Headshot of Christopher Chen

Christopher Chen

Professor, Biomedical Engineering, and Materials Science Engineering, College of Engineering Director, Biological Design Center

Biography:

One of the world’s leading experts on regenerative medicine, Chen investigates tissue engineering and mechanobiology, which combines engineering and biology to study how physical forces and changes in cell or tissue mechanics affect development, physiology, and disease. In particular, Chen is studying the cooperation between adhesive, mechanical, and biochemical signaling in the regulation of angiogenesis and stem cell biology. To probe these questions in novel ways, Chen’s laboratory has developed a repertoire of unique micro- and nanofabrication tools to control and measure the adhesive and mechanical environment of cells. Chen is the recipient of a Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, a fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering, and an editor of the Journal of Cell Science.

Research Interests:

systems mechanobiology, adhesion biology, tissue engineering