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Biomaterials, Mechanics, and Tissue Engineering

Biomaterials image

Biomaterials, Mechanics, and Tissue Engineering (BMT) focuses on understanding, characterizing, and modulating the behavior of cells, tissues, and/or biomaterials for both research and clinical applications. This includes the design of novel drug delivery systems, creation of biomimetic research models, and the development of artificial tissues or organs that perform, augment, or replace a natural function.

Coursework complements the research training of graduate students and covers physiology, cell biology, material science, mechanics, and biophysics.

Research Topics

BMT faculty conduct interdisciplinary research employing technologies that combine the principles of life science, biomaterial and biomechanical engineering, and clinical care. Examples include:

  • Mechanistic investigations into peripheral nerve regeneration, and bioelectronic therapies for modulation of systemic disease
  • Exploring the neuro-mechanical underpinnings of lower limb impairments after stroke, with the goal of developing new clinical interventions
  • Investigating how both the biochemical and biophysical environment of tissues modulates critical events involved in embryonic development and wound healing
  • Employing state of the art imaging techniques to investigate the role of vascularity, mechanotransduction and other signals in the repair of fractures and spinal cord injuries.
  • Leveraging single-cell genomics, tissue biomechanics, and imaging to study cervical remodeling and gain insights into how to ensure maternal-fetal health

Director

Yasin Dhaher, Ph.D.
Yasin Dhaher, Ph.D.

Professor

Research Interests: Understand the basic biomechanical and neurophysiological properties of the lower limb after neurological lesions. Explore the neuro-mechanical underpinnings of lower limb impairments after stroke, with the goal of informing future clinical interventions

Faculty

Thomas Carroll, Ph.D.

Professor

Research Interests: Cancer, cell polarity, developmental biology, morphogenesis, stem/progenitor cells, tissue engineering and regeneration

Thomas Carroll, Ph.D.
Isaac Chan, M.D., Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

Research Interests: Metastasis, Breast Cancer, Tumor Immunology, Immunotherapy

Isaac Chang, M.D., Ph.D.
Jonathan Cheng, M.D.

Professor

Research Interests: Nerve regeneration; long nerve gap repair; nerve-machine interface

Jonathan Cheng, M.D.
Connie Hsia, M.D.

Professor

Research Interests: Heart-lung interaction; lung morphometry; structure-function correlation of lung growth

Connie Hsia, M.D.
Benjamin Levi, M.D.

Associate Professor

Research Interests: Cell fate, wound healing, muscle fibrosis, heterotopic ossification, injury response

Benjamin Levi, M.D.
Mala Mahendroo, Ph.D.

Professor

Research Interests: Parturition (the process of labor); cervical ripening; male and female reproductive biology

Mala Mahendroo, Ph.D.
Matthias Peltz, M.D.

Professor

Research Interests: Heart, lung, and perfusion preservation, magnetic resonance spectroscopy

Matthias Peltz, M.D.
Matthew Petroll, Ph.D.

Professor

Research Interests: Cell motility and mechanics, corneal repair and regeneration, in-vivo confocal imaging

Matthew Petroll, Ph.D.
Gaurav Sharma, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

Research Interests: Intermediary Metabolism in Cardiovascular & Metabolic Diseases, Hyperpolarized Carbon-13 Metabolic Imaging, Metabolomics in the Heart, Lung, and Perfusion Preservation, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) based Metabolomics

Gaurav Sharma, Ph.D.

Associate Members

These faculty members do not accept graduate students. They participate in teaching, co-mentoring, exam and dissertation committees, and all other program activities.

Robert Eberhart, Ph.D.

Professor Emeritus

Research Interests: Biomaterials; circulatory assist devices

Robert Eberhart, Ph.D.
Michael Jessen, M.D.

Professor

Research Interests: Circulatory assist devices; cardiac metabolism

Michael jessen, M.D.
Romaine Johnson, M.D.

Professor

Research Interests: Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, biomaterials, biomechanics, pediatric airway disorders

Romaine Johnson, M.D.
Scott Smith, Ph.D.

Professor

Research Interests: Neural cardiovascular control during exercise; reflex dysfunction in heart failure; reflex dysfunction in hypertension

Scott Smith, Ph.D.
Tre Welch, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

Research Interests: Biomaterial grafts, coatings and scaffolds; finite element analysis; polymer synthesis; bioresorbable polymer characterization

Tre Welch, Ph.D.
Jaewon Yang, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

Research Interests: PET, SPECT, Deep Learning

Jaewon Yang, Ph.D.