"Engineering Microsystems for Studying and Diagnosing Hematologic Disorders"

Wilbur Lam, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor
Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering

Hematologic processes are frequently comprised of cellular and biomolecular interactions that are biophysical in nature and may involve blood cells (erythrocytes, leukocytes, and platelets), endothelial cells, soluble factors (coagulation proteins, von Willebrand factor, and cytokines), the hemodynamic environment, or all of the above. These phenomena are often pathologically altered in disease states and are difficult to study using standard in vitro and in vivo biological systems. Therefore, a clear need exists for assays that enable the quantitative and controlled investigation of the biophysical aspects of hematologic processes and blood disorders.  With the capabilities to dissect mechanical phenomena at the micro to nanoscales with tight control of the cellular and fluidic parameters, micromechanical and microfluidic systems are ideal systems to study these phenomena.  Our interdisciplinary laboratory, which consists of physicians, engineers, and biologists, focuses on developing microsystems to study and diagnose hematologic diseases.

The IBB Breakfast Club seminar series was started with the spirit of the Institute's interdisciplinary mission in mind and started to feature local IBB faculty member's research in a seminar format. Faculty are often asked to speak at other universities and conferences, but rarely present at their home institution, this seminar series is an attempt to close that gap. The IBB Breakfast Club is open to anyone in the bio-community.