Tissue engineering
Engineering stem cell-derived immunotherapies
The Khalil 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 Ogle Lab is pushing the boundaries of 3D cardiac bioprinting. They’ve created patches that can be adhered to failing hearts, which has successfully restored cardiac function in rodents. Plus, they’ve fabricated living hearts based on a human heart’s magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data.
Engineering biomaterials to model diseases
Wei Shen’s laboratory engineers biomaterials, studies how they interact in microenvironments, and models diseases. They’ve created material for studying muscular dystrophy, a nanoparticle platform for antiviral therapy, and oxygen-releasing materials for cell-based therapy.
Living valves for growing bodies
Bob Tranquillo’s laboratory develops biologically engineered “off-the-shelf” vascular grafts, heart valves, and vein valves. They’ve shown the material, produced by skin cells, has the capacity to grow, which may transform the way pediatric congenital heart defects are treated.
Research from our graduate faculty
Preserving living therapies
Allison Hubel’s Lab uses bio-inspired methods to improve the preservation of cells. Combinations of osmolytes are used to control the behavior of water and cell structures at low temperature. The Hubel lab also uses Raman spectroscopy to understand low-temperature cell behavior.
Quantitative virus and cancer imaging
Louis Mansky’s research group is addressing questions involving macromolecular assemblies important in virus and cancer pathobiology with quantitative fluorescence, electron imaging techniques, and large data informatics.
Finding new therapies for spinal cord injury
The Parr Lab combines cutting edge 3D bioprinting technology with advancements in stem cell derived, regionally specific spinal neural progenitor cells to develop new treatments for spinal cord injury patients.