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Acute injury-on-a-chip
Acute injury-on-a-chip
Motivation: ~50% of people who sustain a knee injury develop osteoarthritis. The only restorative option for this patient population is a knee replacement. We are interested in developing platform technologies (i.e., humanized tissue-on-a-chip systems) to investigate the initial time period after an acute injury, and leveraging these technologies to develop new therapeutic targets to halt the injury-to-disease progression.
Motivation: ~50% of people who sustain a knee injury develop osteoarthritis. The only restorative option for this patient population is a knee replacement. We are interested in developing platform technologies (i.e., humanized tissue-on-a-chip systems) to investigate the initial time period after an acute injury, and leveraging these technologies to develop new therapeutic targets to halt the injury-to-disease progression.
Role: Lead scientist
Role: Lead scientist
Injectable sensors of joint health
Injectable sensors of joint health
Motivation: A subset (1-2%) of total knee arthroplasty patients develop an infection that can be extremely challenging to diagnose and treat. In fact, these infections have worse mortality rates than common cancers (i.e., breast cancer, prostate cancer, etc.). We are developing injectable materials that can sense joint infection, and inform the patient about the status of their joint from their own home, providing enhanced information for this critical population.
Motivation: A subset (1-2%) of total knee arthroplasty patients develop an infection that can be extremely challenging to diagnose and treat. In fact, these infections have worse mortality rates than common cancers (i.e., breast cancer, prostate cancer, etc.). We are developing injectable materials that can sense joint infection, and inform the patient about the status of their joint from their own home, providing enhanced information for this critical population.
Role: Lead scientist
Role: Lead scientist
Dynamic materials to study fibrosis
Dynamic materials to study fibrosis
Motivation: Light can be used as a stimulus to crosslink (photo-crosslinking), soften (photo-softening), stiffen (photo-stiffening), and functionalize (photo-functionalization) soft materials (i.e., hydrogels). In collaboration with multiple Burdick lab members, we are developing new materials to non-invasively modulate material stiffness to study diseases such as fibrosis, which leads to joint stiffening and pain in patients.
Motivation: Light can be used as a stimulus to crosslink (photo-crosslinking), soften (photo-softening), stiffen (photo-stiffening), and functionalize (photo-functionalization) soft materials (i.e., hydrogels). In collaboration with multiple Burdick lab members, we are developing new materials to non-invasively modulate material stiffness to study diseases such as fibrosis, which leads to joint stiffening and pain in patients.
Publication: Photoresponsive materials
Role: Co-author / Collaborator
Collaborations: Burdick lab members
Physical property-based patterning
Physical property-based patterning
Motivation: The tissues within our bodies are more than random clusters of cells. Tissues such as articular cartilage, the knee meniscus, the intervertebral disc, et al. contain patterns of cells and extracellular matrix. These patterns give our tissues unique abilities. After an orthopaedic injury, tissue structure is often disrupted. In some tissues, cells form disorganized scar tissue, and in other tissues, there is no cell response. Regardless, our bodies struggle to heal soft orthopaedic tissues (i.e., cartilage, tendon, intervertebral disc, meniscus, etc.). As engineers we are interested in rebuilding musculoskeletal tissues to mimic their original structures / patterns. To do this in a non-invasive manner, we developed new techniques to pattern cells and cell signaling molecules without exogenous labels. Using the physical properties (i.e., magnetic character, density) of objects, we can tune their positioning in 3D space.
Motivation: The tissues within our bodies are more than random clusters of cells. Tissues such as articular cartilage, the knee meniscus, the intervertebral disc, et al. contain patterns of cells and extracellular matrix. These patterns give our tissues unique abilities. After an orthopaedic injury, tissue structure is often disrupted. In some tissues, cells form disorganized scar tissue, and in other tissues, there is no cell response. Regardless, our bodies struggle to heal soft orthopaedic tissues (i.e., cartilage, tendon, intervertebral disc, meniscus, etc.). As engineers we are interested in rebuilding musculoskeletal tissues to mimic their original structures / patterns. To do this in a non-invasive manner, we developed new techniques to pattern cells and cell signaling molecules without exogenous labels. Using the physical properties (i.e., magnetic character, density) of objects, we can tune their positioning in 3D space.
Role: Lead scientist
Role: Lead scientist
Translational research
Translational research
Motivation: I have numerous experiences working with startup companies as well as academic labs in orthopaedics to translate technologies from "bench-to-bedside". During my PhD, I planned and led a large animal study with Marrow Access Technologies to assess the efficacy of their spring-loaded needle puncture device for enhanced marrow stimulation (cartilage repair). During my postdoc, I served as a consultant for MechanoTherapeutics leading up to their SBIR-funded large animal study. I have also contributed to CU Boulder's ARPA-H NITRO team for the past ~1.5 years in the development and translation of disease-reversing therapies for osteoarthritis.
Motivation: I have numerous experiences working with startup companies as well as academic labs in orthopaedics to translate technologies from "bench-to-bedside". During my PhD, I planned and led a large animal study with Marrow Access Technologies to assess the efficacy of their spring-loaded needle puncture device for enhanced marrow stimulation (cartilage repair). During my postdoc, I served as a consultant for MechanoTherapeutics leading up to their SBIR-funded large animal study. I have also contributed to CU Boulder's ARPA-H NITRO team for the past ~1.5 years in the development and translation of disease-reversing therapies for osteoarthritis.
Role: Lead scientist (Marrow Access) / Consultant (MechanoTherapeutics) / Collaborator (ARPA-H)
Role: Lead scientist (Marrow Access) / Consultant (MechanoTherapeutics) / Collaborator (ARPA-H)
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