Molecular, Cellular, and Tissue Engineering (MCTE)

This field of emphasis covers novel therapeutic development across all biological length scales from molecules to cells to tissues. At the molecular and cellular levels, this area of research encompasses the engineering of biomaterials, ligands, enzymes, protein-protein interactions, intracellular trafficking, biological signal transduction, genetic regulation, cellular metabolism, drug delivery vehicles, and cell-cell interactions, as well as the development of chemical/biological tools to achieve this. At the tissue level, this field encompasses two sub-fields which include biomaterials and tissue engineering. The properties of bone, muscles and tissues, the replacement of natural materials with artificial compatible and functional materials such as polymers, composites, ceramics and metals, and the complex interactions between implants and the body are studied at the tissue level. The emphasis of research is on the fundamental basis for diagnosis, disease treatment, and re-design of molecular, cellular, and tissue functions. In addition to quantitative experiments required to obtain spatial and temporal information, quantitative and integrative modeling approaches at the molecular, cellular, and tissue levels are also included within this field. Although some of the research will remain exclusively at one length scale, research that bridges any two or all three length scales are also an integral part of this field. Graduates of this program will be targeted principally for employment in academia, government research laboratories, and the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and biomedical industries.

Faculty and Lecturers

Daniel Kamei, Ph.D

Field Chair

kamei@seas.ucla.edu

5121D Engineering V

Andrea Kasko, Ph.D.

Field Chair

akasko@ucla.edu 

4121K Engineering V

 

Song Li, Ph.D.

songli@ucla.edu

5121C Engineering V

Aaron Meyer, Ph.D.

ameyer@ucla.edu 

4121G Engineering V

Yi Tang, Ph.D.

yitang@ucla.edu 

5531 Boelter Hall

Joseph Distefano, Ph.D.

 joed@cs.ucla.edu 

Engineering VI – Room 367

Vijay Gupta, Ph.D. 

vgupta@seas.ucla.edu

Engineering IV, Room 32-121

Min Lee, Ph.D.

leemin@ucla.edu 

23-088F, School of Dentistry

Heather Maynard, Ph.D.

maynard@chem.ucla.edu

Molecular Sciences Building 4505B

Amy Rowat, Ph.D.

rowat@ucla.edu

1125 Terasaki Life Sciences Bldg