Synthetic biology
Engineering stem cell-derived immunotherapies
Andrew Khalil's group uses pluripotent stem cells and genetic engineering to study immune mechanisms in cancer and chronic diseases. By examining pathways that regulate immune cell functions, the lab seeks to create next-generation and transformative cell-based therapeutic strategies and enhance patient outcomes.
Bioprinting cardiac tissues
The Brenda Ogle's lab is pushing the boundaries of 3D cardiac bioprinting. The lab created patches that can be adhered to failing hearts, which has successfully restored cardiac function in rodents. Plus, the team fabricated living hearts based on a human heart’s magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data.
Bioengineering cancer therapies
Paolo Provenzano’s lab is developing new ways to combat cancer. Approaches include re-engineering tumor microenvironments to remove tumor-promoting cues, enhancing drug delivery, promoting anti-tumor immune responses, and developing next-generation cell-based therapies.
Designer biomolecules and cells for precision medicine
The Sarkar laboratory uses approaches from biomolecular engineering, synthetic biology, and systems biology to design biomolecules and cells with novel functions, including precision targeting and sense-and-respond capabilities. These technologies are being applied to create new molecular and cellular therapeutics for cancer, immunological disorders, infectious diseases, and food security.
Research from our graduate faculty
Peptide-guided drug delivery
Hongbo Pang's lab utilizes phage display to rapidly identify novel disease-seeking peptides. These peptides can function as "GPS" to navigate drugs more selectively to disease sites in vivo, thus improving the therapeutic efficacy and safety.
Tracking RNA in the living brain
Hye Yoon Park’s lab visualizes how neurons store memories by tracking RNA molecules in real time. This helps reveal how learning shapes the brain and opens new paths for diagnosing and treating neurological diseases.