Assistant Professor University of California, Irvine Irvine, California, United States
Introduction: : My research program integrates stem cell biology, biomaterials, and microfluidics to engineer human tissues and uncover principles of morphogenesis. I focus on the liver and vascular systems, where injury and dysfunction contribute significantly to the global disease burden. By reconstructing these environments, my group aims to reveal mechanisms of cell fate and leverage them for regenerative medicine.
Materials and
Methods: : We employ induced pluripotent stem cells, natural and synthetic hydrogels, and microfluidic devices that control mechanical and chemical cues. Micropatterned substrates and image analysis tools provide quantitative insight into stochastic differentiation. Liver organoids and liver-on-chip platforms are fabricated to model development, fatty liver disease, and drug toxicity. Endothelial and cholangiocyte morphogenesis are probed using compliance-tuned biomaterials, shear stress modulation, and controlled oxygen tension.
Results, Conclusions, and Discussions:: Collectively, our studies demonstrate that cellular fate and tissue organization are highly sensitive to microenvironmental context. By tuning mechanical properties, spatial organization, and fluidic conditions, we have shown how engineered systems can reveal fundamental principles of stem cell decision-making and tissue morphogenesis. These approaches have yielded new insight into liver and vascular development, as well as the mechanisms underlying injury and disease.
