Engineering the retinal microenvironment to improve donor neuron integration post-transplantation Jonathan Soucy, PhDPostdoctoral Research FellowOphthalmology Department at Harvard Medical SchoolSchepens Eye Research Institute of Mass. Eye and Ear Abstract:Neuron transplantation is an exciting solution for replacing retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) lost in glaucoma and other optic neuropathies. However, one significant barrier to successful donor RGC...

Vascular Dysfunction in Disease: Engineering Mechanobiology Holds the Solution Shailaja Seetharaman, PhDPostdoctoral ResearcherJames Franck Institute and Department of PhysicsUniversity of Chicago Abstract:Abnormalities in blood vessel and blood flow properties are key drivers of severe cardiovascular and cerebrovascular pathologies. The remarkable ability of the vasculature to sense and respond to mechanical and biochemical signals across multiple...

Harnessing Geometry and Topology in Machine Learning for Biomedical Discovery Dhananjay Bhaskar, PhDPostdoctoral Researcher, Yale UniversityYale - Boehringer Ingelheim FellowKavli Institute for Neuroscience FellowVisiting Scholar in Engineering, Brown University Abstract:Understanding the shape of data through geometry and topology offers a powerful perspective with the potential to drive breakthroughs in biomedical science and engineering. This talk...

Metabolic Adaptations of Drug-Tolerant Persister Cells Mehmet A Orman, PhDAssociate ProfessorChemical and Biomolecular Engineering DepartmentUniversity of Houston Abstract:My research focuses on understanding drug-tolerant phenotypes, particularly persister cells, in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic systems. Persister cells are temporarily tolerant to drugs and contribute significantly to disease recurrence. We investigate their molecular makeup, including metabolite profiles, RNA...

Artificial intelligence for state-of-the-art gene therapy Jacob Witten, PhDPostdoctoral FellowAnderson LabMassachusetts Institute of Technology Abstract:Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) for RNA delivery have exploded onto the biomedical research scene with the success of mRNA vaccines for COVID-19. In addition to their promise as mRNA vaccines for infectious disease and cancer, LNPs have the potential to treat or...

Engineering multistate trackable cells for smart precision therapeutics Arash Farhadi, PhDPostdoctoral ScholarVoigt LabMassachusetts Institute of Technology Abstract:The engineering of immune cells and microbes into living therapeutics is emerging as a powerful approach for treating many diseases. However, two key challenges must be addressed to unlock the full potential of living therapeutics: intricately programming cells to...

Understanding Aging at Multi-scale Using Explainable AI Wei QiuPhD CandidateComputer Science and Engineering DepartmentUniversity of Washington Abstract:As human lifespans continue to extend, it becomes increasingly critical to understand the aging process not only to increase lifespan but also to enhance healthspan. This talk explores how Artificial Intelligence (AI), coupled with Explainable AI (XAI), can illuminate...

Mapping cellular responses to perturbations with dynamic computational imaging and AI Shalin Mehta, PhDPlatform LeaderComputational MicroscopyChan Zuckerberg Biohub co-sponsors: Morgridge Institute for Research and the Center for Quantitative Cellular Imaging Abstract:Discovery of biological mechanisms, drugs, and therapeutics is being accelerated by image-based profiling of cellular responses to perturbations. In this seminar, I will discuss our...

The Death and Re-Birth of the Intervertebral Disc Cell Lori A. Setton, PhDLopata Distinguished Professor and Chair of Biomedical EngineeringMcKelvey School of Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis Corrine Bahr Memorial Lecture Abstract:Intervertebral disc disorders are among the greatest contributors to pain and disability annually, such that low back pain and neck pain are ranked...

Nanotransfection-driven gene and cell therapies Daniel Gallego-Perez, PhDEdgar C. Hendrickson Chair in Biomedical EngineeringProfessor, Surgery GeneralThe Ohio State University Abstract:Gene and engineered cell therapies hold transformative potential for treating a wide range of conditions. However, current approaches face significant practical and translational challenges, including a heavy reliance on viral vectors and high variability, which often...