About the Editors

Editor-in-Chief
 

Janet Zoldan, PhD
Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering
Austin, TX, USA



My research program at The University of Texas at Austin is focused on human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) as a model system to explore key principles underlying cardiovascular tissue formation processes. To control these processes, we design three dimensional (3D) matrixes with tunable physical, chemical, and biological properties, providing a range of control signals. Utilizing these tools, my research program is centered around two specific goals: (i) deciphering the role of physical cues in the complex process of iPSCs differentiation into cardiovascular lineages, and (ii) developing microenvironments favorable for cardiovascular tissue formation. These engineered environments provide a platform for fundamental research in tissue development, investigation of disease mechanisms, testing of drugs, and the development of solutions for in situ tissue regeneration.
 

Associate Editors

Seung-Woo Cho, PhD
Professor, Department of Biotechnology
Seoul,Republic of Korea

My research interests include engineering stem cells, reprogrammed cells, and organoids with functional biomaterials, nanomaterials, and microfluidic systems for tissue engineering, disease modeling, and drug screening. Recently, we focus on developing bioengineering platforms to advance organoids for improved maturation and functionality, including tissue extracellular matrix, adhesive hydrogel, and microfluidic chip. We are not only applying the engineered organoids for modeling and drug testing for brain, heart, liver, and lung diseases, but also translating them to advanced regenerative medicine.

Siddharth Jhunjhunwala, PhD
Department of Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Science
Bengaluru, KA, India



My laboratory’s research interests are broadly in the field of immunoengineering. We use polymeric biomaterials and drug delivery systems to modulate neutrophil and macrophage responses, with applications in altering tumor microenvironments and addressing the complications associated with type-2 diabetes.

Wendy Liu, PhD
Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California Irvine
CA, USA



Dr. Liu’s research utilizes bioengineering approaches to probe and modulate immune function during wound healing, tissue regeneration, and in disease. A major focus is to understand how mechanical and biophysical cues regulate inflammation during response to injury and in chronic inflammatory diseases. In addition, her laboratory designs immunomodulatory biomaterials for improved tissue repair and regeneration.

Bozhi Tian, PhD
Department of Chemistry, the University of Chicago
Chicago, IL, USA



Dr. Tian's research integrates physical chemistry, materials science, electronics, and biology to develop novel materials and devices for bioelectronic medicine. Utilizing advanced semiconductor and electronic techniques, he explores complex cellular and subcellular dynamics alongside the intricate interactions between biological tissues and electronic components. His work, which prominently features photoelectroceuticals and living bioelectronics, is paving the way for sustainable healthcare solutions and regenerative medicine by translating fundamental discoveries into real-world patient benefits.
 

Silviya Zustiak, PhD
Professor and Associate Chair, Department of Biomedical Engineering
St. Louis, MO, USA



Dr. Zustiak’s research is focused on hydrogel biomaterials for tissue engineering and drug delivery applications, with emphasis on developing novel biomaterials as localized drug delivery devices, cell scaffolds and drug screening platforms, and elucidating matrix structure-property relationships as well as cell-matrix interactions. Biomaterial-based models are crucial for bridging the gap between traditional tissue culture and animal models by providing a cell environment that closely mimics real tissue. This research is highly multidisciplinary, merging the fields of engineering, materials science, and biology.
 

Advisory Editor
 

Filipe Almeida, PhD
Springer Nature, Germany

Filipe studied the influence of the biomechanics of the tumor microenvironment at The Wistar Institute in Philadelphia, and most recently developed composite biomaterials for the delivery of anticancer drugs at NOVA University of Lisbon. Previously, at Queen Mary University of London, where he obtained his PhD in 2015, he studied how skin cells respond to their microenvironment by using advanced microfabricated biomaterials, and developed micropatterned surfaces for high-content drug screening. Filipe’s interests span mechanobiology, biomechanics, cellular imaging, tissue engineering, nanotheranostics and cancer therapies. Filipe joined Nature Biomedical Engineering in November 2021.
 

Matteo Cucchi, PhD
Springer Nature, Germany

 

Matteo joined Nature Communications in June 2023. After receiving his PhD from TU Dresden, he moved to Lausanne and took a postdoctoral position at EPFL at the NeuroX Institute, where he worked on soft bioelectronics for neural prosthetics. He handles manuscripts relating to the field of bioelectronics, neuroelectronics, implants, biosensors, and biomedical devices. Matteo is based in the Berlin office.

 

Editorial Board Members

Stelios Andreadis, PhD, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA
Manus Biggs, PhD, University of Galway, Ireland, Galway, Ireland
Jason Burdick, PhD, University of Colorado Boulder, USA
Alireza Dolatshahi-Pirouz, PhD, Danish Technical University, Kongens Lyngby
Adam Feinberg, PhD, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
John Hardy, PhD, Lancaster University, Lancaster, Lancashire, UK
Roger Kamm, PhD, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
Seda Kizilel, PhD, Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Koç University, İstanbul, Türkiye
Vijaya Kolachalama, PhD, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
Robert Langer, PhD, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA
Zhiyuan Liu, PhD, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
Roy van der Meel, PhD, Eindhoven University of Technology, The Netherlands
Nicholas Peppas, ScD, The University of Texas at Austin, USA
Jang-Yeon Park, PhD, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
Debjani Paul, PhD, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, India
Padmini Rangamani, PhD, University of California San Diego, USA
Christine Schmidt, PhD, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
Blanka Sharma, PhD, University of Florida,Gainesville, FL, USA
Ariella Shikanov, PhD, University of Michigan, USA
Hossein Tavana, PhD, The University of Akron, Akron, OH, USA
Seraphine Wegner, PhD, University of Münster, Germany
Rebecca Willits, PhD, Department of Chemical Engineering, Affiliated with Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA USA
 

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