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Resident Faculty of the NJCBM While more than 25 faculty laboratories collaborate with the New Jersey Center for Biomaterials, the Center's resident faculty conducts the core research and provides the core technologies that support the Center's programs. For more information on the scientific projects led by these researchers please visit www.kohnlab.org. Joachim Kohn PhD, Weizmann Institute of Science Director, New Jersey Center for Biomaterials Board of Governors Professor of Chemistry  Joachim Kohn is a leader in biomaterials science and widely known for the development of tyrosine-derived, resorbable polymers, one of which is now used in an FDA-approved medical device. Kohn's current research efforts focus on the development of a new "discovery paradigm" for revolutionary biomaterials using combinatorial and computational methods to optimize the composition and properties of biomaterials for specific applications, particularly tissue engineering and drug delivery. As a first demonstration of the utility of this approach, Kohn led a team of scientists who discovered an optimized polymer for use in a fully degradable cardiovascular stent which has been tested in clinical trials in Germany and Brazil. Additional clinical trials are planned. Kohn's combinatorial biomaterials design approach was also used for the development of optimized polymers by Lux Biosciences (ophthalmic applications) and by Trident Biomedical (orthopedic applications). Durgadas Bolikal PhD, Marquette University Associate Research Professor  Das Bolikal is an expert in the synthesis and modification of polymers used for biomedical applications. He works with polymer systems such as pseudo-poly(amino acids), poly(ethylene glycol)-based polymers, polymerized surfactants, and vesicles. His collaborations with industrial sponsors provide the synthetic and analytic services needed for commercialization activities. Jared Bushman, PhD, University of Rochester Medical Center Assistant Research Professor  Jared Bushman is a biomedical geneticist with broad experience and expertise in cell biology, neuroscience, and molecular genetics. His current research is focused on four main topics: covalently attaching full length proteins to polymer surfaces, understanding the genetic changes induced in cells and tissues by interaction with differing substratum, modulating polymers to induce desirable changes in cellular redox, and improving cell and polymer based methods for nerve regenerationCarmine Iovine MS, Rutgers – the State University Assistant Research Professor  Carmine Iovine was Group Vice President for Research at ICI/National Starch before joining the faculty of the Center. He is an expert in the management of large research groups and the implementation of industry-academia interactions. His research interests focus on the chemistry of synthetic, water soluble polymers including polyelectrolytes, and in the application of these materials to delivery systems, personal care, food and adhesive applications. He also has considerable expertise in the use of high throughput workflow techniques for the discovery of unique formulated products. Bozena Michniak PhD, Leicester Polytechnic Professor of Pharmaceutics  Bozena Michniak’s research group focuses on biological membrane drug transport and delivery, involving principally topical and transdermal drug delivery. The main interest is the enhancement of drug permeation using chemical and physical techniques (iontophoresis, microneedles) as well as novel carriers (nanospheres). She also works on the tissue engineering of a full-thickness human skin equivalent, based on the co-culture of fibroblasts and keratinocytes using collagen and novel polymer meshes as dermal matrices. Sanjeeva Murthy PhD, University of Connecticut Associate Research Professor  Sanjeeva Murthy has a broad background in materials science, biophysics and engineering, which he uses to develop and mine structure-property relationships with the goals of tailoring polymers for biomedical applications and studying interactions between cells and substrates at multiple length scales. His expertise includes use of x-ray crystallography for characterization of polymer surfaces, thin films, and interfaces in order to study cell growth and adhesion. |
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