Biomedical Engineering and Biotechnology

The BioOpticalXplore (BOX) Lab develops and translates photonics-based sensing and imaging technologies to address critical unmet clinical needs. By collaborating with biologists and clinicians, the lab seeks to deepen understanding of disease mechanisms. Research emphasizes high-speed, high-resolution optical sensing and imaging devices, including optical coherence tomography, fluorescence imaging, adaptive optical imaging, and wearable devices. These efforts are strongly supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Department of Defense.

Located in Hughes Hall, the Bioengineering Lab is dedicated to research on the controlled release and delivery of therapeutic agents, tissue engineering, and drug delivery system applications. The lab includes shared analytical equipment and workspace for faculty, graduate students, and research personnel, as well as computers equipped with OsiriX software.

The CAMI lab contains a Reichert-Jun Ultracut E Ultrmicrotome, a Reichert-Jun S Ultracut Microtome, and an AO Instruments Sliding Microtome for sectioning. It also has several pieces of equipment for Scanning Electron Microscopy, for Transmission Electron Microscopy, and for light/flourescence microscopy. The facility also maintains equipment for cryopreservation, photographic documentation, computer analysis, sample preparation, and image scanning and printing.

The biomedical OSMI Lab focuses on developing and translating sensing and imaging technology based on photonics to resolve clinical unmet needs and collaborating with biologists to understand the mechanisms of different diseases. The lab has focused on developing high-speed and high-resolution optical sensing and imaging devices including optical coherence tomography, adaptive optical imaging, fluorescence imaging, and fiber-based temperature sensing and is well supported by  the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Department of Defense.

The research focus of the Biomaterials Lab is on 3D scaffold design for bone tissue engineering. The team has used finite element modeling, design of experiments, additive manufacturing, and hybrid processes to optimize these scaffolds, which were then seeded with pre-osteoblastic cells and human stem cells. This study has been funded by the National Institute of Health (NIH).