Gallego-Perez Nano Medicine Laboratory
Gallego-Perez Nano Medicine Laboratory
Our Mission
The Nano-Medicine Laboratory at OSU is dedicated to the development and implementation of novel micro-/nanoscale platforms (e.g., Lab-on-Chip devices, gene delivery chips, tissue engineering scaffolds) for applications in fundamental and/or translational medical research.
Research Focus
Nanotechnology-enabled nuclear reprogramming and cell therapies
Recent advances in nuclear reprogramming have opened up the possibility for the development of highly effective, patient-specific cell therapies. Current methodologies for reprogramming, however, face a number of translational hurdles, including heavy reliance on viral vectors, and the highly stochastic nature of current transfection methodologies. New technologies capable of mediating nuclear reprogramming through non-viral deterministic approaches are needed in order to facilitate the transition from lab bench to bedside. Our lab focuses on the development of virus-free nanotechnology-based approaches to controllably reprogram cells and tissues for regenerative medicine applications.
Lab-on-a-Chip Platforms for Single-Cellular and Molecular Bio-Interrogation
Lab on a chip (LOC)-type systems are powerful tools for fundamental studies and analytics in a number of biomedical applications. Such systems can enable single-cellular and molecular biointerrogation with high spatial and temporal resolution. We have developed a number of novel LOC platforms for different applications, including cytotoxicity studies of chemicals and nanomaterials at the single cell level, and monitoring primary and metastatic tumor cell motility patterns under guided migration conditions.
Micro- and Nanofabricated Platforms for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine
Micro- and nanoscale technologies have been shown to offer unique capabilities to probe and recapitulate many aspects of the cellular microenvironment. This has had tremendous implications in different applications, including the development of massively parallel organoid cultures for drug discovery, and the fabrication of tissue engineering scaffolds for regenerative medicine. We have developed a number of system platforms that integrate both micro- and nanoscale components capable of modulating the assembly of microscale tissue subunits. In addition, we developed simpler protocols for the fabrication of 3D tissue engineering scaffolds with controlled geometry and chemistry at the micro- and nanoscale.
Materials Surface Engineering for Biomedical Applications
Micro- and nanoscale technologies have been consistently used to precisely modify the surface chemistry and/or topography of biomaterials. Nano- to microscale surface features, in particular, have the potential to strongly modulate cell behavior through topographical stimulation even in the absence of other chemical/biological cues. We have developed a number of approaches to modify the surface of implant materials to elicit favorable cellular responses.
Micro/Nanoscale Processing of Biomaterials for Novel Applications
A number of biomaterials could exhibit very unique properties at the micro- and nanoscale. Being able to controllably manipulate such systems at such scale could enable a host novel applications. We have developed a number of simple processes to alter the micro/nanoscale properties of different materials for potential use in biomedical applications. These include modifying the nanocrystalline structure of a cement material for bone tissue engineering applications, and microtopographical manipulation of stimuli-responsive surfaces for cell culture applications among others.
Publications
- Moore J, Alzate-Correa D, Dasgupta D, Lawrence W, Dodd D, Mathews C, Valerio I, Rink C, Higuita-Castro N, Gallego-Perez D. Micro- and Nanoscale Biointerrogation and Modulation of Neuro Tissue - From Fundamental to Clinical and Military Applications. Edited by Xingyu J, Bai C, Liu M. Wiley. 2019.
- Wu Y, Gallego-Perez D, Lee LJ. Microwell Array-Mediated Delivery of Lipoplexes Containing Nucleic Acids for Enhanced Therapeutic Efficacy. In: RNA Interference - Challenges and Therapeutic Opportunities. Edited by Mouldy S. Springer. 2014.
- Gallego-Perez D, Pelaez-Vargas A, Gomez D, Fernandes MH, Hansford D, Monteiro FJ. Proliferation of Human Bone Marrow Stem Cells for Craniofacial applications. In: Stem Cells and Cancer Stem Cells: Therapeutic Applications in Disease and Injury. Edited by Hayat MA. Springer. 2012.
- Pelaez-Vargas A, Gallego-Perez D, Higuita-Castro N, Carvalho A, Grenho L, Arismendi JA, Fernandes MH, Ferraz MP, Hansford DJ, Monteiro FJ. Micropatterned Coatings for Guided Tissue Regeneration in Dental Implantology. In: Cell Interaction. Edited by Gowder S. InTech. 2012.
- Gallego-Perez D, Chang L, Shi J, Ma J, Kim S-H, Zhao X, Malkoc V, Wang X, Minata M, Kwak KJ, Wu Y, Lafyatis G, Lu W, Hansford DJ, Nakano I, Lee LJ. On-chip clonal analysis of glioma stem cell motility and therapy resistance. Nano Letters 2016. DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.6b00902.
- Gu S-Q, Gallego-Perez D, McClory S, Shi J, Han J, Lee LJ, Schoenberg D. The human PMR1 endonuclease stimulates cell motility by down regulating miR-200 family microRNAs. Nucleic Acids Research 2016. DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkw497.
- Kim S-H, Ezhilarasan R, Phillips E, Gallego-Perez D, Sparks A, Taylor D, Ladner K, Furuta T, Sabit H, Chhipa R, Cho J-H, Mohyeldin A, Beck S, Kurozumi K, Kuroiwa T, Iwata R, Asai A, Kim J, Sulman EP, Cheng S-Y, Lee LJ, Nakada M, Guttridge D, DasGupta B, Goidts V, Bhat KP, Nakano I. Serine/Threonine Kinase MLK4 Determines Mesenchymal Identity in Glioma Stem Cells in an NF-κB-dependent Manner. Cancer Cell 2016; 29:201-213.
- Gallego-Perez D, Otero JJ, Czeisler C, Ma J, Ortiz C, Gygli P, Catacutan F, Gokozan H, Cowgill A, Sherwood T, Ghatak S, Malkoc V, Zhao Z, Liao W-C, Gnyawali S, Wang X, Adler AF, Leong K, Wulff B, Wilgus TA, Askwith C, Khanna S, Rink C, Sen CK, Lee LJ. Deterministic Transfection Drives Efficient Nonviral Reprogramming and Uncovers Reprogramming Barriers. Nanomedicine 2015. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.nano.2015.11.015.
- Malkoc V, Gallego-Perez D, Nelson T, Lannutti JJ, Hansford DJ. Controlled neuronal cell patterning and guided neurite growth on micropatterned nanofiber platforms. Journal of Micromechanics and Microengineering 2015. 25: 125001.
- Bertani P, Lu W, Chang L, Gallego-Perez D, Lee LJ, Chiang C, Muthusamy N. Bosch etching for the creation of a 3D nanoelectroporation system for high throughput gene delivery. JVSTB 2015/ 33: 06F903.
- Zhao X, Huang X, Wang X, Wu Y, Eisfeld A-K, Schwind S, Gallego-Perez D, Boukany PE, Marcucci GI, Lee LJ. Nanochannel Electroporation as a Platform for Living Cell Interrogation in Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Advanced Science 2015. DOI: 10.1002/advs.201500111.
- Chang L, Bertani P, Gallego-Perez D, Yang Z, Chen F, Chang C, Malkoc V, Kuang T, Gao K, Lee LJ, Lu W. 3D Nanochannel Electroporation for High-throughput Cell Transfection with High Uniformity and Dosage Control. Nanoscale 2015; 8:243-252.
- Gallego-Perez D, Chang L, Zhao X, Bertani P, Yang Z, Chiang C-L, Malkoc V, Shi J, Sen CK, Odonnell L, Yu J, Lu W, Lee LJ. Dielectrophoresis-assisted 3D nanoelectroporation for non-viral cell transfection in adoptive immunotherapy. Lab Chip 2015. 15: 3147-3153.
- Holfinger SJ, Reinhardt JW, Reen R, Schultz KM, Passino KM, Ackerman WE, Kniss DA, Sander LM, Gallego-Perez D, Gooch KJ. Pancreatic Epithelial Cells Form Islet-Like Clusters in the Absence of Directed Migration. Cellular and Molecular Bioengineering 2015; 8:496-506.
- Zhao X, Wu Y, Gallego-Perez D, Kwak K, Gupta C, Ouyang X, Lee LJ. Effect of Non-Endocytic Uptake of Nanoparticles on Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells. Anal Chem 2015. 17: 3208-3215.
- Wang X, Huang X, Yang Z, Gallego-Perez D, Ma J, Zhao X, Xie J, Nakano I, Lee LJ. Targeted Delivery of Tumor Suppressor MicroRNA-1 by Transferrin-Conjugated Lipopolyplex Nanoparticles to Patient-Derived Glioblastoma Stem Cells. Curr Pharm Biotechno 2014; 15:839-846.
- Chang L, Howdyshell M, Liao W-C, Chiang C-L, Gallego-Perez D, Yang Z, Lu W, Byrd JC, Muthusamy N, Lee LJ, Sooryakumar R. Magnetic Tweezers-based 3D Microchannel Electroporation for High-Throughput Gene Transfection in Living Cells. Small 2014. 11: 1818-1828.
- Xie P, He P, Yen Y-C, Kwak K, Gallego-Perez D, Chang L, Liao W-C, Yi A, Lee LJ. Rapid hot embossing of polymer microstructures using carbide-bonded graphene coating on silicon stampers. Surface and Coatings Technology 2014. 15:174-180.
- Benavente-Babace A, Gallego-Perez D, Hansford DJ, Arana S, Perez-Lorenzo E, Mujika M. Single-cell trapping and selective treatment via co-flow within a microfluidic platform. Biosensors and Bioelectronics 2014; 61:298–305.
- Gupta C, Liao W-C, Gallego-Perez D, Castro CE, Lee LJ. DNA translocation through short nanofluidic channels under asymmetric pulsed electric field. Biomicrofluidics 2014; 8:024114.
- Gao K, Li L, He L, Hinkle K, Wu Y, Ma J, Chang L, Zhao X, Gallego-Perez D, Eckardt S, Mclaughlin J, Liu B, Farson DF, Lee LJ. Design of a Microchannel-Nanochannel-Microchannel Array Based Nanoelectroporation System for Precise Gene Transfection. Small 2014; 10:1015–1023.
- Huang W, Yu J, Kwak KJ, Gallego-Perez D, Liao W, Yang H, Ouyang X, Li L, Lu W, Lafyatis GP, Lee LJ. Atomic Carbide Bonding Leading to Superior Graphene Networks. Advanced Materials 2013; 25: 4668-4672.
- Gallego-Perez D, Pelaez-Vargas A, Carvalho A, Fernandes MH, Hansford DJ, Monteiro FJ. Effects of density of anisotropic micro-stamped silica thin films on guided bone tissue regeneration – in vitro study. J Biomed Mater Res B Appl Biomater 2013; 101:762-769.
- Wu Y, Cavanaugh-Terp M, Kwak KJ, Gallego-Perez D, Nana-Sinkam SP, Lee LJ. Surface-Mediated Nucleic Acid Delivery by Lipoplexes Prepared in Microwell Arrays. Small 2013; 9:2358-2367.
- Fei Z, Wu Y, Sharma S, Gallego-Perez D, Higuita-Castro N, Hansford DJ, Lannutti J, Lee LJ. Gene Delivery to Cultured Embryonic Stem Cells Using Nanofiber-Based Sandwich Electroporation. Anal Chem 2013; 85:1401–1407.
- Dinan B, Gallego-Perez D, Lee H, Hansford DJ, Akbar SA. Thermally Grown TiO2 Nanowires for Improving Cell Growth and Proliferation on Titanium Based Materials. Ceram Int 2012; 39: 5949–5954.
- Higuita-Castro N, Gallego-Perez D, Love K, Sands MR, Kaletunc G, Hansford DJ. Soft Lithography-Based Fabrication of Biopolymer Microparticles for Nutrient Microencapsulation. Ind. Biotechnol 2012; 8: 365-371.
- Gallego-Perez D, Higuita-Castro N, Denning L, DeJesus J, Dahl K, Sarkar A, Hansford DJ. Microfabricated mimics of in vivo structural cues for the study of guided tumor cell migration. Lab Chip 2012; 12: 4424-4432.
- Carvalho A, Pelaez-Vargas A, Gallego-Perez D, Grenho L, Fernandes MH, De Aza AH, Ferraz MP, Hansford DJ, Monteiro FJ. Micropatterned silica thin films with nanohydroxyapatite micro-aggregates for guided tissue regeneration. Dent Mater 2012; 28:1250-1260.
- Wang F, He H, Wang X, Li Z, Gallego-Perez D, Guan J, James Lee LJ. Micropatterned Thermoresponsive Surfaces by Polymerization of Monomer Crystals: Modulating Cellular Morphology and Cell–Substrate Interactions. Anal Chem 2012; 84:9439–9445.
- Gallego-Perez D, Higuita-Castro N, Reen RK, Palacio-Ochoa M, Sharma S, Lee LJ, Lannutti JJ, Hansford DJ, Gooch KJ. Micro/nanoscale technologies for the development of hormone-expressing islet-like cell clusters. Biomed Microdevices 2012; 14:779-789.
- Carvalho A, Pelaez-Vargas A, Gallego-Perez D, Fernandes MH, Hansford DJ, Monteiro FJ. Micropatterned bioactive thin films for guided bone regeneration. Eur Cell Mater 2012; 23 (Suppl 2): 13.
- Pelaez-Vargas A, Gallego-Perez D, Fernandes MH, Hansford D, Monteiro FJ. Microstructured coatings to study the behavior of osteoblast-like cells on hard materials. Bone 2011; 48 (Suppl 2): S105-S106.
- Carvalho A, Pelaez-Vargas A, Gallego-Perez D, Fernandes MH, Hansford D, Monteiro FJ. Adhesion and proliferation of mesenchymal stem cells on micropatterned thin films modified with nanohydroxyapatite particles. Bone 2011; 48 (Suppl 2): S106.
- Higuita-Castro N, Gallego-Perez D, Pelaez-Vargas A, García Quiroz F, Posada OM, Lopez LE, Sarassa CA, Agudelo-Florez P, Monteiro FJ, Litsky AS, Hansford DJ. Reinforced Portland cement porous scaffolds for load- bearing bone tissue engineering applications. J Biomed Mater Res B Appl Biomater 2011; 100B:501-507.
- Gallego-Perez D, Higuita-Castro N, Garcia Quiroz F, Posada OM, Lopez LE, Litsky AS, Hansford DJ. Portland cement for bone tissue engineering: effects of processing and metakaolin blends. J Biomed Mater Res B Appl Biomater 2011; 98B:308-315.
- Pelaez-Vargas A, Gallego-Perez D, Magallanes-Perdomo M, Fernandes MH, Hansford DJ, De Aza AH, Pena P, Monteiro FJ. Isotropic micropatterned silica coatings on zirconia induce guided cell growth for dental implants. Dent Mater 2011; 27:581-589.
- Pelaez-Vargas A, Gallego-Perez D, Ferrell N, Fernandes MH, Hansford D, Monteiro FJ. Early spreading and propagation of bone marrow stem cells on isotropic and anisotropic topographies of silica thin films produced via microstamping. Microsc Microanal 2010; 16:670-676.
- Gallego-Perez D, Ferrell NJ, Higuita-Castro N, Hansford DJ. Versatile methods for the fabrication of polyvinylidene fluoride microstructures. Biomed Microdevices 2010; 12:1009-1017.
- Sabbani S, Gallego-Perez D, Nagy A, Waldman WJ, Hansford D, Dutta PK. Synthesis of silver-zeolite films on micropatterned porous alumina and its application as an antimicrobial substrate. Microporous Mesoporous Mater 2010; 135:131-136.
- Garcia Quiroz F, Posada OM, Gallego-Perez D, Higuita-Castro N, Sarassa C, Hansford DJ, Agudelo-Florez P, Lopez LE. Housekeeping gene stability influences the quantification of osteogenic markers during stem cell differentiation to the osteogenic lineage. Cytotechnology 2010; 62:109-120.
- Ferrell N, Gallego-Perez D, Higuita-Castro N, Butler RT, Reen RK, Gooch KJ, Hansford DJ. Vacuum-assisted cell seeding in a microwell cell culture system. Anal Chem 2010; 82:2380-2386.
- Gallego-Perez D, Higuita-Castro N, Sharma S, Reen RK, Palmer AF, Gooch KJ, Lee LJ, Lannutti JJ, Hansford DJ. High throughput assembly of spatially controlled 3D cell clusters on a micro/nanoplatform. Lab Chip 2010; 10:775-782.
- Pelaez-Vargas A, Gallego-Perez D, Higuita-Castro N, Hansford DJ, Monteiro FJ. Zirconia Microtextured Surfaces Using Soft Lithography. Journal of Dental Research 2010; 89 (Spec Iss B): 4004.
- Pelaez-Vargas A, Gallego-Perez D, Higuita-Castro N, Hansford DJ, Monteiro FJ. Microstamped Silica Films on Curved Zirconia Surfaces. Journal of Dental Research 2010; 89 (Spec Iss B):4005.
- Pelaez-Vargas A, Gallego-Perez D, Fernandes MH, Hansford DJ, Monteiro FJ. Anisotropic Microtextured Silica Thin Films on Zirconia. Journal of Dental Research 2010; 89 (Spec Iss B):1391.
- Pelaez-Vargas A, Higuita-Castro N, Gallego-Perez D, Hansford DJ, Monteiro FJ. Portland Particulated Silica Coatings – Comparison between Two Coating Techniques. Journal of Dental Research 2010; 89 (Spec Iss B):4006.
- Pelaez-Vargas A, Gallego-Perez D, Ferrell N, Fernandes MH, Hansford DJ, Magallanes-Perdomo M, De Aza A, Pena P, Monteiro FJ. Microfabricated SiO2 Thin Films on Structural Dental Ceramics. Bioceramics 2009; 22:779.
- Xu J, Dapino MJ, Gallego-Perez D, Hansford D. Microphone based on Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF) micro-pillars and patterned electrodes. Sens Actuators A 2009; 153:24-32.
- Gallego D, Higuita N, Garcia F, Ferrell N, Hansford DJ. Bioactive Coatings on Portland cement Substrates: Surface precipitation of Apatite-like Crystals. Mater Sci Eng C 2008; 28:353-358.
- Gallego D, Ferrell N, Sun Y, Hansford DJ. Multilayer Micromolding of Degradable Polymer Tissue Engineering Scaffolds. Mater Sci Eng C 2008; 28:347-352.
Primary Investigator
Embedded iFrame
Gallego-Perez Nano-Medicine Lab
3135 Biomedical & Materials Engineering Complex
140 W 19th Avenue
Columbus, OH 43210
gallegoperez.1@osu.edu
614-685-0660 Phone
Team Members
Vasudha Shukla![]() Research Scientist 420 W 12th Ave |
Diego Alzate Correa![]() Post-Doctoral Researcher 3135 Biomedical & Materials Engineering Complex |
Silvia Duarte Sanmiguel![]() Post Doctoral Scholar 614-292-8987 |
Devleena Das![]() Graduate Teaching Associate 3135 Biomedical & Materials Engineering Complex |
Daniel Dodd![]() Graduate Research Associate |
William Lawrence![]() Graduate Research Associate 473 W 12th Ave |
Luke Lemmerman![]() Graduate Research Associate 140 W 19th Ave |
Jordan Moore![]() Graduate Research Associate 473 W 12th Ave |
Ana Panic![]() Graduate Research Associate 3135 Biomedical & Materials Engineering Complex |
Kavya Dathathreya![]() Research Assistant 2-B/H 395 W 12th Ave |
Ludmila Diaz-Starokozheva![]() Lab Manager 3135 Biomedical & Materials Engineering Complex |
Hani Abou Amro![]() Undergraduate Research Asst. BMEC 3135 |
Jared Albert![]() Undergraduate Research Asst. BMEC 3135 |
Jordan Deguzman![]() Undergraduate Research Asst. BMEC 3135 |
Erin Goebel![]() Undergraduate Research Asst. BMEC 3135 |
Jamilah Henry![]() Student Research Assistant 2 473 W 12th Ave |
Adia Holtman![]() Undergraduate Research Asst. BMEC 3135 |
Aidan Maxwell
![]() 1590 High St |
Billy McCoy![]() Undergraduate Research Asst. BMEC 3135 |
Marie Tawfik![]() Undergraduate Research Asst. BMEC 3135 |
Andrea Tran![]() Student Research Assistant 2 473 W 12th Ave |
Rithvik Turaga![]() Undergraduate Research Asst. BMEC 3135 |
Alex Valentine![]() Student Research Assistant 2 473 W 12th Ave |
Jesse Fine![]() |
Santi Mendoza![]() |
Ian Risser![]() 1590 High St |
Nick Seneczko
![]() 410 W 10th Ave |
Alec Sunyecz![]() |
Shipeng Wang![]() |
Lauren Wilch![]() |
Accordions
William Carson, MD

Surgery, The Ohio State University
Dr. Carson is a U.S. board certified surgeon and formally trained surgical oncologist who has been engaged in the study of the immune response to cancer for the past two decades. His laboratory began in 1995 at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute when he was appointed as an assistant professor of surgical oncology at the State University of New York (SUNY) in Buffalo.
Dr. Carson is currently a professor of surgery in Ohio State’s Department of Surgery and maintain a clinical practice in breast cancer and melanoma surgery at the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center (OSUCCC – James). He is the associate director for clinical research at the OSUCCC – James, the interim medical director of its clinical trials office, and the chair of the Cancer Institutional Review Board.
Samir Ghadiali, PhD

Biomedical Engineering, The Ohio State University
Using a combination of engineering, mathematical and molecular biology tools, Dr. Ghadiali's lab focuses on the translation of basic scientific knowledge about how mechanical factors influence disease progression. They develop novel therapeutic agents for several disorders including Otitis Media/Upper Respiratory Infections, Acute Lung Injury, Lung and Breast Cancer and Pulmonary Fibrosis.
His laboratory develops multi-scale computational models of the respiratory system. Current focus areas for the lab included 1) Biomechanical Mechanisms of Upper Respiratory Disorders, 2) Mechanobiology of Cellular Injury and Inflammation during Mechanical Ventilation and 3) Biomechanical Mechanisms of Cancer Cell Metastasis.
Stephen Kolb, MD, PhD

Neurology and Molecular & Cellular Biochemistry, The Ohio State University
The overall goal of Dr. Kolb's research is to understand motor neuron biology to develop effective treatments for motor neuron diseases such as spinal muscular atrophy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and a group of motor neuron diseases called hereditary motor neuropathies. The Kolb Lab is interested in the molecular determinants of the entire life cycle of the motor neuron.The Kolb Lab has translational and basic science components that are focused on optimizing the way motor neuron diseases can be modeled, studied and targeted in the lab, leading the way to improvements in therapeutic development and clinical trial design.
Jose Otero, MD, PhD

Neuroscience, The Ohio State University
Dr. Otero's particular focus is in the understanding of developmental and neoplastic disorders of the central nervous system (CNS). A major goal of the laboratory is to elucidate the etiologies of perinatal breathing disorders such as apnea of prematurity, congenital central hypoventilation syndrome (CCHS) and, ultimately, the sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Dr. Otero's goal is to develop a diagnostic screen that would be able to identify children at risk of perinatal breathing disorders such as apnea of prematurity or SIDS. He also seeks to triage treatments most effectively. Dr. Otero proposes to use induced pluripotent stem cells to model development of human breathing neurons. This “disease in a dish” model will increase understanding of how these neurons develop and provide a tool to study genetic causes of apnea such as CCHS.
Andre Palmer, PhD

Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Ohio State University
Professor Palmer’s research interests encompass the development of novel hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers for a variety of applications in transfusion medicine and tissue engineering. His lab is also developing non-heme based plasma expanders, red blood cell storage solutions and monocyte/macrophage targeted drug delivery systems.
Dr. Palmer is author of more than 89 peer reviewed publications. Among others, he received the National Science Foundation Career Award in 2001, the Lloyd N. Ferguson Young Scientist Award in 2008 from the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers, and the 2012 Harrison Faculty Award for Excellence in Engineering Education from The Ohio State University College of Engineering. Prof. Palmer currently serves on the International Scientific Advisory Committee on Blood Substitutes.
Benjamin Poulose, MD

General Surgery, The Ohio State University
Dr. Poulose’s clinical practice focuses on a holistic approach to maintaining abdominal core health. His research reflects this by finding new ways to combine treatments including surgery, physical therapy, integrative medicine, and alternative medicine to optimize abdominal core health and minimize complications.
Treatment options can include surgery, or other ways to improve a patient’s quality of life without surgery. Dr. Poulose believes that each patient brings a unique set of needs and goals that he considers when developing an effective care plan. He strives to partner with my patients to address their health care needs while working with them to find new ways of improving care for everyone.
Devina Purmessur, PhD

Biomedical Engineering, The Ohio State University
Dr. Purmessur is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at The Ohio State University. Within the Spinal Research Institute, Dr. Purmessur collaborates closely with the Executive and Scientific Director Dr. Marras and orthopedic surgeons Dr. Khan and Lu to investigate the neuro-inflammatory causal pathways underlying discogenic back pain so as to identify targeted treatment strategies.
Dr. Purmessur’s laboratory focuses on understanding the biochemical, biomechanical, and cellular mechanisms underlying pathophysiology in discogenic back pain with translation from 2D through to 3D and in-vivo models. Dr. Purmessur makes significant contributions within the IVD/Spine and Orthopedic communities and recently served as the Young Investigator Member-at-large on the Orthopedic Research Society Board of Directors (2013-2015).
Kristin I. Stanford, PhD.

Physiology and Cell Biology, The Ohio State University
The overall focus of Dr. Stanford's research is to determine the novel molecular mechanisms of exercise that improve metabolic health. There are three major aspects: 1) To determine exercise-induced adaptations to white and brown adipose tissue; 2) to ascertain the effects of parental exercise on the metabolic health of offspring; and 3) to elucidate the effects of exercise that can mediate the hypermetabolic response to burn injury. These lines of investigation will define the molecular basis for the important adaptations that occur with exercise, and will have important ramifications for patients with metabolic and cardiovascular diseases.
Vishnu Babu Sundaresan, PhD

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, The Ohio State University
Dr. Sundaresan's research focuses on concept, design, fabrication, advance characterization and modeling of bio-derived materials systems, autonomous self-healing materials, autonomous materials through hierarchical assembly and minimally invasive magnetoelectrical surgical tools.
He is the co-holder or inventor of several patents and innovations in this area. These include magnetoelectric surgical tools for minimally invasive surgery, thermoelectric extrusion of smart structural composites with molecular precision, biotemplated conducting polymer membranes for energy storage and nuclear reprogramming through regulation of membrane chemoelectrical gradients using conducting polymer membranes.
Dr. Sundaresan has co-authored articles appearing in such well-respected publications as Smart Materials Research and Journal of Intelligent Material Systems and Structures.
Ian Valerio, MD, MS, MBA, FACS

Plastic Surgery, The Ohio State University
As a plastic surgeon, Ian specialize in wound and burn reconstruction, limb salvage, traumatic reconstruction and oncologic or tumor based reconstruction.
He believe that the best way to help patients is to provide them with the best surgical options. Dr. Valerio's care philosophy involves combining traditional reconstructive techniques and regenerative therapies with new and innovative ones in order to improve patient outcomes.
Dr. Valerio's research interests lie in adipose-derived stem cell therapies, targeted muscle reinnervation and craniofacial restoration strategies.