For organ-on-chip technologies developed in academia to be transferred to industry, they must undergo quantitative characterization and validation. The Translational Center of Tissue Chip Technologies will combine quantitative experimental biology, computational biology and biostatistics to characterize these complex systems and translate experimental insights into clinical outcomes.

The Microphysiological Systems (“Human Physiome on a Chip”) project was launched in July 2012 with the goal of developing a game-changing paradigm for drug discovery and development. The project includes leaders in the fields of tissue engineering, systems biology, toxicology, microbiome, and microsystems technologies at MIT and tissue engineering/device/pharma/biotech companies. The goal of the program is to create a versatile platform system with up to ten interacting micro-organs capable of accurately predicting drug and vaccine efficacy, toxicity, and pharmacokinetics in preclinical testing. • Oversaw rigorous milestones within the DARPA-Physiomimetics program (funded $26.3 million over five years); reporting to the program’s main-PI, Prof. Linda Griffith, and scientific lead, Dr. Murat Cirit.• Coordinated activities in a cross-functional Systems Integration Task Force consisting of MIT professors, commercial partners, senior scientists/postdocs, and research technicians to plan, execute, and analyze experiments to characterize and integrate microphysiological systems. • Assisted the Scientific Lead of the Task Force in planning and communicating meeting agendas and presentations• Managed the workflow and timelines of the working group to ensure progression toward successful completion of systems integration program milestones• Collected results from other task leads, compiled and reported monthly and semi-annually progress reports to DARPA officials.• Created and maintained a program website using WordPress and HTML5 to promote program recognition and cross team collaboration.

• Lectured and supervised an experimental methods intensive lab course on the fundamentals of cell culture in bioengineering applications• Techniques include substrate preparation, light and fluorescence microscopy, immunocytochemistry, biocompatibility testing, micro fluidic devices for cell capture, parallel-plate fluid flow chambers, and cell growth in 3D matrices.• Prepared materials and methods for weekly laboratory experiments.

• Served as a faculty adviser for cross disciplinary teams of business, engineering, and design arts students working on industry sponsored capstone engineering projects.• Headlined a successful pilot program of the 'graduate student advising model' that led to the use of other graduate students as faculty advisers in recent years