Research Interests

The lab's research vision embraces the use of science and technology as a means to make breakthroughs that will benefit humans and our planet by bringing solutions to serious societal problems, particularly in the field of healthcare. The problem of lack of timely access to quality healthcare is increasingly affecting many in need, often due to shortcomings in hospital-centered systems increasingly burdened by the abundant ailments of an expanding population of the elderly. The recent pandemic has additionally exposed vulnerabilities in medical supply availability. All of this underscores the utility of improving access to advanced and personalized biomedical technologies - such as wearable and implantable devices - that could reduce the reliance on equipment and instruments located within hospital buildings. That is the strength and promise of these types of devices. Based on wearable/implantable technologies that are low-cost, sustainably produced and readily accessible, key physical health conditions can be observed at user-centric settings in real time, and proactive treatment can be administered before severe illnesses advance to a life-threatening stage. In some cases, these devices themselves can provide therapeutic deliverables, such as drugs or electrical stimulation, a point-of-care method promising to revolutionize parts of the healthcare system by decreasing the load on hospitals. Providing reliable and personalized information in this timely and actionable manner has the potential to save both lives and financial resources. The lab is interested in developing functional materials, structures and fabrication strategies to make these types of devices that interface with the human body as shown in the picture below.