CEMS Faculty and Staff
The Center for Engineering in Medicine & Surgery
114 16th Street
Room 1402
Charlestown,
MA
02129-4404
Phone: 617-726-3474
Fax: 617-573-9471
Email: ireis@sbi.org
Our Staff
Faculty
Directory of Faculty by Research Thrust
- (A) Biopreservation
- (B) Burns Trauma and Wound Healing
- (C) Cell Migration in Disease
- (D) Cell Sorting and Cancer Diagnosis
- (E) Global Health
- (F) BioMEMS and Nanoscale Engineering
- (G) Neuroscience and Behavior
- (H) Organ Reengineering
- (I) Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine
- (J) Cell and Genetic Engineering
Shannon Stott, PhD
Contact by email
Research Thrusts:
A, D, F, I
Marianna Bei, PhD
Contact by email
Research Thrusts:
B, H, I
Basak E. Uygun, PhD
Contact by email
Research Thrusts:
A, B, H, I
Daniel Irimia, MD, PhD
Contact by email
Research Thrusts:
A, B, C, D, E, F, G
Korkut Uygun, PhD
Contact by email
Research Thrusts:
A, B, H
Irit Adini, PhD
Contact by email
Research Thrusts:
C, D, J
O. Berk Usta, PhD
Contact by email
Research Thrusts:
A, B, F, I
Nima Saeidi, PhD
Contact by email
Research Thrusts:
J
N. Murat Karabacak, PhD
Contact by email
Research Thrusts:
C, D
Rebecca D. Sandlin, PhD
Contact by email
Research Thrusts:
E
Shannon N. Tessier, PhD
Contact by email
Research Thrusts:
A, H, J
Mehdi Jorfi, PhD
Contact by email
Research Thrusts:
C, J, F, G
Felix Ellett, PhD
Contact by email
Research Thrusts:
B, C, J, F
Avanish Mishra, PhD
Contact by email
Research Thrusts:
D, E, F, J
A. Aslihan Gokaltun, PhD
Contact by email
Research Thrusts:
B, A, F
Postdocs
Meet the postdoctoral research fellows from the Center for Engineering in Medicine & Surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Raheel Ahmad, PhD
Education:
PhD (Magna Cum Laude), Process and Systems Engineering, Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self- Organization Goettingen, Germany and Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Germany, 2022
MS, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, KAIST, Republic of Korea, 2016
BS (Dean's Honour Roll), Chemical Engineering, UET Lahore, Pakistan, 2014
Contact:
Contact by email
Research:
My research focuses on a dual barcoding approach to observe T-cell activation and correlate the activation profile with fluorescent and DNA barcodes using a droplet microfluidic approach. The fluorescent barcodes can then be used to enrich highly active cell pairs by droplet sorting, while the DNA barcodes allow annotation of the T-cell sequence with the observed T-cell's activation. I am also interested in imaging and characterizing heart-derived extracellular vesicles.
Ezgi Antmen, PhD, MSc
Ph.D., Biotechnology, METU, 2017
Contact by email
My current research focuses mainly on the microfluidic T-cell isolation and expansion from leukapheresis products for cancer immunotherapy manufacturing. I also work on 3D culturing of tumor cells and targeted nanoparticles for drug delivery to tumor cells.
Bradley W Ellis, PhD
Education:
BS, Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, 2015
MS, Bioengineering, University of Notre Dame 2019
PhD, Bioengineering, University of Notre Dame, 2022"
Contact:
Contact by email
Research:
My main research focuses on developing novel models and treatments to improve liver preservation for transplant. By utilizing tissue engineering and molecular biology techniques, I develop benchtop models to better understand the role of various parameters on liver health and functionality. We hope that this knowledge will lead to an increased use of marginal livers in transplant scenarios thus expanding the donor pool and patient access to liver transplant.
Shijie He, PhD
Education:
PhD, Biomechanics, Beijing Institute of Technology, 2016
BS, Engineering of Mechanics, Dalian University of Technology, 2010
Contact:
Contact by email
Research:
I am mainly interested in cell mechanics, i.e. the roles of physical/mechanical factors including forces, stiffness, geometries in cell migration, proliferation and differentiation. Currently I am studying the effects of extracellular matrix on intestinal organoids which are derived from primary intestinal stem cell.
Alex Hopke, PhD
Education:
PhD, Microbiology, The University of Maine, 2016
BS, The University of Maine, 2010
Contact:
Phone: 978-758-0692
Contact by email
Research:
Using a micro-spotting machine, I am examining the behaviors of immune cells during interactions with microbes, particularly the “neutrophil swarming” behavior. The role of neutrophil swarming during injury and infection in humans is poorly understood. Through our investigations we hope to both gain insight into the importance of swarming in humans and to apply this knowledge to develop ways to assist patients who may have swarming defects.
Ziya Isiksacan, PhD
Education:
PhD, Materials Science & Nanotechnology, Bilkent University, 2020
MS, Bioelectronics & Biosensors, Edinburgh University, 2014
BS, Electrical & Electronics Engineering, Koc University, 2012
Contact:
Contact by email
Research:
I study red blood cell dynamics to measure blood material properties and key hemorheological parameters. To this end, I develop portable diagnostic platforms and fabricate microfluidic chips using novel fabrication techniques. I am interested in optimizing red blood cell storage conditions through deep supercooling to enable safer blood transfusion. I focus on biochemical and biophysical aspects of blood coagulation and thromboembolism.
Rohil Jain, PhD
Education:
PhD, School of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, 2021
Bachelor of Technology, Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, 2013
Contact:
Contact by email
Research:
My research at the CEMS primarily focuses on developing liquid biopsy assay for analyzing circulating biomarkers of injury and rejection in solid organ transplants. I also develop non-invasive technologies for analyzing the quality of liver grafts for liver transplants. These technologies are used for analyzing health of the organ before the transplant when it may be machine perfused, or for analyzing health of the graft after transplantation in a patient.
Justyna Jaskiewicz, PhD, MSc, DVM
Education:
PhD, Infectious Diseases, Tufts University, 2020
MSc, Control of Infectious Diseases, Royal Veterinary College, 2012
DVM, Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, 2008
Contact:
Contact by email
Research:
As a biomedical researcher with background in veterinary medicine I am interested in studying zoonotic and One Health pathogens of global health importance. My investigations at the CEMS focus on methods of preservation of apicomplexan parasites of Cryptosporidium and Plasmodium species.
Purva Joshi, PhD
Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, 2021
M.S. Mechanical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, 2017
B.E. Mechanical Engineering, Pune University, 2015
Contact by email
I am a mechanical engineer with a background in thermal sciences, solid mechanics, computation and engineering modeling. At CEMS, I am working on developing and optimizing preservation strategies for Anopheles mosquito and Drosophila embryos.
Murat Kaynak, PhD
Education:
Ph.D., École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 2021
M.Sc., The Pennsylvania State University, 2016
B.Sc., Istanbul University, 2011
Contact:
Email: Contact by email
Website
Research:
I am interested in the design, fabrication, and applications of microengineered devices. I utilize these devices to study the mechanics of living systems, by exploring the relationship between diseases and their emergent mechanical properties in single cells and tissues.
My current research involves developing acoustofluidic methods to measure the stiffness of spheroids during nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) progression. I employ micro/nanofabrication methods to build high-precision platforms that can continuously analyze the disease stages at high throughput.
Jae Jung Kim, PhD
Education:
PhD, Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2017
BS, Chemical & Biological Engineering, Seoul National University 2012
Contact:
Phone: 857-200-0458
Email: Contact by email
Research:
My research focuses on the development of a ‘skin-on-a-chip’ device to study the neutrophil behavior in the skin. Using the controllability of microfluidic devices, this study will provide the fundamental knowledge of how neutrophil function in skin disease, such as cellulitis. Eventually, I will apply my knowledge towards the development of rapid diagnostic tool for skin disease.
Michelle E. McCarthy, MD MS
Education:
BSE, Biomedical Engineering, Tulane University, 2015
BS, Cellular and Molecular Biology, Tulane University, 2015
MS, Biomedical Engineering, Tulane University, 2015
MD, Tulane University, 2020
Research Interests:
I have two main research thrusts, 1) developing novel techniques for improving radiation burn wound healing and 2) developing methods for the decellularization and recellularization of vascular composite allografts.
In the case of radiation burn wound healing, my work focuses on creating chemical modified mRNA for the treatment radiation-induced cellular injury. Our work aims to lessen the side effect of radiation skin injury in cancer patients, and allow them to continue receiving radiation treatments.
Vascular composite allografts (VCAs) allow for the transplantation of whole functional units of tissue, such as the whole hand or face. Recipients however require lifelong immunosuppression, and rejection can be catastrophic. Decellularization of VCAs remove all cellular material from the donor, and recellularization of the graft with the recipient’s cells would create a non-immunogenic biologic graft. My work focuses on developing methods for creating these grafts for the digits, nipple & areola complex, and face.
Khanh T. Nguyen, PhD
Education:
Ph.D., Biomedical Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 2022
B.Eng., Biomedical Engineering, International University of Vietnam National University – Ho Chi Minh City, 2017
Contact: knguyen77@mgh.harvard.edu
Research:
I am working on developing novel methods to quantitatively assess organ injury and viability biomarkers that are predictive of transplantation success/outcomes. I am also interested in cryopreservation methods that utilize tools from molecular and cell biology to support cardiac and liver transplantations. These projects draw on my prior experience with a multidisciplinary research approach at the interface of engineering, chemistry, and life science. They also expand my training expertise in the areas of animal models and ex-vivo research techniques. Working at CEMS enables my passion for performing high-impact translational research that address clinically relevant problems with direct benefit to patients.
Joao Paulo Oliveira da Costa, PhD
Education:
PhD, Pathology, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil, 2014
MS, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil, 2010
DDS, Alfenas Federal University, Brazil, 2006
Contact:
Phone: 617-643-7213
Contact by email
Website
Research:
My research is focused in identifying molecular markers of progression in adult and pediatric solid tumors. We use circulating tumor cells and exosomes as models for blood-based biopsies to identify such markers, and better understand how tumors spread and metastasize. Using microfluidic technologies, we isolate tumor-specific exosomes and circulating tumor cells for downstream analysis such as single cell RNA sequencing, digital droplet PCR, label-free mass spectrometry and next generation sequencing.
Furthermore, I still try to integrate Anatomic Pathology into state-of-art technologies, such as microfluidic isolation of tumor-derived cargo, and to single-cell analysis of tumor content. Maintaining tissue architecture as part of analysis is a powerful way of understanding more than cell signaling pathways, but also to understand how those different tumor cells interact in space. To achieve this goal I apply multispectral imaging and multiplexed immunohistochemistry to validate single cell RNA-Seq results, providing important clues on how tumor architecture helps shape the multiclonal nature of tumor cells, and how they interact with the microenvironment.
Daniel C Rabe, PhD
Education:
PhD, Cancer Biology, University of Chicago, 2017
MS, Translational Research, University of Chicago, 2014
BA (with honors), Chemistry, University of Chicago, 2007
BS (with honors), Biochemistry, University of Chicago, 2007
Contact:
Contact by email
Profile:
Researchgate
Research:
My current project is utilizing single-cell in droplet (inDrop) RNAseq to understand how tumor extracellular vesicle (EV) secretion is altering the tumor microenvironment in glioblastoma. Additionally, we are examining how tumor and immune EVs isolated using microfluidics developed in the Stott laboratory can be utilized as biomarkers for response to immunotherapy.
Derin Sevenler, PhD
Education:
PhD, Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, 2017
BS, Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Cornell University, 2011
Contact:
Contact by email
Research:
I'm a biomedical engineer with a background in optics, automation and biomolecular assay development. I'm broadly interested in technology development for both biomedical research and applications in healthcare. Right now I'm working on several projects related to infectious disease and biopreservation. For example, one of my current projects involves researching new approaches to cryopreserve living cells, model organisms and pathogens so they can be studied in the lab or made available for therapeutic use.
Li Zhan
Education:
PhD, Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota, 2020
BS, Mechanical Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, 2014
Contact:
lzhan@mgh.harvard.edu
Research:
My research background lies in cryopreservation, point-of-care diagnostics, and laser-nanoparticle interaction. My project at the CEMS primarily focuses on the enrichment of skin stem cells using microfluidic techniques.
Technical Staff
Abby Callahan-Muller
Education
B.S., Biology, Elon University, 2021
Contact:
Contact by email
Research:
Daphnia, anopheles, drosophila and various cell lines are utilized to help determine CPA cocktails and protocols to try and better cryopreserve them.
Thomas Colling
Education
B.S. Biomedical Engineering, ECE Department, Kansas State University, 2022
Contact:
Contact by email
Research:
I am currently designing a method to increase the retention of hepatocyte spheroids in microwells, and minimize losses when the suspension media is replaced. Additionally, I am working on experiments investigating methods for long-term blood storage.
Akansha Deshpande
Research Engineeer
Education:
BS, Biomedical Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 2021
Contact:
Contact by email
I am currently working on isolating circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and circulating tumor cell clusters from large volume samples using ultrahigh throughput microfluidic cell sorting technologies. These cells and cell clusters can give important information for cancer diagnostics, disease monitoring and personalized treatment.
Han Kang
Education:
BS, Biology and Neuroscience, Brandeis University, 2022
Contact:
Contact by email
I am currently working in Karabacak Lab to isolate rare cells in blood using microfluidic sorting technology. We are looking to develop blood-based diagnostics (known as liquid biopsy) for neurovascular diseases, heterotopic ossification following traumatic injury, and multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children.
Carlie Rein
Research Engineer
Education:
B.S.E., Biomedical Engineering, Arizona State University, 2021
Contact:
Contact by email
Research:
I am currently working on isolating circulating tumor cells with microfluidic cell sorting technology to provide insight on cancer, early diagnostics and individual treatment. I am also applying microfluidic technology for regenerative medicine.
Other Personnel
Personnel at the Center for Engineering in Medicine & Surgery, part of the Department of Surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Jon F. Edd, PhD
Education
PhD, Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 2006
BS, Mechanical Engineering, University of Texas, Austin, TX, 2001
Contact:
Contact by email
Research:
As a member of the innovation team at the Center for Engineering in Medicine & Surgery, my primary focus is to develop rare cell isolation technologies. This includes antigen-agnostic isolation of circulating tumor cells (CTCs), CTC clusters, and bacteria, from whole blood.
Ravi Kupur, PhD
Education
PhD, Bioengineering, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, 1995
MS, Bioengineering, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, 1991
BE, Electrical and Electronics Engineering, India, 1989
Contact:
Phone: 781-363-3530
Contact by email
Website: www.micro-medicine.com
Research:
Innovation to bring nascent technologies through development, clinical translation and commercial launch. Specializing in rare cell isolation for detection, diagnosis and therapy. Current initiatives include the transition to commercial setting of the circulating tumor cell isolation platform & commercial development of automated microfluidic platform for autologous cellular therapy and diagnosis.
Catherine Heremans
Administrative Staff
Education
PhD, Materials Science and Engineering, MIT, 1993
MS, Materials Science and Engineering, MIT, 1989
Eng Dipl, Materials Science, UCLouvain, Belgium, 1987
Contact:
Contact by email
Center for Engineering in Medicine & Surgery
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