Biography

B.S. 1995, Fudan University, P.R. China
Ph.D. 1999, Michigan State University
Postdoctoral Fellow 1999-2002, University of California Berkeley & Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Staff Scientist 2002-2006, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Research Interests

Synthetic extracellular matrix analogs guiding the repair and regeneration of musculoskeletal tissues

With a growing and aging population, the demand for synthetic grafts assisting the repair and reconstruction of musculoskeletal tissue defects resulting from trauma, aging, cancer and metabolic diseases is quickly rising. Our lab is interested in designing synthetic extracellular matrix (ECM) analogs capable of promoting the repair or guiding the regeneration of musculoskeletal tissues. These synthetic constructs are also programmed with unique physical properties to facilitate surgical handling (e.g. deployable, elastic, injectable) and proper in vivo degradation. Specific research directions include:

• Development of 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional chondrogenic / osteogenic tissue grafts for the repair and reconstruction of musculoskeletal defects via minimally invasive surgical procedures;
• Development of new methods for spatially controlled presentation and temporally controlled release of growth factors and cytokines on and from synthetic tissue grafts;
• Identification of novel factors regulating the self-renewal of mesenchymal stem cells and the regenerative capacities of skeletal tissues;
• Nanoparticles for skeletal tissue imaging and in vivo tracking of stem cells.