooklin, MS