I am currently the Director of the Frankel Cardiovascular Regeneration Core Laboratory located at the University of Michigan North Campus Research Complex. After rising through the highly competitive ranks of the esteemed UM Research Faculty Track, I now also enjoy the title of Full Research Scientist in the Departments of Internal Medicine and Molecular & Integrative Physiology at Michigan Medicine. In the CRCL core lab we provide services and guidance to UM faculty related to use of human stem cells and differentiation to specific cell types such as cardiac cells, blood vessel cells and pancreatic cells. In my research laboratory we focus on developing new bioengineering approaches to improve cell manufacturing processes and to understand the maturation process of cardiomyocytes and pancreatic cell types. I have also been fortunate to see basic science discoveries translated into commercial products through interactions with FFMI and the UM Office of Technology Transfer. My goal is to one day utilize these laboratories generated cells as replacement therapy products to regenerate patient failing hearts and to improve diabetic patient treatments and lives.

My research focuses on bioengineering tools for advanced pluripotent stem cell differentiation to two specific cell/organ types: cardiomyocytes and pancreatic islets. The ultimate goal is to produce these human cell types in large quantities for high throughput in vitro testing and for development of regenerative therapies for heart failure and diabetes, respectively. My lab is developing novel artificial intelligence guided laser cell processing methods for more rapid and robust biomanufacturing of these human cell types. In addition to traditional 2D cell culture formats we also are developing 3D cardiac organoids and 3D pancreatic islets for in vitro testing, discovery of new drugs and delivery in vivo to treat heart disease and diabetes.