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Research Overview

Our research is motivated by the high mortality associated with cardiovascular disease, particularly the risk of death following myocardial infarction. Although current therapies have improved acute survival, they do not adequately repair damaged heart tissue or prevent long-term functional decline. The overarching goal of our research is to advance fundamental knowledge and develop effective therapeutic strategies for heart disease. Our lab is dedicated to creating innovative bioengineering and regenerative approaches that promote cardiac repair, restore function, and improve patients’ quality of life.

Our current research focuses on three main areas: (1) advancing cardiac cell therapy by harnessing the regenerative potential of human stem cells and developing effective cell delivery strategies; (2) promoting angiogenesis both in vitro, to generate vascularized bioscaffolds for tissue engineering applications, and in vivo, to rescue ischemic tissues; and (3) designing innovative microfluidic chip platforms to study heart development, disease mechanisms, and therapeutic responses.

Advancing Cardiac Cell Therapy

Stem cell–based cardiac therapy holds great promise for the treatment of myocardial infarction; however, its therapeutic benefits have often been limited and transient. Key challenges include poor cell survival and engraftment after transplantation, the hostile microenvironment of the injured myocardium, and adverse effects from immune responses triggered by cardiac injury.

To address these challenges, our lab has established a collaborative research program that integrates diverse bioengineering tools and technologies, including decellularized extracellular matrix scaffolds, cell sheet engineering, and injectable hydrogel systems. Through these approaches, we aim to enhance cell retention, survival, and functional integration, ultimately improving the therapeutic efficacy of cardiac cell therapy.

Relevant publications from our lab:

Promoting In Vitro and In Vivo Angiogenesis

Adequate vascularization is essential for effective tissue regeneration and functional recovery following ischemic injury. Insufficient angiogenesis limits oxygen and nutrient delivery, contributing to cell death and poor tissue integration in both engineered constructs and damaged native tissues. Promoting robust and functional blood vessel formation therefore represents a critical challenge in cardiovascular tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

Our lab focuses on developing bioengineering strategies to stimulate angiogenesis both in vitro and in vivo. In vitro, we engineer vascularized bioscaffolds and 3D tissue constructs by integrating endothelial cells, stromal cells, and pro-angiogenic cues to support stable microvascular network formation. In vivo, we design biomaterial- and cell-based approaches to enhance neovascularization in ischemic tissues, aiming to restore perfusion, improve tissue survival, and support long-term functional recovery. Together, these efforts seek to bridge fundamental angiogenesis biology with translational strategies for cardiac and ischemic tissue repair.

Relevant publications from our lab:

Designing Microfluidic Platforms for Cardiac Research

Microfluidic devices provide powerful platforms for detecting disease-related biomarkers and probing cellular behavior at the single-cell level. Over the past decade, we have created microfluidic platforms for a range of applications, including highly sensitive, rapid, and low-volume analysis of biomarkers, stem cell secretome analysis, single-cell electrical stimulation and mapping.

Building on this foundation, our ongoing research focuses on developing next-generation microfluidic chip platforms that integrate human cardiac cells, biomaterials, and tightly controlled biochemical and mechanical stimuli to generate physiologically relevant heart-on-chip models. By combining microengineering with stem cell and tissue engineering technologies, our microfluidic platforms serve as powerful research tools for mechanistic studies and therapeutic development in cardiovascular disease.

Relevant publications from our lab: