Single Cell Technologies
This cluster focuses on the development of methods and technologies to probe a single cell.
This goal of this cluster is to build a synergistic scientific and technological platform to investigate one of the most critical building blocks of any biological system – a cell. Through the convergence of biology, computational approaches and engineering, the cluster addresses fundamental biological questions on cellular heterogeneity by developing integrated approaches and technologies to isolate, preserve, characterize and expand rare cells. This approach will enable investigation of basic biological components of single cells at a higher resolution and holds the promise of transforming the study, diagnosis and treatment of every disease. The cluster builds upon an existing ecosystem of UM investigators with complementary research excellence and active collaborations from engineering, physical sciences, life sciences and the medical school.
Recent Publications
Three-dimensional (3D) adipose tissue organoids for disease modeling. Lipid (red), actin (green), nucleus (blue).
Cell in an engineered scaffold
Related Press Releases & Articles
- November 30, 2022 / Article
‘Transformer’ pinwheels offer twist on nano-engineered materials
A newly discovered pinwheel structure — self-assembled from pyramid-shaped nanoparticles — may enable unique material properties that could be useful in areas like machine vision, armor, chemical and biological sensing, and more.
- October 7, 2022 / Press Release
Shutting down backup genes leads to cancer remission in mice
Cancer cells delete DNA when they go to the dark side, so a team of doctors and engineers – led by Deepak Nagrath – targeted the ‘backup plans’ running critical cell functions
- August 12, 2022 / Press Release
Neuroregeneration and Cognition Challenge Seed Fund Awards
We are pleased to announce the funding selections for the MNI-BI 2022 Neuroregeneration and Cognition Challenge seed fund competition.
- August 4, 2022 / Award
2022 BI Innovator Awards
Congratulations to the 2022 BI Innovator Award Recipients. BI Innovator awards recognize members of the BI research community who are active participants in the research, innovation and translational ecosystem at BI and making a difference in our community.
- August 1, 2022 / Press Release
New members join BI’s External Advisory Board
BI welcomes Carl Gordon and Natasha Shervani of OrbiMed as new members of its External Advisory Board.
- May 19, 2022 / Article
Nanobiotics: Model predicts how nanoparticles interact with proteins
Developed in the VanEpps and Kotov labs, a new machine learning model that predicts interactions between nanoparticles and proteins.
- October 7, 2021 @ 9:00 am
BI Distinguished Lectureship Series with Dr. John S. Condeelis
Join us on October 7for a Distinguished Lecture by Dr. John S. Condeelis
- August 3, 2021 / Award
Carlos Aguilar receives NSF CAREER Award
The project is entitled “CAREER: Understanding the Interdependence of the Microenvironment and Nuclear Organization in Stem Cell Aging.”
- July 22, 2021 / Press Release
BioInnovations in Brain Cancer launches faculty search
The BioInnovations in Brain Cancer Initiative (BIBC) at the University of Michigan invites applications for a tenure-track position at any level in brain cancer biology and technology research (including, drug/molecular transport/imaging in the brain tissue; translation-focused glioma, epigenetics and/or scRNA-seq research; and non-viral nucleic acid delivery).
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis, but review of applications will begin on October 1, 2021.
- May 17, 2021 / Award
2021 BI Innovator Awardees
Congratulations to the 2021 BI Innovator Award Recipients. BI Innovator awards recognize members of the BI research community who are active participants in the research, innovation and translational ecosystem at BI and making a difference in our community.
- April 1, 2021 / Article
Recent BI Publications
Publications from BI Research Groups in March
- March 30, 2021 @ 3:30 pm
BI Distinguished Lectureship Series with Dr. James Kirkland
Join us on March 30 for a Distinguished Lecture by Dr. James Kirkland from @MayoClinic on his research on aging, cellular senescence and age-related diseases.
- March 17, 2021 / Article
Kotov Lab develops structural batteries for mobile robots
Researchers in the Kotov lab are working on biomorphic structural batteries which could provide more energy to robots.
- March 1, 2021 / Article
Recent BI Publications
Publications from BI Research Groups in February
- February 1, 2021 / Article
Recent BI Publications
Publications from BI Research Groups in January
- January 29, 2021 / Article
S. Nagrath Lab develops new microfluidic chip to capture and investigate exosomes
The Sunitha Nagrath lab reports on their work to capture natural killer cells and harvest exosomes to investigate their potential for battling cancer cells.
- December 1, 2020 / Article
Recent BI Publications
Publications from BI Research Groups in November
- October 30, 2020 / Article
Recent BI Publications
Publications from BI Research Groups in October
- October 12, 2020 / Award
Kotov Recipient of Alpha Chi Sigma Award
For his work in self-assembly processes at the nanoscale, Nick Kotov received the 2020 Alpha Chi Sigma Award.
- September 30, 2020 / Article
Recent BI Publications
Publications from BI Research Groups in September
Our Single Cell Technologies Researchers
Single Cell Technologies Publications
Cell and Tissue Engineering
Learn MoreNanotechnology
Learn MoreNeural Engineering
Learn MoreBioInnovations in Brain Cancer
Learn MoreAdvanced Materials and Drug Delivery
Learn More
Carlos Aguilar
Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering Research Focus: Single Cell Technologies, Cell and Tissue Engineering Contact Information:caguilar@umich.eduAguilar’s NOBEL lab develops, optimizes and applies innovative technologies such as integrative genomic assays and high-throughput sequencing, micro/nanofabricated devices, genome editing and computational modeling to its primary area of focus, which is skeletal muscle.
Joerg Lahann
Wolfgang Pauli Collegiate Professor of Chemical Engineering; Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, and Macromolecular Science and Engineering Research Focus: Single Cell Technologies, Advanced Materials and Drug Delivery, BioInnovations in Brain Cancer Contact Information:lahann@umich.eduResearch in the Lahann Lab focuses on surface engineering, advanced polymers, biomimetic materials, engineered stem cell microenvironments, drug delivery, and nano-scale self-assembly.
Evan Keller
Richard and Susan Rogel Professor of Oncology; Professor of Urology and Pathology; Associate Professor of Comparative Pathology Research Focus: Cell and Tissue Engineering, Single Cell Technologies Contact Information:etkeller@umich.eduThe Keller Group focuses on the biology of cancer metastasis and explores genes that regulate metastasis and the interaction between the bone microenvironment and cancer cells. Researchers perform translational studies to enable movement of research findings into clinics.
Sunitha Nagrath
Professor of Chemical Engineering Research Focus: Single Cell Technologies, Cell and Tissue Engineering Contact Information:snagrath@umich.eduThe Nagrath lab research focuses on developing integrated nano- and microfluidic technologies for understanding cell trafficking in cancer through isolation, characterization, and the study of circulating tumor cells in peripheral blood of cancer patients.
Max Wicha
Madeline and Sidney Forbes Professor of Oncology; Professor of Internal Medicine Research Focus: Cell and Tissue Engineering, Single Cell Technologies Contact Information:mwicha@umich.eduWicha researchers study the biology of stem cells in the normal mammary gland and breast cancers by isolating and characterizing normal and malignant mammary stem cells and the changes in these key cells during carcinogenesis.
Deepak Nagrath
Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Chemical Engineering Research Focus: Single Cell Technologies, Cell and Tissue Engineering, BioInnovations in Brain Cancer Contact Information:dnagrath@umich.eduThe Nagrath lab focuses on both experimental and theoretical aspects of Cellular and Molecular Tissue Engineering, Metabolic Engineering, and Biomedicine with emphasis on clinical applications. Our research interests lie in the systems biology of metabolic diseases, specifically cancer.
Nicholas Kotov
Irving Langmuir Distinguished University Professor of Chemical Sciences and Engineering; Joseph B. and Florence V. Cejka Professor of Engineering; Professor of Chemical Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, and Macromolecular Science and Engineering Research Focus: Nanotechnology, Single Cell Technologies Contact Information:kotov@umich.eduResearch in the Kotov Group focuses on self-organization of nanocolloids, layer-by-layer assembly, ultrastrong nanocomposites, tissue engineering with nanomaterials, nanoscale drugs, and implantable biomedical devices.
Kathryn Luker
Associate Research Scientist of Radiology Research Focus: Single Cell Technologies, Cell and Tissue Engineering Contact Information:kluker@umich.eduThe Luker lab combines innovative optical imaging with computational modeling to discover how single-cell signaling in the tumor microenvironment regulates breast cancer progression and response to therapy.