Biomedical Engineering

A significant portion of Dr. Grimm's research has involved injury biomechanics – from characterizing important tissue properties to developing appropriate models for the assessment of injury mechanisms.  For the past 15 years, that work has focused on the biomechanics of neonatal brachial plexus injuries.  She has had the privilege of working with obstetricians to develop computer models of a process for which patient-based clinical studies are not appropriate.

Dr. Zhu started magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) research in 1995 under Dr. Michael Buonocore at University of California Davis when he was in graduate school. He developed high-resolution echo planar imaging, arterial spin labeling and phase contrast pulse sequences, and associated analytical techniques for clinical applications. Dr. Zhu joined GE Healthcare in 2000 after he completed his PhD. He worked on various MR methodology developments, including fast spin echo imaging and fast volumetric imaging. He also participated in the development of the new EXCITE MR system.

Mi Zhang received his B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from Peking University (PKU). He received his Ph.D. degree in Computer Engineering and M.S. degrees in both Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from University of Southern California (USC). Before joining MSU, he was a Postdoctoral Associate in Computing and Information Science at Cornell University

Wen Li received her Ph.D. degree (2009) and M.S. degree (2004) in Electrical Engineering from California Institute of Technology. Before that, she studied in Tsinghua University and received her M.S. degree in Microelectronics (2003) and B.S. degree in Material Science and Engineering (2001). Her research interests include MEMS/NEMS technologies and systems, micro sensors and actuators, biomimetic devices and systems, microfluidic and lab-on-chip systems, and microsystem integration and packaging technologies.

The research emphasis of the Molecular and Cellular Imaging Laboratory (MCIL) is generally focused on developing and using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and X-ray computed tomography (CT) for molecular and cellular imaging of biological phenomena, regenerative medicine and early detection of disease. Working at the intersection of chemistry, physics and biology, my laboratory has four main chemical engineering cores. The first is the development of novel clinically viable nanoparticle contrast agents for MRI.

Biomolecular engineering, thermodynamic and kinetic design of biomolecules, nucleic acid biotechnology, genomics and proteomics, RNA interference, nanobiotechnology, polymeric nanoparticles.

Our laboratory applies cellular, molecular engineering and systems biology approaches to investigate disease mechanisms. We are studying endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress related diseases, in particular, we are interested in how fatty acids interact with ER transmembrane sensor proteins to drive the development of cancer metastasis and neurological diseases. Our laboratory also is developing therapeutics using engineering approaches (e.g. drug delivery systems and stem cell engineering techniques) to modulate the pathways altered in these diseases.

Effects of oxidative stress on peroxidation of lipids and steroids. The goals of our laboratory are elucidate molecular mechanisms governing oxidative stress, and to translate our findings to develop biomarkers for prevention and treatment of chronic diseases (e.g. cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases).

Biosensors, nanostructured bio-detection devices, diagnostics for infectious diseases, biodefense, food safety, environmental safety, electronic nose