Welcome to
Biomedical Engineering

About
Ted completed a joint A.B./S.M. degree program at Harvard University in Human Developmental and Regenerative Biology/Bioengineering, where he studied stem cell biology and developed a novel nanoparticle drug delivery system. He received his Ph.D. in Biophysics from UCSF working with leading stem cell biologist Dr. Emmanuelle Passegué, where he discovered novel mechanisms of stem cell aging, uncovered new roles of autophagy in controlling cell fate and function, and leveraged longevity paradigms and interventions to uncouple cell-intrinsic stem cell aging from systemic organismal aging.

Ted then conducted his postdoctoral work in systems neuroscience with renowned optogenetics pioneer Dr. Karl Deisseroth at Stanford University, as an HHMI/Jane Coffin Childs and NIH K99 Postdoctoral Fellow, where he discovered new neural mechanisms of cognitive decline during aging and Alzheimer’s disease progression, and developed spatiotemporally precise optogenetic approaches to fully restore neural encoding and learning abilities in Alzheimer’s disease-related model mice. Ted has received many awards, fellowships, and grants, such as Forbes 30 Under 30 selection and a K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award. He has published highly-cited work in leading journals such as Nature, Science, Cell Stem Cell, and Nature Cell Biology. Ted is deeply committed to mentorship and supporting his trainees and students in all aspects of their education and professional development.

Research Interests

• Aging and longevity
• Alzheimer’s disease and neurodegenerative diseases
• Optogenetics and neuromodulation
• Neural activity imaging
• Clinical translation

Research Focus
Research in the Ho lab focuses on neural mechanisms of aging and neurodegenerative disease such as Alzheimer’s disease. How exactly do neural activity dynamics and computation change over time to cause cognitive decline and loss of learning and memory abilities? How might aberrant dynamics be precisely targeted to restore proper neural processing and encoding and cognitive function?

To address these questions, the lab leverages cutting-edge systems neuroscience techniques such as two-photon single-neuron resolution activity imaging during cognitive behaviors in mice, machine-learning approaches for large-scale data analyses, spatiotemporally precise optogenetic modulation and interventions, and neural projection tracing with whole-brain 3D tissue-clearing and imaging. The lab aims to discover high-resolution, fundamental insights about aging and neurodegenerative disease—across scales from single-cell activity and molecular mechanisms to brain-wide cellular biology and organism-level behavior and cognitive function—and directly translate them into new, innovative, and precise noninvasive treatments in the clinic.

Selected Publications

Research Interests

• Computational modeling and AI
• Medical imaging systems and design

Research Focus
Umberto Villa’s research aims to accelerate biomedical innovation and help resolve major challenges in medicine and public health, including early detection of cancers and improved treatment outcomes, by exploiting the power of computing and artificial intelligence (AI). His lab develops novel computational, statistical and AI approaches to advance emerging biomedical imaging modalities; optimizes the design of medical imaging instruments and improves diagnostic or screening performance; and supports informed clinical decision-making for patient-specific treatment regimes.

A major focus of Umberto Villa’s current research is virtual imaging trials. These trials use advanced computational modeling to simulate everything from patient anatomy to how an imaging device collects data, without needing to build a physical prototype or recruit live participants. Using virtual imaging trials, Umberto Villa’s lab can systematically explore and optimize imaging system designs and image reconstruction methods, helping to push promising new medical technologies closer to the clinic—faster and with fewer ethical or financial barriers.

Related Websites
Villa Lab
Optimization, Inversion, Machine Learning, and Uncertainty for Complex Systems
Predictive Engineering and Computational Sciences

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About
Kristen Adams received a Ph.D. in bioengineering from Rice University, followed by postdoctoral fellowships in radiology at the Baylor College of Medicine and in molecular medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. In addition to being a lecturer for the Department of Biomedical Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin, Adams also has a research assistant professor appointment in molecular medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.

Research Interests

• Electrophoresis
• Cloning
• Microscopy
• Flow cytometry
• Small animal imaging (optical and nuclear)
• Cell and bacterial culture
• Chemical conjugation

About
Farshid Alambeigi joined the Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin in August 2019 and is one of the core faculty members of Texas Robotics. He is also the director of the Advanced Robotic Technologies for Surgery (ARTS) Lab. Alambeigi received his Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from Johns Hopkins University in 2019. He also holds an M.S. (2017) in robotics from Johns Hopkins University. In the summer of 2018, Alambeigi received the 2019 SIEBEL Scholarship because of his academic excellence and demonstrated leadership. In 2020, Alambeigi received the NIH NIBIB Trailblazer Career Award to develop novel flexible implants and robots for minimally invasive spinal fixation surgery. In 2022, he also received the prestigious NIH Director’s New Innovator Award to develop an in vivo bioprinting surgical robotic system for the treatment of volumetric muscle loss.

Research Interests

• Computer-integrated surgery and medical robotics
• Soft robotics
• Autonomous surgical manipulation
• Design and manufacturing
• Applications of control theory

Research Focus
Alambeigi’s research focuses on developing high-dexterity and situationally aware continuum manipulators, soft robots and appropriate instruments, especially designed for less/minimally invasive treatment of various medical applications. Utilizing these novel surgical instruments together with intelligent control algorithms, the ARTS Lab, in collaboration with the UT Dell Medical School, works towards digital surgery and partnering dexterous intelligent robots with surgeons. Ultimately, the ARTS Lab's goal is to augment the clinicians’ skills and the quality of surgery to improve patient safety.

Related Websites
Advanced Robotic Technologies for Surgery (ARTS) Lab
Texas Robotics

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About
Alexander Marras received his Ph.D. from The Ohio State University as a Presidential Fellow working with Carlos Castro in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. His graduate research in structural DNA nanotechnology established a framework for DNA-based mechanical mechanisms and methods for their rapid actuation. During his Ph.D., he received multiple awards, including the Best Poster Award at the Foundations of Nanoscience conference, a preeminent conference for DNA nanotechnology.

Upon completion of his Ph.D., Marras joined Matthew Tirrell’s research group as a postdoctoral researcher at the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering at the University of Chicago and Argonne National Laboratory in October 2017. His postdoctoral studies focused on charged polymer assembly with biomolecules and structural characterization of nanomaterials using light scattering, electron microscopy and small-angle X-ray scattering. His postdoctoral research also included a project with SiO2 Materials Science assembling COVID-19 vaccines and studying their structure and stability under various conditions.

During his time as a postdoc, he served as co-chair for the Biomolecular Self-Assembly session at the American Institute of Chemical Engineers meeting, served as Guest Editor of Applied Sciences, and served on the User Executive Committee for the Molecular Foundry at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. In August 2022, Marras joined The University of Texas at Austin as an assistant professor in the Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering and affiliated faculty member with the Texas Materials Institute.

Research Interests

• Polymeric nanoparticles for RNA delivery
• Soft matter characterization
• Structural DNA nanotechnology for sensing
• Nanorobotics
• Smart soft materials

Research Focus
The Marras Research Group at UT Austin specializes in biomolecular self-assembly, using tunable soft materials for nanoscale engineering. Current focuses are understanding structural design rules for nanoparticles for nucleic acid delivery, developing DNA-based sensors and actuators, and creating smart biohybrid materials.

Related Websites
Marras Research Group

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About
Alex Haynes, M.D., MPH, is charged with developing the research strategy for the Department of Surgery and Perioperative Care, including facilitating collaborations between faculty members and other departments within Dell Medical School and across The University of Texas at Austin campus. He is a practicing surgical oncologist with a focus on melanoma and soft tissue sarcoma. He is the Medical Director for Oncology at UT Health Austin’s Livestrong Cancer Institutes and UT Health Austin’s Surgical Oncology Clinic.

Prior to joining Dell Med, Dr. Haynes was an associate professor of surgery at Harvard Medical School at Massachusetts General Hospital, where he served as the director of the safe surgery program at Ariadne Labs, a center for health care delivery innovation at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

Dr. Haynes received his medical degree from Wayne State University and his Master of Public Health from Columbia University, followed by a surgical residency at Massachusetts General Hospital and a fellowship in complex general surgical oncology at The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. He has published extensively in journals such as the New England Journal of Medicine, JAMA, Annals of Surgery and Health Affairs and serves on the editorial board of Annals of Surgical Oncology.

Research Focus
Dr. Haynes' research has focused on implementing tools to improve patient safety and surgical outcomes at scale, both in the United States and abroad.

Related Websites
UT Health Faculty Profile
Livestrong Cancer Institutes
Surgical Oncology Clinic

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