MEAM Seminar: “Viscoelastic Biopolymer Networks Model Fibrotic Niches”
September 12, 2023 at 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Organizer
Venue
Fibrosis and remodeling of extracellular matrix are involved in many diseases, such as tumors, wound healing, and chronic inflammation. During fibrosis, tissues undergo changes in their viscoelastic properties, i.e., how they resist deformation like a solid and dissipate stress over time like a fluid. Our research determines the impact of viscoelasticity on inflammation in fibrotic tissues and develops new immune therapies in cancer and regeneration. We employ material strategies to manipulate and study cell behavior in a broad range of physiologic and disease contexts, including tissue regeneration, hematopoietic and solid tumor malignancies, and fibrosis. Overall, our long-term goal is to develop novel biomaterials that enable precision health engineering.

