Research
Engineering the Stem Cell Niche
We are interested in the microenvironmental cues that modulate stem cell function and incorporating them into engineered systems. We are specifically interested in how the cues can affect neural stem cell proliferation, adhesion, migration and differentiation.
 Cell Mechanotransduction
The study of cell mechanobiology has broad application to the study of tissue formation, function, homeostasis and disease. How cells receive and interpret mechanical signals, or mechanotransduction, is vitally important to proliferation, death, differentiation and expression of genes and proteins. We hope to identify the stimuli that cells and stem cells require to initiate desired cellular processes for enhancing tissue regeneration.
Protein Engineering
Recombinant modification of proteins with functional groups enables conjugation with numerous small molecules, other proteins or polymers. Further, this approach allows for the formulation of new strategies for exposing both cells and tissues to proteins, modifying protein mechanisms and presenting these proteins in a highly specific manner.
|