Research in Engineered Tissue Model Systems
Research in Engineered Tissue Model System focuses on cell and engineered tissue mechanics with application in cardiovascular regenerative medicine. The goal is to integrate the various areas of differential mechano-regulation of stem cells towards the cardiovascular phenotype as well as the synthesis of viable engineered cardiovascular tissues, particularly, heart valves. This goal fragments into multiple areas of study:
- Tissue engineered heart valve replacement for critical congenital mitral and aortic valve disease,
- Leaflet repair using engineered heart valve tissues and
- Bioreactor development to create engineered cardiovascular tissue model systems to facilitate therapeutic discovery.
Joshua Hutcheson, Ph.D.
Associate Professor | Graduate Program Director
Research Interests: Cardiovascular disease and mechanobiology, Cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions, Tissue engineering, Molecular imagingResearch Advancements: Joshua Hutcheson studies cardiovascular disease mechanisms.
Research Area: Engineered Tissue Model Systems
Lab: Cardiovascular Matrix Remodeling Laboratory
Website: https://bme.fiu.edu/people/faculty-instructors/joshua-hutcheson/
Anthony McGoron, Ph.D.
Professor | Undergraduate Program Director
Research Interests: Drug Delivery and Drug Transport ModelingResearch Advancements: Anthony McGoron develops targeted image-guided drug-delivery for combatting cancer
Research Area: Diagnostic Bioimaging Sensor Systems
Lab: Drug Delivery and Imaging Guided Therapy Laboratory
Website: https://bme.fiu.edu/people/faculty-instructors/anthony-mcgoron/
Sharan Ramaswamy, Ph.D.
Associate Professor | Certified Hybrid Instructor
Research Interests: Cell and tissue mechanics with application in cardiovascular regenerative medicineResearch Advancements: Biomechanically-derived diagnostics and regenerative therapies for cardiovascular medicine.
Research Area: Engineered Tissue Model Systems
Lab: CV-PEUTICS - Cardiovascular Therapeutics Laboratory (Under Construction)
Acknowledgement: Affiliated Faculty Member, NSF CELL-MET ERC Project (EEC-1647837)
Website: https://bme.fiu.edu/people/faculty-instructors/sharan-ramaswamy/
Nikolaos Tsoukias, Ph.D.
Professor
Research Interests: Computational and mathematical modeling, biotransport, signal transduction, cardiovascular and respiratory systems physiologyResearch Advancements: Nikolaos Tsoukias studies neuromuscular coupling.
Research Area: Engineered Tissue Model Systems
Lab: Vascular Physiology and Biotransport
Website: https://bme.fiu.edu/people/faculty-instructors/nikolaos-tsoukias
Heidi Mansour, Ph.D. - Secondary Appointment
Professor
Research Interests: Design and development of targeted drug delivery systems, nanomedicine, translational medicine, advanced particle engineering design technologies, and inhalation aerosols.Research Advancements: Innovative inhalation aerosols as advanced inhalable microparticles/nanoparticles in airway and vascular diseases, lung surfactant multifunctional nanocarriers, nose-to-brain noninvasive therapeutic delivery, and biodegradable/biocompatible polymers for sustained-release delivery peptides/proteins/biologics.
Research Area: Research in Engineered Tissue Model Systems and Therapeutic and Reparative Neurotechnology
Lab: Mansour Lab
Website: https://bme.fiu.edu/heidi-mansour-ph-d-secondary-appointment/