The Tissue and Regenerative Engineering (TARE) Lab aims to understand the cues needed to promote connective tissue regeneration after injury with a focus on sex differences in this process. Specifically, we engineer biomaterials aimed to elucidate how immune, progenitor, and differentiated cells from male and female musculoskeletal tissues differentially respond to sex hormones and the structural and mechanical cues from the extracellular matrix. This physiological information is used to develop biomaterial scaffolds engineered to promote sex-specific regeneration. Read More
We develop activity-based assays to measure medication concentration based on the drug’s inherent activity. One of our ongoing projects is focused on developing REverSe TRanscrIptase Chain Termination (RESTRICT) assays that measure the concentrations of nucleotide analog drugs used in HIV treatment and prevention. These molecular assays provide rapid and user-friendly measurement of HIV medications directly in patients’ blood and can be used to monitor and individualize the concentrations of oral HIV therapies and emerging long-acting injectable therapies. Read More
My work focuses on fabrication, testing, and analysis of advanced composites. One of the research areas for my lab is using reactive molecular dynamics (RexaFF) to understand the processing-structure-property relationships for materials ranging from polymers to ceramics. A good example is looking into the stability of MXene nanoparticles in aqueous solutions for possible applications in energy storage. Read More
As a graduate student in the lab of mechanical engineering professor Igor Novosselov, Justin analyzed the formation and evolution of particulate nanostructures generated by combustion. These particulates are a major component of air pollution with known health risks and adverse environmental impacts. He found that young, amorphous particles show more of an increased toxicological response than structured, mature particles. Further understanding of this complex process will help build a cleaner and healthier society. While at UW, Justin participated in the Alaska Airlines Environmental Innovation Challenge, which invites entrepreneurial students to showcase their problem-solving ideas. Read More
The Posner Lab research focuses on need-driven research projects including point-of-care in-vitro diagnostics and medical device development. We develop and validate nucleic acid, immuno, and enzyme-based diagnostics for a range of infectious disease applications, including HIV and HCV. We specialize in novel point-of-care sample preparation strategies –such as paper microfluidic devices, enzyme chemistry, and isothermal amplification– for low-resource environments that allow complex samples (such as blood, urine, etc.) to be adapted to assays that typically require many human handling steps. We use device fabrication, novel chemistry, electrokinetics, optics, mobile phones, and machine learning to develop integrated and quantitative diagnostics at the point-of-use. Read More
Our lab investigates how cells are influenced by mechanical interactions at the micro and nanoscale. To pursue these goals, we are developing new tools micro- and nano-devices, quantitative image analysis, and computational models that we use to understand the underpinnings of biomechanics and mechanobiology. The greater impact of our work is to delineate how cell mechanics affect cardiovascular disease and cancer in order to catalyze new strategies for their treatment. By working at the intersection of mechanics and biology, we are increasing understanding of the theories of soft, active, and multifunctional materials. Read More
Our group studies the combustion synthesis of nanostructured material for application in energy and biomedical fields. We focus on low-cost production and self assembly of carbon and metal oxides aerosol gels. Read More
The Human Photonics Laboratory (HPL) works to advance the frontier of optical technology in the areas of human performance, cancer detection, and treatment. The HPL has historical ties with the Human Interface Technology Lab at the University of Washington where the ideas for the immersive VR pain distraction, scanning fiber endoscope, and the optical projection tomographic microscope originated. Read More
Jonathan Liu’s research interests are nanoparticle contrast agents, molecular imaging, biophotonics, immunofluorescence microscopy, in vivo microscopy, 3D microscopy, and cancer biomarkers. Read More
Our lab investigates new manufacturing processes that will revolutionize energy storage and other complex engineered systems. This multidisciplinary approach integrates the fields of design, computation, manufacturing, and materials science. Currently, we are focused on developing new additive manufacturing solutions and battery electrode architectures for the most pressing problems in energy-relevant materials for Lithium-ion batteries. Our long term goal is to develop new scalable additive manufacturing processes that will enable the digital control of material architecture and can integrate energy storage and other operational features into electronics and structural components while supporting adaptive manufacturing on-demand. Read More