Brenda Ogle, Ph.D.
Professor & Head of Biomedical Engineering
e-mail: [email protected]
I am a biomedical engineer who seeks to more clearly understand the conditions that govern stem cell fate to enhance the regenerative capacity of mammalian systems. My current research interests are to 1) to understand the role of extracellular matrix proteins in guiding stem cell differentiation and 2) to develop novel tools for analyzing stem cell behavior and for delivering stem cells or associated progeny to the body.
Somayeh Ebrahimi, PhD
Research Scientist
email: [email protected]
I am a Research Scientist and I joined the Ogle lab in October 2024. My research interest is heart tissue engineering and stem cell therapy. My current work focuses on heart organoids formation using human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived cardiomyocytes and extracellular matrix expression in organoids, analyzed via mass spectrometry.
Mohammad Shameem, PhD
Research Scientist
email: [email protected]
I am a Researcher Scientist and joined the Ogle Lab in 2024. I have an interest in cardiac regeneration and disease modeling. Currently, I am working on cardiac dysfunction/disease progression particularly hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). I am using human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) derived cardiomyocytes (CM) with mutations in the myosin heavy chain . I am investigating the role of myosin heavy chain mutations in the early-stage mechanism of HCM progression via cardiomyocyte-extracellular matrix (CM-ECM) engagement.
Bryana Harris
Postdoctoral Associate
email: [email protected]
I am a postdoc and began my work at UMN in 2024. I am interested in cardiomyocyte maturation in the body and in a dish. I am investigating the role of particular extracellular matrix proteins in driving the maturation process and associated signaling pathways triggered by such engagement. I am also developing a kinetics model of cardiomyocyte maturation - an extension of a cardiomyocyte proliferation model I developed during my graduate studies.
Wei-Han Lin, PhD
Postdoctoral Associate
email: [email protected]
My research focuses on developing ECM-based bioinks to support stem cell proliferation and cardiac differentiation, which enables generation of macroscale cardiac constructs featuring dense muscular layers and synchronous electrical activity. By taking advantage of this approach, we can create 3D printed chambered constructs which perform physiological pump function and provide centimeter-scale testbeds for pharmaceuticals and medical device testing.
Gulsah Yildiz
Graduate Research Assistant
email: [email protected]
I am a PhD student in the Department of Biomedical Engineering, and joined the Ogle lab in Fall 2023. My research interests lie in the fields of soft tissue engineering and biomaterial generation. Currently, my focus is on the production of engineered heart tissues and an exploration of extracellular matrix dynamics. For my future studies, I intend to investigate the impact of radiation exposure on cardiac function.
Amy Powers
Graduate Research Assistant
email: [email protected]
I am a second year PhD student who is interested in cardiovascular bioengineering. I am currently investigating how periostin expression by support cells influences cardiomyocyte maturation within engineered heart tissues. In the future, I plan to integrate a functional epicardium into a 3D-printed, human chambered muscle pump.
Wei-Han Lin
Graduate Research Assistant
email: [email protected]
I am a PhD student in the Biomedical Engineering department, and I'm interested in tissue engineering and the influence of environmental signals on stem cells. My graduate work focuses on developing ECM-based bioinks to support stem cell proliferation and cardiac differentiation, which gives us densely cellularized constructs with decent cardiomyocyte yield. By taking advantage of this approach, we are able to create macroscale 3D printed constructs which perform physiological heart functions and can thus be used as testbeds for pharmaceuticals and medical devices.
Nathan Schneider
Graduate Research Assistant
email: [email protected]
Organoids are tissue aggregates formed from stem cells that develop complex and multi-cell-type structures over a differentiation period. They have proven to be powerful platforms for the research, development, and testing of pharmacologics and other therapeutics. My project is focused on developing an integrated, customizable platform for high-throughput cardiac organoid production that eases the user experience while also improving on organoid consistency, standardization, and flexibility.
Sophie Givens
Graduate Research Assistant
email: [email protected]
I am a PhD student in the Department of Biomedical Engineering. I joined the lab in Fall 2017. I am interested in tissue engineering and the interface between tissue engineering and biomaterials. I have become interested in the interaction between epicardial cells and cardiomyocytes especially in the context of cardiomyocyte proliferation and differentiation. I have developed a laminate cardiac tissue model that contains both cardiomyocytes and epicardiac cells in close apposition and with the capacity to interact directly and via intermediates such as the extracellular matrix.
Huzefa Husain
Graduate Research Assistant
email: [email protected]
I am a Biomedical Engineering PhD student at the University of Minnesota interested in hiPSC differentiation, stem cell biology, and tissue engineering. I work in collaboration with Dr. Ferenc Toth on the development of a 3D ECM-based scaffold for hiPSC-derived chondrocytes for cartilage regeneration. The ultimate goal is to create a one-stage off the shelf scaffold to be seeded with autologous chondrocytes for the treatment of focal cartilage defects.
Shaliny Jadhav
Undergraduate Research Assistant
email: [email protected]
I am an undergraduate student in the Department of Biomedical Engineering. I am mentored by Huzefa Husain and work on corresponding projects.
Alisha Deshpande
Undergraduate Research Assistant
email: [email protected]
I am an undergraduate student in the department of Biomedical Engineering. I am mentored by Dr. Wei-Han Lin and work on corresponding projects.
Gowri Ganesh
Undergraduate Research Assistant
email: [email protected]
I am an undergraduate student in the Department of Biomedical Engineering. I am mentored by Bryana Harris and work on corresponding projects.
Sancia Mary J. Wilson
Undergraduate Research Assistant
email: [email protected]
I'm an undergraduate majoring in Biomedical Engineering. I am mentored by Dr. Bryana Harris and work on corresponding projects.
Luke Bauer
Undergraduate Research Assistant
email: [email protected]
I am an undergraduate student in the Department of Biomedical Engineering. I am mentored by Dr. Somayeh Ebrahimi.