Ruogang Zhao PhD
Ruogang Zhao
PhD
Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering
Department of Biomedical Engineering
Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
Professional Summary:
Research interests include developing advanced biofabrication technologies such as 3D bioprinting and organ-on-chip for tissue engineering applications including disease modeling, drug screening and injury repair; biomaterial microfabrication; fibrosis disease and anti-fibrosis therapies; cell and tissue mechanics; computational modeling for biomechanics; smart material-actuated biorobots.
Education and Training:
- Postdoctoral Fellow, Bioengineering, Johns Hopkins University (2013)
- PhD, Biomedical Engineering and Biomaterials, University of Toronto (2011)
Employment:
- Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering, University at Buffalo (2013–2018)
Awards and Honors:
- Ontario Graduate Scholarship (2010)
- Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada Doctoral Award (2009)
UB 2020 Strategic Strengths:
- Health and Wellness Across the Lifespan
Grants and Sponsored Research:
- September 2017–May 2020
High throughput genetic and functional screens for restoring stem cell potential
National Institute of Aging
Role: Co-Investigator
$1,200,000 - October 2015–September 2019
Fibrotic microtissue chips for screening of anti-fibrotic therapies
National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering
Role: Principal Investigator
$1,400,000 - May 2015–December 2016
Stereolithography 3D printing of human organ on a chip
UB Innovative Micro-Programs Accelerating Collaboration in Themes (IMPACT) Fund
Role: Principal Investigator
$30,000 - July 2014–December 2015
Human fibrotic microtissue chips for screening of anti-fibrotic therapies
University at Buffalo Clinical and Translational Research Center
Role: Principal Investigator
$30,000
Journal Articles:
- Asmani M., Velumani S., Li Y., Wawrzyniak N., Hsia I., Chen Z., Hinz B., and Zhao R.. Fibrotic microtissue array to predict anti-fibrosis drug efficacy. Nature Communications. 2018.
- Zhao H., Chen Z., Zhao R, Feng L.. Exceptional Point Engineered Glass Slide for Microscopic Thermal Mapping. Nature Communications. 2018.
- Song C, Wang A, Lin F, Asmani M, Zhao R, Jin Z, Xiao J, Xu W. Tempo-Spatial Compressed Sensing of Organ-on-a-Chip for Pervasive Health. IEEE J Biomed Health Inform. 2018; 22(2).
- Shahini A, Choudhury D, Asmani M, Zhao R, Lei P, Andreadis ST. NANOG restores the impaired myogenic differentiation potential of skeletal myoblasts after multiple population doublings. Stem Cell Res. 2018; 26.
- Shahini A, Mistriotis P, Asmani M, Zhao R, Andreadis ST. NANOG Restores Contractility of Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Based Senescent Microtissues. Tissue Eng Part A. 2017; 23(11-12).
- Mistriotis P, Bajpai VK, Wang X, Rong N, Shahini A, Asmani M, Liang MS, Wang J, Lei P, Liu S, Zhao R, Andreadis ST. NANOG Reverses the Myogenic Differentiation Potential of Senescent Stem Cells by Restoring ACTIN Filamentous Organization and SRF-Dependent Gene Expression. Stem Cells. 2017; 35(1).
- Chen Z, Wang Q, Asmani M, Li Y, Liu C, Li C, Lippmann JM, Wu Y, Zhao R. Lung Microtissue Array to Screen the Fibrogenic Potential of Carbon Nanotubes. Sci Rep. 2016; 6.
- Xu F, Zhao R, Liu AS, Metz T, Shi Y, Bose P, Reich DH. A microfabricated magnetic actuation device for mechanical conditioning of arrays of 3D microtissues. Lab Chip. 2015; 15(11).
- Zhao R, Chen CS, Reich DH. Force-driven evolution of mesoscale structure in engineered 3D microtissues and the modulation of tissue stiffening. Biomaterials. 2014; 35(19).
- Zhao R, Boudou T, Wang WG, Chen CS, Reich DH. Magnetic approaches to study collective three-dimensional cell mechanics in long-term cultures (invited). J Appl Phys. 2014; 115(17).
- Zhao R, Simmons CA. A simple method to estimate the exponential material parameters of heart valve tissue based on analogy between uniaxial tension and micropipette aspiration Biomech Model Mechanobiol. 2013; 12(6).
- Zhao R, Boudou T, Wang WG, Chen CS, Reich DH. Decoupling cell and matrix mechanics in engineered microtissues using magnetically actuated microcantilevers. Adv Mater. 2013; 25(12).
- Zhao R, Simmons CA. An improved texture correlation algorithm to measure substrate-cytoskeletal network strain transfer under large compressive strain. J Biomech. 2012; 45(1).
- Zhao R, Sider KL, Simmons CA. Measurement of layer-specific mechanical properties in multilayered biomaterials by micropipette aspiration Acta Biomater. 2011; 7(3).
- Bhana B, Iyer RK, Chen WL, Zhao R, Sider KL, Likhitpanichkul M, Simmons CA, Radisic M. Influence of substrate stiffness on the phenotype of heart cells Biotechnol Bioeng. 2010; 105(6).
- Zhao R, Wyss K, Simmons CA. Comparison of analytical and inverse finite element approaches to estimate cell viscoelastic properties by micropipette aspiration J Biomech. 2009; 42(16).
- Yip CY, Chen JH, Zhao R, Simmons CA. Calcification by valve interstitial cells is regulated by the stiffness of the extracellular matrix Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2009; 29(6).
Professional Memberships:
- Society of Biomaterials
- Biomedical Engineering Society
- American Society of Mechanical Engineers