Biomaterials, Mechanics, and Tissue Engineering

Christopher Chen, Ph.D.
Track Director 

This track focuses on understanding, characterizing, and modulating the behavior or 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.

The Biomaterials, Mechanics and Tissue Engineering Track includes coursework in areas such as physiology, cell biology, material science, mechanics, and biophysics, which complements the research training of graduate students. 

Faculty

Thiru Annaswamy, M.D.
Research Interests: Physical medicine and rehabilitation, motor control, neuroscience

Roger Chan, Ph.D.
Research Interests: Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine; biomaterials; biomechanics (tissue mechanics); biorheology; bioacoustics; laryngeal physiology

Jonathan Cheng, M.D.
Research Interests: Nerve regeneration; long nerve gap repair; nerve-machine interface

Michael DiMaio, M.D., FACS
Research Interests: Cardiac regeneration, spectral imaging

Robert Eberhart, Ph.D.
Research Interests: Biomaterials; circulatory assist devices

Joseph Forbess, M.D.
Research Interests: Minimally invasive surgery, cardiopulmonary perfusion

Michael Jessen, M.D.
Research Interests: Circulatory assist devices; cardiac metabolism

Nitin Karandikar, M.B.B.S., M.D., Ph.D. 
Research Interests: Immunology of multiple sclerosis (MS), autoimmune demyelination, Immune responses to HCV infections; allodepletion to prevent graft-versus-host-disease; immune regulation by T cells

John Minna, M.D.
Research Interests: Molecular biomarkers of response to cancer therapy

Alan Nugent, M.D., M.B.B.S., FRACP
Research Interests:  Biodegradable stents for congenital heart disease

Karen Pawlowski, Ph.D.
Research Interests: Cellular mechanisms involved in sensory neural hearing loss; investigations of biomedical engineering technologies applied to the temporal bone and auditory system; role of biofilms in chronic recurrent infections of the temporal bone

Matthew Petroll, Ph.D. 
Research Interests: Cell motility and mechanics, corneal repair and regeneration, in vivo confocal imaging

Cuneyt Yilmaz, Ph.D.
Research Interests: Mechanical system design for medical experiments, lung mechanics, advanced lung imaging