Bioengineered respiratory physiology

The respiratory system plays central physiological roles, such as gas exchange, and is often associated with acute and chronic diseases, such as pneumonia, cystic fibrosis and chronic pulmonary obstructive disorders. We aim to exploit a set of engineering, cellular, and material approaches for developing diagnostic tests, in vitro models, and potential treatments for patients with respiratory and pulmonary diseases. One particular goal is to bioengineer tissue-level in vitro models, i.e., tissue chips, that help bridge the gap between animal models and human trials, facilitating the investigation of disease pathogenesis and drug screening. Another goal is to develop clinically relevant tissue scaffolds by 3D printing and proteinaceous materials. The third one is to exploit microfluidic techniques and biopolymers to improve the efficiency and accessibility of disease diagnosis.