Biomedical Engineering Research Laboratories
The Florida International University Department of Biomedical Engineering is home to an outstanding group of cutting-edge researchers and world-class laboratories. Learn more about our Research Laboratories in Biomedical Engineering and our three core research strength areas of Basic Research in Engineering Tissue Model Systems, Diagnostic Bioimaging and Sensor Systems, and Therapeutic and Reparative Neurotechnology.
Optical Imaging Laboratory
Dr. Anuradha Godavarty
Our Optical Imaging Laboratory focuses on various clinical applications of near-infrared optical imaging technology. Some of the key ongoing projects include: (a) Non-contact hand-held optical imaging scanner for real-time assessment of oxygenation changes and perfusion changes in wound healing of diabetic foot ulcers, venous leg ulcers and arterial ulcers (clinical partners include dermatologists, podiatric surgeons, nursing, statistics, and computer science faculty). (b) Diffuse optical imaging of radiation dermatitis in cancer therapy subjects (clinical partners include radiation oncologists). (c) Smartphone based imaging technologies for low-resource settings and imaging of diabetics with ulcers (global clinical partners include diabetologists and podiatric surgeons).
Cardiovascular Matrix Remodeling Laboratory
Dr. Joshua Hutcheson
Research in the CMRL focuses on the mechanisms through which tissues are built, maintained, and remodeled. The primary thrust of the lab is on cardiovascular disease—the leading global cause of death. Researchers in the CMRL work at the interface of engineering and biology and study the mechanisms through which mechanical forces influence cell and tissue behavior. By understanding the ways that cells sense and respond to each other and to changes in their environment, the goal of the CMRL is to develop new ways to detect initiators of disease and find interventions that restore tissue to a normal state.
Eye Imaging Laboratory
Dr. Shuliang Jiao
The goal of the Eye Imaging Lab is research is to help prevent and cure blindness through technological innovations. Dr. Jiao’s lab, is dedicated to the development of novel optical technologies for 3D high resolution imaging of the anatomy and functions of the eye in vivo. The optical imaging technologies the lab currently focuses on include Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), Photoacoustic Microscopy, and Multimodal Imaging. These technologies serve as tools for the research and diagnosis of diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy. They also provide powerful tools for monitoring the functional regeneration of photoreceptors in regenerative medicine such as stem cell therapy.
Laboratory Website Under Construction
Biomedical Engineering Creative Lab: W[CL]2
Dr. Wei-Chiang Lin
The mission of the Creative Lab is to produce creative engineering solutions for complex problems in biomedicine. Currently the team focuses on developing non-destructive optical and mechanical techniques that can detect disease development and tissue injuries in vivo. These techniques can be either one-dimensional (i.e., point detection) or multi-dimensional (i.e., imaging). The potential medical applications for such techniques, once developed, are abundant. For example, they may be used intraoperatively to guide tumor resection and to monitor the progression of a novel therapy.
Laboratory Website Under Construction
Drug Delivery and Imaging Guided Therapy Laboratory
Dr. Anthony McGoron
Research focuses on image guided therapy of cancer using polymer and inorganic nanoparticles, microparticles and small molecules. Imaging is used to identify patients likely to respond to a particular therapy, to monitor the delivery of the drug and the patient’s response to the therapy, and to guide surgical resection of tumors. Molecular Imaging modalities include nuclear (PET and SPECT), near-infrared fluorescence, and Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS). Therapeutic approaches include chemotherapy, photo-dynamic therapy, photo-thermal therapy, and radiation therapy.
Bioelectronic and Electronic Packaging Lab
Dr. Raj Markondeya
Current bioelectronic packaging approaches for neural stimulation and recording involve large enclosures with leads and connectors that are not scalable to address the need for high-channel density nerve interfaces in ultra-thin or flexible form-factors. A highly-miniaturized fully-implanted high-density electrode array that is actively powered on or close to the electrode array itself, with integrated data processing, can enable new applications and opportunities for healthcare. Realizing these systems require heterogeneous integration of several functions such as power transfer and conversion, data processing, high-density but biocompatible electrode-tissue interfaces and miniaturized hermetic packages. All these functions need to be achieved in sub-millimeter dimensions. The bioelectronic packaging group focuses on developing system components and integration solutions to realize such next-generation bioelectronic systems.
Medical Photonics Laboratory
Dr. Jessica Ramella-Roman
The Medical Photonics Lab (MPL) conducts research in bio-photonics and focuses on the investigation of non-invasive methodologies for diagnosis of disease based on light-tissue interaction. Researchers are developing new imaging methodologies combining polarization sensitive techniques and non-linear microscopy to investigate anomalous organization of the extracellular matrix in several biological environments. They are utilizing these methodologies to investigate preterm labor a condition that affects 10 – 15 % of all pregnancies with severe consequences to mother and child. They are also researching early signs of Diabetic Retinopathy through the combination of imaging spectroscopy and Two-photon excitation phosphorescence lifetime imaging.
Neuronal Mass Dynamics Laboratory
Dr. Jorge Riera
Research at the Neuronal Mass Dynamics (NMD) laboratory focuses on developing strategies to integrate different modalities of brain imaging for the understanding of multicellular signaling in the neocortex. Dr. Riera’s early work has been essential to understand the mechanisms of genesis of EEG/MEG and fMRI-BOLD signals in normal and pathological conditions. Based on data from humans and rodents, lab members have developed biophysical models of cortical microcircuits and neurovascular/metabolic coupling. These models underlie US-patented methods to study multi-scale cellular dynamics using brain imaging and electrophysiological techniques. Of particular interest is the development of pre-clinical rodent models to study epilepsy, migraine and dementia by means of brain mapping. Members have been working with the Nicklaus Children Hospital and the Miller School Medicine at UM for the translation of his animal studies into clinical practice to improve surgical outcomes in epilepsy. In the NMD lab, two groundbreaking techniques have been developed in collaboration with and commercialized by industrial partners: a) an EEG mini-cap (Cortech Solution) and b) a 3D microelectrode array (Neuronexus Tech.). The lab’s research has been funded by NSF, NIH and the Wallace Coulter Foundation.
Prasad Lab for Materials Research
Dr. Anamika Prasad
The Prasad Lab for Materials Research focuses on bio-based/bio-inspired material, nanomechanics of materials, and biomedical devices for healthcare & precision agriculture. Research areas within the Prasad Lab are the following: a) plant biomechanics, b) biomaterials for tissue engineering, c) bone biomechanics, and d) specialized manufacturing including electrospinning and additive manufacturing.
Vascular Physiology and Biotransport Laboratory
Dr. Nikolaos Tsoukias
The main focus of the laboratory is on the mechanisms that regulate blood flow and pressure in the human body. The lab investigates the physiology of the microcirculation through the parallel development of theoretical and experimental models. Mathematical modeling guides experimentation and assist in data analysis while in vitro experimental studies provide important modeling parameters and promote further model development.
Mansour Lab
Dr. Heidi Mansour
The Mansour Lab opened at FIU CTS in February 2022 after nearly 9 years at The University of Arizona. The Mansour Lab has successfully provided advanced training to 13 Postdoctoral Research Scholars, numerous health professional and engineering students, and has graduated 5 doctoral graduate students with PhD degrees.
Shandra Lab
Dr. Oleksii Shandra
At Shandra Lab, our mission is to advance the understanding of traumatic brain injury and its comorbidities, such as post-traumatic epilepsy and Alzheimer’s-related pathologies. Through innovative research and cutting-edge technology, we aim to investigate the underlying mechanisms of neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration, paving the way for novel therapeutic interventions that improve patient outcomes and quality of life.
The Laboratory of CNS Injury and Molecular Therapy
Dr. Mohammed Muneer
Muneer lab focuses on the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying axonal regeneration, neuronal repair, and survival following traumatic brain injury (TBI), aiming to develop effective therapeutic strategies for neurological recovery. His research explores signaling pathways that limit neuronal regeneration in central nervous system (CNS) injury. Using in vivo fluid percussion and in vitro stretch injury models, the lab employs advanced approaches including viral vector-mediated gene transfer, CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing, conditional knockout models, pharmacological blockade of repulsive signaling, survival animal surgeries, and behavioral assessments in rodents.