717 Potter Street, Room 257, (510) 495-2366, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
http://genomics.lbl.gov

Research Interests: My laboratory works on systems biology, cellular biophysics, comparative functional genomics, and synthetic biology. We aim to elucidate the evolutionary design principles of cellular networks and exploit these for design new function and behaviors in cells using a combination of experiment, theory and computation. Projects range from understanding the role of stochastic gene expression and memory in the stress response of Bacillus subtilis, to studies on the evolution of signal transduction pathways in bacteria, to detailed experiments and modeling of the stochastic control of HIV-1 gene expression and its role in latency, to the design and implementation of a tumor killing bacteria. In support of these projects we also develop technology for the statistical analysis of biological data, comparative functional genomics and model-based design of experiments as well as physical theory of cellular processes.

6111 Etcheverry, (510) 642-5950, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
http://www.me.berkeley.edu/faculty/berger/index.html

Research Interests: For a number of years I have been working with Dr. Saloner (UCSF and VA Hospital) on the application of Magnetic Resonance Angiography(MRA), to analyze and interpret  the flow in the arterial vessels and the patency of these vessels. To reconstruct the MRIs "correctly" one should have accurate simulations of the complex three-dimensional unsteady flows in these vessels. We have been using state-of-art numerical techniques to do so, most recently with special attention to modeling the geometry of atherosclerotic, partially blocked vessels.

I also continue to be interested in other problems in biofluid dynamics, such as the flow of sickle cell blood in the microcirculation, the flow in curved blood vessels, and problems and issues in, and applications of micro-biofluidics.

6125 Etcheverry, (510) 642-2863, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Research Interests: Foundations of continuum mechanics. Theories of finite elements and plasticity. Volumetric growth and Volterra dislocations. Thermodelasticity and thermoplasticity. Biomechanics. Psuedo-rigid continum. Lagrangian dynamics

B108B Stanley Hall, (510) 666-2792, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Research Interests: In their sum, the interconnected research venues pursued in my lab help to understand how the process of tissue repair is controlled, why the injured tissues are not productively repaired as we age and what approaches restore the regenerative potential both to the aged organ stem cells and to embryonic stem cell prpgeny exposed to the aged organ environments. Currently, we use the injury-regeneration of skeletal muscle as our experimental system, but hope to identify fundamental mechanisms of aging within stem cell niches, that apply to a variety of organs and tissues.

608B Stanley Hall, (510) 643-5624, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
http://fletchlab.berkeley.edu

Research Interests:

The research in my laboratory combines physical and biological approaches to uncover how simple cells are engineered – and can be re-engineered in the future – to carry out complex tasks. My students and I are currently focused on understanding the physical basis of cell movements and their impact on health through the development of new instruments and techniques. Our work can be divided into three areas:

(1) Cell motility & the actin cytoskeleton: We are investigating actin filament network properties and their role in powering cell crawling through in vitro reconstitution.

(2) Cell mechanics & shape change in disease: We are characterizing mechanical properties of blood cells and movements of single-celled pathogens.

(3) Biophysical tools & medical devices: We are developing biophysical tools, including optical and force microscopy techniques, and biomedical devices, such as microfluidic injectors and assays.

370 HMMB, (510) 643-3559, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
http://biomaterials.berkeley.edu/

Research Interests:
A critical hypothesis of biomimetic engineering of surfaces is that monolayer (i.e., one molecular layer) coatings of biologically active peptides affect cell attachment to the materials and preferentially induce tissue formation consistent with the cell type seeded on the device. In one area of research, we aim to test this hypothesis by either coating cardiovascular or orthopaedic implants with novel ultra-thin polymer networks grafted with biomimetic peptide signals. Ultimately, this strategy may improve the integration of orthopaedic implants in bone and reduce restenosis associated with intravascular stents.

In another area of research, we are designing artificial matrices for either engineering of tissue equivalents in vitro or regenerating tissue in vivo. It is critical that the synthetic matrix imparts both mechanical and chemical signals to entrained cells to foster the desired phenotypic expression and tissue development. We have embarked on a long-term project to create artificial extracellular matrices that are environmentally responsive and tunable with respect to mechanical properties, biological ligands, tissue adhesion, and protease degradation. The cornerstone of this project is the synthesis of thermo-responsiveness injectable hydrogels.

717 Potter Street, (510) 642-4862, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
http://keaslinglab.lbl.gov

Research Interests: Metabolic engineering, environmental biotechnology, and biochemical engineering.

The research in the Keasling Laboratory focuses on the metabolic engineering of microorganisms for degradation of environmental contaminants or for environmentally friendly synthesis. To that end, we have developed a number of new genetic and mathematical tools to allow more precise and reproducible control of metabolism. These tools are being used in such applications as synthesis of biodegradable polymers, accumulation of phosphate and heavy metals, degradation of chlorinated and aromatic hydrocarbons, biodesulfurization of fossil fuels, and complete mineralization of organophosphate nerve agents and pesticides.

6175 Etcheverry Hall, (510) 643-8017, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
http://www.me.berkeley.edu/faculty/keaveny.html

Research Interests: Our research is focused on bone bio-mechanics, prosthesis design, and tissue engineering. Current projects are motivated mostly be age-related bone fragility, and problems such as osteoporosis. One main area is on trabecular bone micro-mechanics and development of a multiaxial failure criterion. Another is understanding the biochemistry and biomechanics of age-related loss of bone ductility. A third is spine biomechanics, where we are focusing on reinforcement and repair of elderly vertebrae. Tissue engineering work is focused on using bone cells to make artificial bone, and on the role of mechanical and biochemical stimuli on bone cells. Our prosthesis design work is focused on spinal implants, with emphasis on their use in elderly patients with low bone mass. These efforts are centered at the Berkeley Orthopaedic Biomechanics Laboratory, with strong ties to the Department of Neurosurgery, Orthopaedics, Radiology, and Medicine.

274A Stanley Hall, (510) 643-0787, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
http://kumarlab.berkeley.edu/

Research Interests: Dr. Kumar's research program lies at the interface of molecular and cellular bioengineering, with a specific focus on understanding how cells sense, process, and respond to biophysical inputs from their environment (cellular mechanobiology).  His research group actively investigates molecular biophysical aspects of cellular mechanobiology, including the mechanics and dynamics of the extracellular matrix (ECM), cell-ECM adhesions, and the cytoskeleton, and the role these systems play in microscale tissue engineering, stem cell engineering, and neural tumor biology.

B108A Stanley Hall, (510) 666-2799, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
http://ctelab.berkeley.edu/

Research Interests: Our research focuses on cell and tissue engineering. Currently we have three main directions: (1) Stem cell engineering and cardiovascular tissue engineering, (2) mechanobiology and mechanotransdcution, and (3) biomimetic nanomaterials.

208A Stanley Hall, (510) 643-8165, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
http://biomechanics.berkeley.edu

Research Interests:
The research in Mofrad Lab (Molecular Cell Biomechanics Laboratory) is focused around two main goals:

(1) To understand the principles underlying cellular mechanics, rheology, and mechanotransduction,

(2) To understand the multiscale biomechanical processes underlying cardiovascular tissue mechanotransduction involved in diseases like aortic valve calcification and arterial atherosclerosis.

5134 Etcheverry, (510) 642-2595, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
http://www.me.berkeley.edu/faculty/pruitt/index.html

Research Interests: Director of the Medical Polymer and Biomaterials Group. Research is focused on the structure-property relationships of load bearing medical grade polymers and biological materials. Current projects include the characterization of fatigue fracture mechanisms and tribological performance of orthopedic polymers. Surface modifications using plasma and low energy ion-beam methods are used to control texture development in medical grade polymers due to wear, fatigue and multiaxial loading and to tailor cell attachment for optimized biocompatibility. Retrievals of orthopedic implants are characterized to model in vivo degradation of synthetic cartilage and acrylic bone cements. Biomechanical characterization of cartid plaques and vascular tissue is performed to assess cardiovascular treatments and to develop predictive models for plaque rupture. The primary goal of these projects is to develop micromechanistic links between structure and propertied in load bearing tissues and their replacements. Laboratory techniques for structural characterization include TEM, FEM, SAXS, XPS, DSC, DGC, GPC, FTIR, AFM, fatigue testing, fracture analysis, and nonindentaion. Teaching experience includes freshman seminars on Perspectives in Engineering Science; Careers in Bioengineering, and Materials in Medicine; undergraduate courses on Mechanical Behavior and Processing of Materials, Biomaterials, and the Principles of Bioengineering; and graduate courses on Fracture Mechanics, Mechanical Behavior of Materials, Polymer Engineering and Synthetic Biomaterials.

Richmond Field Station 163, (510) 665-3403, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
http://www.me.berkeley.edu/ergo/

Research Interests: Hand biomechanics, tool design, ergonomics, peripheral nerve and tendons injury mechanism, tissue engineering, tendon biology.

6105B Etcheverry Hall, (510) 642-8220, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
http://www.me.berkeley.edu/faculty/rubinsky

Research Interests: Research in several different areas. Heat and mass transfer in bioengineering with particular emphasis on low temperature biology and cryosurgery. Tissue engineering with emphasis on production of artificial tissue through freezing and preservation of engineered tissue. Bioengineering devices with emphasis on devices that interface between biological systems and inanimate electronics; such as the bionic micro technology. Imaging with emphasis on introducing imaging systems (suchas MRI and Electrical Impedance Tomography) in the control loop of minimally invasive surgical procedures. Genomic computation witrh emphasis on genetic algorithm simulation of gene behavior and properties.

274 Stanley Hall, (510) 643-5963, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
http://www.cchem.berkeley.edu/schaffer/

Research Interests:

Our research program employs molecular and cellular engineering approaches to investigate biomedical problems. Our laboratory is a part of the Department of Chemical Engineering, the Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, and the Bioengineering Graduate Group at Berkeley. We are interested in the related areas stem cell bioengineering, gene delivery systems, and molecular virology, with applications in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering.

We will develop a research program that employs molecular and cellular engineering approaches to attempt to investigate biomedical problems. In particular, our lab is interested in the related areas of stem cell bioengineering and gene delivery, with applications in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering.

Many of our efforts are dedicated to understanding the biology and exploring the therapeutic potential of stem cells. Stem cells are immature cells that exist in various locations of our bodies. Throughout our lifetimes, these cells divide and develop into the specialized cells that perform the functions necessary for life. Therefore, if we contract a disease that kills those specialized cells, our stem cells are a potential source for replacing lost cells to counteract or even cure the disorder.

There are several challenges that must be overcome in this field. In particular, efforts to engineer tissues rely upon the ability to control stem cells. That is, the signals that control stem cell function and fate must first be discovered, and then integrated into cellular microenvironments to control stem cell expansion and lineage-specific differentiation. We have efforts in novel signal discovery, computational and experimental analysis of the biological networks that cells use to interpret and implement these signals, and on the integration of these signals into synthetic, polymeric microenvironments for optimal stem cell control in collaboration with the group of Prof. Kevin Healy (Bioengineering). This blend of stem cell biology, systems biology analysis, and biomaterials engineering has led to significant advances in the application of stem cells for tissue repair.

Our second major research thrust is dedicated to understanding the biology and exploring the therapeutic potential of gene delivery, which serves as an effective means to control stem cells. Gene therapy can be defined as the introduction of genetic material to the cells of an individual for therapeutic benefit. A variety of approaches are under development to use gene therapy for treating cancer, AIDS, and a number of inherited genetic disorders. For example, gene therapy could be used to replace the genes hemophilia patients are missing, to bolster the immune system to recognize and combat tumors, or to inhibit the replication of HIV virus. However, significant progress must still be made before these developing strategies become therapeutic realities.

One of the most formidable obstacles to gene therapy is how to efficiently deliver genes to a sufficient number of cells to yield a therapeutic effect. A number of gene delivery vehicles, or vectors, are in development, and most exploit or emulate the abilities many viruses have evolved to deliver their genes to cells as part of their life cycles. However, while viruses have developed numerous strategies to deliver genes over millions of years of evolution, the efficiency and safety of vehicles based upon recombinant viruses must still be further improved. We have developed numerous high-throughput directed evolution approaches to engineer the properties of viral vehicles at the molecular level to enhance their abilities to deliver genes. These successful efforts are enhancing the abilities of several vectors to make them more effective at delivering gene “medicines.”

In parallel, we are interested in studying some basic aspects of viral biology. Specifically, viruses have evolved gene circuits that after infecting a cell execute programs to harness cells to reproduce the virus. We apply integrated systems biology approaches, composed of computational and experimental efforts, in collaboration with the group of Prof. Adam Arkin (Bioengineering) to how the structures of these gene circuits have dynamically evolved to optimize the virus’ ability to hijack cells to maximize its ability to reproduce. This fundamental work is leading to new insights on how to combat viral infectious disease.

Furthermore, we plan for these related lines of research to converge in the future. If we can effectively deliver a gene, and we can learn much more about what kinds and levels of genes are needed to control stem cell behavior, we can attempt to apply this information to longer term therapeutic goals. These aims could include using gene delivery to stimulate stem cells to divide more rapidly, to generate specific types of cells such as neurons, or to guide the successful integration of specific cell types into tissue for functional repair. It is our hope that this research will not only enhance our understanding of neuroscience, but also eventually alleviate the devastating effects of numerous diseases.