Translational Medicine

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We focus on the development of 3D scaffolds fabricated using the CLIP process to create perfusable networks that improve nutrient and oxygen availability, supporting long-term cell viability and tissue function. In parallel, we are working to develop computational digital twins that predict cell viability, capable of guiding scaffold design, enabling more efficient optimization of engineered constructs. Current projects include the endothelialization of microfluidic channels to recreate functional human vasculature and support the survival and function of transplanted pancreatic islets and cardiomyocytes. To enable these efforts, our lab developed photopatterned Channel Architectures with Sacrificial Templates (pCAST), an additive manufacturing strategy that leverages our CLIP platform to fabricate complex, interconnected vascular networks with precisely controlled architectures. This technology enables us to provide engineered tissue with channels capable of delivering oxygen in nutrients through tissue constructs, addressing one of the fundamental challenges in tissue engineering. Students: Annie Nguyen, Austin Kwan, Yee Lin Tan, Carl Kohnke and Ian Coates (Ph.D.( Collaborators: Professor Eric Shaqfeh, Dr. John MacArthur (School of Medicine), Professor Sarah Heilshorn, Professor Mark Skylar-Scott, Dr. Avnesh Thakor (School of Medicine), Professor Alison Marsden, Professor Matt Becker (Duke)

Drug Delivery

In collaboration with our research partners at the University of North Carolina (UNC), we are developing self-administerable MAP platforms that can be adapted to deliver a broad range of therapeutics, including vaccines, small molecules and biologics. By delivering therapeutics directly to the immune-cell-rich dermis, MAPs are uniquely positioned to enhance vaccine and immunotherapy strategies by promoting efficient antigen presentation and robust immune responses. Additionally, by tailoring needle geometry, material properties and drug formulations, these systems can provide controlled delivery over timescales from seconds to days. This platform versatility has the potential to improve patient adherence, reduce the burden on healthcare workers and expand access to minimally invasive therapies. Students: Jize Dai, Ved Karawale and Gary Chen (Ph.D.) Collaborators: Professor Jillian Perry (UNC), Professor Shaomin Tian (UNC)

Early Diagnostics

Beyond drug delivery, our research explores the diagnostic potential of ISF as an alternative to traditional blood draws. Using our 3D-printed ISF collection platforms, including the Puncture-Out-and-Press (POP) and next-generation self-administrable systems, we can combine minimally invasive sampling with multi-omic analyses to investigate how ISF reflects physiological conditions (Sci. Adv. 2025). Our goal is to establish ISF as a clinically relevant diagnostic fluid capable of enabling early disease detection and long-term health monitoring for conditions including cancer and neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s. Students: Thomas Redvanly, Luna Hwang, Dan Ilyn, Elliot Brna and Jean Kwak (Ph. D.) Collaborators: Professor Zhenan Bao, Dr. Elizabeth Mormino (Stanford School of Medicine), Professor Sharon Pitteri, Professor Stephen Quake