RESEARCH PROJECTS
Our research projects thrive on the power of collaboration—uniting our multidisciplinary team with expert colleagues and specialists from across diverse fields. Together, we tackle complex challenges, leveraging the unique strengths of each collaborator to drive innovation and discovery.
Cracking the Code of Collagen in Asthma
Collagen is essential for lung structure, but in asthma, it becomes excessive and disorganized, stiffening airways and worsening breathing difficulties. This project maps how fibroblasts and immune cells shape collagen remodeling, using cutting-edge imaging and computational analysis. By understanding how fibrosis develops at a cellular level, we can explore new approaches to prevent airway damage and create more effective treatments for chronic lung diseases.
Unraveling Asthma’s Hidden Impact on Airways
Asthma isn’t just about inflammation—it also causes lasting damage to airway structures, leading to fibrosis and scarring. This project combines advanced imaging and 3D bioprinting to build airway models that mimic these changes at the microscopic level. By uncovering how airway remodeling progresses and testing ways to stop or reverse fibrosis, we aim to develop new therapeutic strategies that go beyond symptom management and target the root causes of asthma.
Engineering Fibrosis in a Dish
Fibrosis—the unchecked buildup of scar tissue—drives organ failure in diseases ranging from lung fibrosis to heart disease. But why does it happen? Using a powerful combination of advanced imaging, bioprinting, and machine learning, this project maps how cells and the extracellular matrix interact in fibrotic diseases. By manipulating structural and biochemical signals, we aim to decode the triggers behind excessive scarring, ultimately identifying new ways to halt or reverse fibrotic diseases before they become irreversible.
Decoding the Body’s Invisible Framework—The Extracellular Matrix
The extracellular matrix (ECM) is the unsung hero of tissue health, shaping everything from organ development to wound healing. But when this complex scaffolding goes awry, it can trigger diseases like asthma, fibrosis, and cancer. This project fuses cutting-edge microscopy, computational modeling, and engineered tissues to uncover how ECM changes drive disease progression. By understanding these hidden processes, we aim to develop targeted strategies to restore normal tissue function.
