Research Laboratories

The Biofluid Mechanics Laboratory at Tulane University studies the interrelationships between fluid mechanical and physicochemical phenomena and the associated biological behavior of physiological systems. The main thrust of this research involves investigations of the pulmonary system, with the goal of developing improved therapies for pulmonary disease ARDS and the prevention of ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI). In addition, we investigate the design of optimized microfluidic devices for biosensor technology. These integrated studies bring together basic and applied scientists (including computational scientists), device developers and physicians to study problems of high clinical importance.

In the Biomedical Acoustics Laboratory, we investigate how living cells, tissues and biological polymers respond to mechanical stresses induced by acoustic waves. The current focus is on development of ultrasound-based noninvasive or minimally invasive therapies for cancer, spinal cord injury and neurodegenerative diseases as well as on the use of our patented acoustic tweezing method for low-volume non-contact blood coagulation analysis in pediatric and coagulopathic patients.

In the Cellular Biomechanics & Biotransport Laboratory, using endothelium-lined microfluidic systems and state-of-the-art computational models, we study the migration, deformation and adhesion of circulating cells under the conditions of cancer metastasis, inflammation and cardiovascular disease.

The research in the Biomolecular and Functional Imaging Laboratory develops novel medical imaging methods to study the dynamics of molecular expression and physiological function. Most existing medical imaging systems produce images of anatomical features. However, anatomical information alone is insufficient for optimal treatment of a disease condition. Imaging the physiological (functional) and biochemical (molecular) properties of the system could provide keyinformation to halt disease progression and growth. In our work, we integrate ultrasound and contrast-enhanced photoacoustic imaging systems, including the development of algorithms for functional and molecular photoacoustic imaging and the evaluation of photoacoustic and ultrasound contrast agents. A key focus of our imaging technology is the functional and molecular environment during compromised pregnancies such as preeclampsia. We search for new methods to treat these conditions through the knowledge gained through our functional and molecular imaging technologies.

The Microphysiology and Magnetic Resonance Lab is dedicated to advancing imaging diagnostics by developing innovative methods and applications of low-field Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) technology. We focus on creating accessible, cost-effective diagnostic tools to improve healthcare outcomes, particularly in underrepresented and high-risk populations. Emphasizing a quantitative approach, we integrate MRI with microphysiological systems that model complex pathologies. Using a bottom-up methodology, we directly connect MRI physics to tissue morphological properties, enabling precise and insightful imaging that enhances our understanding of disease progression. We aim to make advanced diagnostics more widely available and affordable, contributing to more equitable healthcare solutions.

The Regenerative Engineering and Equity Lab (REEL) focuses on developing biomaterial-based approaches to enhance hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) transplantation, with a primary emphasis on treating sickle cell disease. We explore how various factors such as pathology, sex, and age influence HSC functionality through sophisticated in vitro and in vivo models. These insights are pivotal in tailoring our biomaterial designs to mimic and exploit bone marrow physiology effectively, aiming to augment stem cell transplantation engraftment and recovery processes.

In tandem with our biomedical research, our educational initiatives integrate healthcare equity into engineering curricula to enhance student retention, success, and overall experience. By combining advanced technical education with an understanding of ethical and human-centered aspects of engineering, we foster a more inclusive and equitable learning environment. This approach ensures that students are not only technically proficient but also socially conscious, preparing them to tackle complex healthcare challenges and contribute meaningfully to health equity.

The Tissue Engineering and Microphysiological Systems (TEMPS) laboratory engineers biologically-inspired microphysiological systems to model human tissues and organs including lungs, skeletal muscle, visceral organ interstitium and cancer. We utilize highresolution imaging, biochemical assays and next generation sequencing analysis to study states of homeostasis and disease in these models, with a strong emphasis on hypothesis-driven discovery of pathophysiological mechanisms and identification of novel therapeutic paradigms. Currently, we are working to build models of respiratory exposure injury (i.e. smoking, vaping, environmental exposures), inflammation and fibrotic disorders of the interstitium, muscle tissue injury, tumor microenvironment, and systemic effects of malignancy (Cachexia). Our affiliations with the Tulane Cancer Center, the Center for Translational Research in Infection and Inflammation, and other entities at the Tulane University School of Medicine create rich opportunities to collaborate with top scientists and physicians.

The Multiscale Bioimaging and Bioinformatics Laboratory at Tulane University has three research themes:

1. Fundamental research on multiscale signal/image representation and analysis;
2. Multiscale bioimaging analysis from organ and tissue levels to molecular and cellular levels; and
3. Bioinfomatics in human genomics.

Currently, we are focusing on information extraction and integration from multiscale and multimodal genomic imaging data, with applications to the diagnosis of diseases and cancers such as mental disorders and osteoporosis. One goal is to bring the biomedical technique into commercial use. We are using a multidisciplinary approach and working closely with computational scientists, biostatisticians, medical geneticists, clinicians and industrial engineers at Tulane and all over the world.

The focus of the Neural Microengineering Laboratory is to develop in vitro models of neural growth, physiology, and disease by manipulating the chemical and physical extracellular microenvironment. Toward this end, we employ a number of microengineering technologies such as microscale tissue engineering, novel nanomaterials, microfabrication, digital light projection microcopy, and optical modes of electrophysiological stimulation and recording.Projects include a “nerve-on-a-chip” for drug development,neural axon growth & guidance, biomimeticin vitro models of inflammatory demyelinating disorders, and models of afferent sensory synaptic transmission.

Research in the Translational Biophotonics Laboratory focuses on the application and clinical translation of quantitative optical spectroscopy and imaging tools for the improvement of cancer management. We develop translatable optical methods to directly address gaps in clinical care, and carry those through to clinical validation in humans alongside our interdisciplinary collaborators. A major theme in this work is the use of novel imaging devices (and computational analysis tools) to improve patient outcomes in surgical tumor removal in organs such as the breast, prostate, and kidney. To achieve these goals, we leverage new and existing technologies across multiple spatial scales such as quantitative diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and imaging (DRS, DRI), fluorescence lifetime imaging, structured-illumination microscopy (SIM), and light sheet microscopy (LSM).  Ongoing and emerging projects include a strong focus on computational sciences in microscopy.