Yadong Wang,

Principal Investigator

Yadong

Yadong Wang is the McAdam Family Foundation Professor of Cardiac Assist Technology at Cornell University. He obtained his Ph.D. degree in Chemistry at Stanford University in 1999, and performed his postdoctoral studies in biomaterials at MIT. He joined the Biomedical Engineering Department at Cornell in 2017 after nine years with The University of Pittsburgh where he served as the William Kepler Whiteford Professor of Bioengineering.

His research focuses on creating biomaterials that present controlled chemical, physical, and mechanical signals to cells, tissues and organs. The ultimate goal is to control how the human body interacts with these materials. He is especially interested in applications of biomaterials in the cardiovascular, nervous and musculoskeletal systems. His team enjoys collaborating with other scientists and clinicians who share the same passion in translational research. Current projects include vascular grafts, controlled release of proteins and microfabrication of biomaterials.

Education

Postdoctoral Associate, MIT ’02
Ph.D., Stanford University ’99

M.S., Kansas State University ’95

Contact

Email: yw839@cornell.edu
Phone: (607) 255-4030

Anthony D’Amato,

Postdoctoral Fellow

Yadong

Research Interests: Improving biomaterial fabrication to facilitate translation into the clinic.

Projects: Currently working on ways to improve traditional electrospinning methodologies to increase control during the process and hopefully improve the biological performance of the resulting fibrous materials.

Hobbies: I like to hike, cook, read as many books as possible, and play with my dog (Griffey) and my cats (Sushi and Kaladin).

 

Education

PhD in Biomedical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
B.S in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering from Clemson University

Contact

Simon Van Herck,

Postdoctoral Associate

Yadong

Research Interests: Biodegradable polymers and Immunotherapy

Projects: Synthesis of degradable metal-chelating polymers to be applied for tissue engineering

Hobbies: Cycling and hiking

 

Education

Ph.D, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent Univeristy, Belgium.
M.S., Industrial Pharmacy, Ghent Univeristy, Belgium.
M.S., Pharmaceutical Sciences, KU Leuven, Belgium.
B.S., Pharmaceutical Sciences, KU Leuven, Belgium

Contact

Taeho Kang,

Postdoctoral Associate

Yadong

Research Interests: Biomaterials design and Biodegradable polymers

Projects: Development of biocompatible and biodegradable elastomers for vascular grafts

Hobbies: Watching movies, skiing, music

 

Education

Ph.D., Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute
B.S., Chemistry, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)

Contact

Catia Dombaxe,

PhD Candidate

Yadong

Research Interests: Tissue regeneration, Drug Delivery, and Biomaterials

Projects: Using goldfish ECM proteins to aid in tissue regeneration and functional recovery after spinal cord injury

Hobbies: Photography, traveling, hiking, and cooking

Fun Facts: During undergrad I did a study abroad (semester at sea) around the world and lived on a cruise ship.

 

Education

B.S., Chemistry, concentration in Forensic Chemistry, Methodist University

Contact

Chase Webb,

PhD Candidate

Yadong

Research Interests: Tissue regeneration and naturally inspired therapies, specifically from extracellular matrix

Projects: I am developing and manufacturing an ECM-based therapy derived from regenerative species for cardiac repair and regeneration.

Hobbies: Swimming and playing water polo, cooking, and watching football.

Fun Facts: As an undergraduate I swam varsity for Carnegie Mellon and swam and played water polo at Imperial College London. I also served as a volunteer assistant coach at Carnegie Mellon.

 

Education

M.S., Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University
B.S., Chemical Engineering, additional major in Biomedical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University. 2018

Contact

Chelsea Loh,

PhD Candidate

Yadong

Research Interests: Drug Delivery, Tissue Engineering

Projects: TBD

Hobbies: Listening to music, crocheting, trying new foods

Fun Facts: I double majored in music during college (violin performance) and played professionally for a very short amount of time! I am now retired 🙂

 

Education

B.E., Biomedical Engineering, The Catholic University of America

Contact

Chia-Wei Yeh,

PhD Candidate

Yadong

Research Interests: Biomaterials, tissue engineering, and microfluidic applications

Projects: Aiming to develop PEAD/heparin coacervate loaded liposome as drug carrier for VEGF-C delivery after myocardial infarction.

Hobbies: Basketball, snowboarding, cooking, travel

 

Education

M.S., Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University
M.S., National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan, 2013-2015
B.S., National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan, 2009-2013

Contact

Cole Latvis,

PhD Candidate

Yadong

Research Interests: Tissue engineering and biomaterial fabrication

Projects: Vascular Graft Development and Polymer Synthesis

Hobbies: Hiking, kayaking, fishing, cooking, and 3D printing

 

Education

B.S., Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia

Contact

Halle Welch,

PhD Candidate

Yadong

Research Interests: Tissue regeneration

Projects: TBD

Hobbies: I enjoy reading and have been learning to cook.

 

Education

B.S., Chemical Engineering, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Contact

Julianna Koehl,

PhD Candidate

Yadong

Research Interests: Designing polymers for various biomedical applications

Projects: Development of polyhydroxyalkanoates for skin graft applications

Hobbies: Hiking, kayaking, and cooking

 

Education

B.S. in Chemistry, Lebanon Valley College

Contact

Nathaniel Wright,

PhD Candidate

Yadong

Research Interests: Coacervate, immunotherapy, drug delivery, inflammatory disease, T cells, and polymers

Projects: Psoriasis Microneedle Treatment and Islet Cell Transplantation

Hobbies: Running, 3D printing, reading, music, and biking

Education

M.S., Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University
B.S., Biomedical Engineering, University of Utah

Contact

Warrick Ma,

PhD Candidate

Yadong

Research Interests: Cool synthetic macromolecules

Projects: Development of novel UV Crosslinkable Resin

Hobbies: Outdoor stuff, training at the fire station.

Fun Facts: Started off as a garage chemist when I was little, I firmly believe that cooking in a kitchen is the same as doing chemistry in a fume hood. This probably explains why I sometimes drink from a beaker (at home), why I never shy away from culinary challenges like making risotto from scratch, and how I managed to make two trays of cream puffs in under two hours.

Education

M.S., Chemistry, Cornell University
B.S. in Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles

Contact

Zimu Zhou,

M.Eng. Student

Yadong

Research Interests: Biomaterials and Drug Delivery

Projects: Non-degradable vascular graft

Hobbies: Song writing

Education

B.S., Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University

Contact

Alina Abramoff,

Undergraduate Researcher

Yadong

Research Interests: Biomaterials, drug delivery, tissue engineering

Projects: Vascular graft development

Hobbies: Tennis, reading, weightlifting

Education

Undergraduate Researcher, Cornell University

Contact

Allison Kwon,

Undergraduate Researcher

Yadong

Research Interests: Tissue regeneration, biomaterials

Projects: Investigating regenerative extracellular matrix for cardiac tissue repair and regeneration

Hobbies: Thrifting, reading, and exploring new cafes!

Education

Undergraduate Researcher, Cornell University

Contact

Ave Kludze,

Undergraduate Researcher

Yadong

Research Interests: Biomaterials, biomedical informatics, and systems biology

Projects: I am working on a project for the setup, automation, and control of a near field electrospinning fabrication platform for functional biomaterials.

Hobbies: Inkscape, chess, and music

Education

Undergraduate Researcher, Cornell University

Contact

Katelyn Ge,

Undergraduate Researcher

Yadong

Research Interests: Biomaterials, tissue regeneration

Projects: Developing polymers for vascular grafts

Hobbies: Reading, music, skiing, watching shows

Education

Undergraduate Researcher, Cornell University

Contact

Laurel Zhang,

Undergraduate Researcher

Yadong

Research Interests: Oncology and Drug Delivery

Projects: Chelation Crosslinking of Biodegradable Elastomers

Hobbies: Cooking! I used to be a professional chef.

Education

Undergraduate Researcher, Cornell University

Contact

Lea Seo,

Undergraduate Researcher

Yadong

Research Interests: Protein delivery, Regenerative Medicine, Immunology

Projects: Protein delivery via lipid covered coacervate Protein delivery via lipid covered coacervate

Hobbies: Walking, Hiking, Writing/mailing handwritten letters, Crochet, Listening to Taylor Swift, Spending time with family/friends

Education

Undergraduate Researcher, Cornell University

Contact

Molly Veerkamp,

Undergraduate Researcher

Yadong

Research Interests: Tissue regeneration and neurobiology

Projects: Investigating the regenerative ability of goldfish extracellular matrices for spinal injury applications

Hobbies: Fencing, running, knitting

Fun Facts: I have a cat named Schrödinger

Education

Undergraduate Researcher, Cornell University

Contact

Email: msv35@cornell.edu

Nabeen Chu,

Undergraduate Researcher

Yadong

Research Interests: Drug delivery, regenerative medicine, immunology

Projects: Developing a liposome filled with heparin based coacervate for protein delivery

Hobbies: Taekwondo, watching movies, rock climbing 

Education

Undergraduate Researcher, Cornell University

Contact

Nolan Shan,

Undergraduate Researcher

Yadong

Research Interests: Cancer, Tissue Engineering

Projects: Developing Biodegradable Polymers for Vascular Bypasses

Hobbies: Running, Skiing, Eating Sushi

Education

Undergraduate Researcher, Cornell University

Contact

Peter Minneci,

Undergraduate Researcher

Yadong

Research Interests: Tissue manipulation, drug delivery, orthopedics, and microbiology

Projects: I am currently working on a project that involves controlling the size of coacervates

Hobbies: Hiking, lifting weights, backcountry skiing, and trying new activities with friends

Education

Undergraduate Researcher, Cornell University

Contact

Priya Bhashyam,

Undergraduate Researcher

Yadong

Research Interests: Biomaterials, Drug Delivery, Regenerative Medicine

Projects: Protein Delivery through Coacervate

Hobbies: Reading, Drawing, and Baking

Fun Facts: I am a NYS certified EMT

Education

Undergraduate Researcher, Cornell University

Contact

Paula Miller,

Research Support Specialist

Yadong

Research Interests: To support the research projects of our group. Maintain a safe research environment and train new researchers about our laboratory and on proper usage of equipment.

Projects:

Hobbies: Walking, hiking, swimming, gardening, cross-country skiing, hanging around with the kids and animals.

 

Education

M.S., Natural Sciences, SUNY at Buffalo, Roswell Park Division
B.S., Biology, LeMoyne College

Contact

Email: pgm6@cornell.edu

Phone: (607) 255-5204