408D Stanley Hall, (510) 643-6075, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
http://bisl.berkeley.edu

Research Interests: My lab is developing a low-cost method of MRI called Prepolarized MRI.   This is a radical new architecture for MRI scanners, and uses two pulsed electromagnets rather than the conventional superconducting magnet.  We first polarize the sample with a strong polarizing field and then image in a weak field, called the readout field.   Because the polarizing field has no imaging role, it can be quite inhomogeneous (~20%) so the magnet is simple to manufacture.  Because the readout field is weak, again it is simple to manufacture.  In addition, Prepolarized MRI shows great promise for imaging near metal implants.  We are also initiating new research projects on Magnetic Particle Imaging, which promises 1000-fold improvement in SNR over MRI for stem cell tracking.  And we are working on advanced fMRI pulse sequences that are robust near the air sinuses.   Finally we are developing a pyrolytic graphite foam to improve the field homogeneity inside humans in a conventional MRI scanner.

370 HMMB, (510) 643-3559, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. 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.

308B Stanley Hall, (510) 666-3396, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
http://herrlab.berkeley.edu

Research Interests: A major focus of our lab is engineering innovation for analysis of complex biological systems -- as is required to address questions important to both fundamental biological systems and applied clinical research. We employ a combination of approaches drawn from chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, and electrical engineering with strong foundations in biology, materials science, and analytical chemistry.  In essence, we strive to advance the "mathematization" of biology & medicine.

Research includes design and development of instrumentation that exploits scale-dependent physics and chemistry. Our work accelerates development of bioanalytical methods, streamlines sample preparation strategies, improves biomarker validation studies, and advances clinical diagnostics.

220 Donner Lab, (510) 486-4628, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
http://leelab.berkeley.edu

Research Interests: A fundamental challenge in nanoscience is to accomplish two “complementary” goals simultaneously: One is synthesis of high performance functional materials on nanometer scale and the other is their assembly into well-defined structures which can surpass current lithographic capabilities. To achieve these goals, our research group is developing novel basic building blocks which store blueprint information about both their specific functions and the direction of their self-assembly structures using “evolutionary peptides” conjugated to programmable structural motifs.  The resulting nano-structures fabricated with the proposed basic building blocks can be coupled to conventional devices such as data storage media, wave-guide materials, or sensory devices to enhance integrity or efficiency of opto-electronic devices currently fabricated by “top-down” approaches. We are currently developing the following projects that integrate diverse scientific disciplines including molecular biology, inorganic/organic chemistry, materials science, and electrical engineering: Small molecule basic building blocks with functional peptide motifs; Polymeric matrices as platforms to build periodic nanostructures; Viruses as an active building block to self-assemble functional materials; Fabrication of viral regenerative tissue scaffolds.

408C Stanley Hall, (510) 642-5855, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
http://biopoets.berkeley.edu

Research Interests: The BioPOETS (Biologically-inspired Photonics & Optofluidic Electronics Technology and Science) group is focusing on quantum nanoplasmonics for in vivo molecular and cellular imaging; microfluidic cellular BASICs (Biological Application Specific Integrated Circuits) for quantitative cell biology; soft-state biological devices for single cell biophysics; nanobiotechnology for molecular diagnostics; BioMEMS and BioPOEMS (Biomolecular Polymeric Opto-Electro Mechanical Systems) for the digitalization of quantitative systems biology, systematic neuroscience, and molecular medicine.

B108A Stanley Hall, (510) 666-2799, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. 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.

280 Hearst Memorial Mining Building, , This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
http://www.me.berkeley.edu/~liepmann/

Research Interests: I work in the area of BioMEMS, specifically on the application of micro - machined or fabricated devices for the investigation, diagnosis, or cure of medical and biological problems. MEMS devices are revolutionary because their small size (on the order of 10 - 100 microns, with features as small as 10 nanometers) not only reduces the size of current devices but makes entirely new procedures and paradigms possible from distributed micro-sensor systems to new drug delivery systems. Most of my research is focused on micro-fluid dynamics, but this includes design of new fluidic control systems.

Fundamental studies on the fluid mechanics of complex biological fluids in MEMS devices, this project includes work with LLNL on two-phase flows and a project on dielectrophoresis. Development of numerical tools for the design of micro-fluidic systems. Investigation of insect flight and control dynamics (with Michael Dickinson and Andy Packard). Other projects (non-Bio) include development of micro-heat removal devices and a micro-wankel engine.

320 McLaughlin Hall, (510) 642-5771, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
http://robotics.EECS.berkeley.edu/~sastry

Research Interests:

306 Stanley Hall, 510-642-5833, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Research Interests: Tirrell's research is focused on the manipulation and measurement of surface properties of polymers, bringing microscopic measurements of intermolecular forces to bear on polymer surface problems, and new insight into polymer technology particularly in the area of surface modification with amphiphilic polymers and bimolecular materials.