Current Research Projects
​​Our group works hard to make progress in both technology development and molecular cell biology, and our training objective is that each trainee develops an in-depth understanding of engineering principals and cell biology by the time they leave the lab. We pride ourselves on working on diverse research projects that span fluid mechanics to translational disease models. Broadly, our work is organized around the following distinct but overlapping research thrusts:
Organ-on-chip models to replace animals in preclinical drug development
Supported by ARPA-H and in collaboration with the Eshleman School of Pharmacy at UNC, we are developing high throughput and automated organ-on-chip technology to support the development of safe, effective antibody therapeutics.
Recent news:
Versatile and tough human-derived extracellular matrix hydrogels
Supported by NIH, we are developing extracellular matrix sheets and hydrogels from human cells to improve the fidelity of organ-on-chip, bioprinting, and organoid approaches. Integrating these materials with our microfluidics and nascent organoid models enables microphysiological systems to be synthesized solely from human materials to reduce, replace, and refine animal models.
Recent news:
Perfused vascular disease models
Supported by the UNC Institute for Convergent Science and the Lymphatic Malformation Institute, we are developing microfluidic models for diseases in which the vasculature plays a central role in pathogenesis. Focus areas include: vascular complications in chronic kidney disease, vascular malformations, and vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. These are highly collaborative projects with clinical and industry partners.
Recent news:
Mechanotransduction of fluid stresses
We have a long-standing interest in how cells sense and respond to forces that arise from dynamic fluid movement in tissues. We are interested in the relationship between viscous shear stress and barrier function in the endothelium and how cells embedded within porous media sense and respond to interstitial flow.
Recent news: