Research Labs

Our research group explores the interface of organic bioelectronics and neural tissue to develop advanced neuroelectronic devices for diagnosing and treating neurological disorders and diseases. Our work is inherently multidisciplinary, integrating expertise in:

• Materials Science: Design, characterization, and fabrication of biocompatible and flexible organic bioelectronic devices.
• Electronics: Integration of sensor and acquisition electronics for high-fidelity neural interfacing.
• Neuroscience: neural recording/stimulation technologies, and in vivo testing platforms.
• Biomedical Translation: Bridging fundamental discoveries to clinical applications in diagnostics, therapeutics, and regenerative medicine.

Research Focus Areas

• Neural Regeneration: Leveraging combinatorial guidance cues to promote nerve repair and functional recovery.
• Targeted Drug Delivery: Development of microchip-based platforms for localized, responsive drug release in brain tumor therapy.
• 3D-Printed Bioelectronics: Advancing customized, patient-specific bioelectronic interfaces using novel organic semiconductors
• High-Performance Neurochemical Biosensors: Designing selective, real-time monitoring systems for neurotransmitter and biomarker detection.
• Soft, Low-Impedance Neural Interfaces: Engineering drug-eluting, biocompatible neural probes for enhanced signal acquisition and reduced tissue response.

Our mission is to push the boundaries of bioelectronic medicine, translating innovative material and device technologies into clinically viable solutions for neurological healthcare.
 

Brain Chip for Precision Medicine
The ability to quickly assess the effectiveness of a cancer drug would be a notable improvement over typical cancer protocols in which chemotherapy drugs are given, then tested for several months, and a patient switched to another drug if the first is ineffective. We have developed new brain cancer chip allows multiple-simultaneous drug administration, and a massive parallel testing of drug response for patients with glioblastoma (GBM). This platform could optimize the use of rare tumor samples derived from GBM patients to provide valuable insight on the tumor growth and responses to drug therapies in as little as two weeks. Further, this platform could be applied to related tissue engineering drug screening studies. (In collaboration with Jay-Jiguang Zhu, MD, director, Neuro Oncology, McGovern Medical School at UT Health.)

More information can be found here:

• https://neurosciencenews.com/brain-cancer-chip-15503/
• https://www.tmc.edu/news/2020/01/improved-brain-chip-for-precision-medicine/
• https://www.newsbreak.com/texas/houston/news/2072626856219/research-from-akay-lab-tops-among-ieee-popularity
• https://twitter.com/IEEEembs/status/1305921044092530690

Effect of Maternal Substance Abuse on the Dopamine Neural Circuitry during Early Maturation
Our preliminary data suggests that dopamine neurons, in response to nicotine exposure during pregnancy, were significantly activated. We hypothesize that the impacted dopamine can result in babies being born addicted to nicotine. Once we understand which gene regulator networks, and which gene pathways are altered, we can develop targeted medication that could eliminate addiction in offspring. We believe that our research may identify new molecular or cellular pathways that can be probed for future treatments that could assist in smoking or alcohol cessation.

More information can be found here:

• https://neurosciencenews.com/genetics-nicotine-dopamine-10699/
• https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-09/uoh-an092320.php
• https://www.pourquoidocteur.fr/Articles/Question-d-actu/33902-La-consommation-d-alcool-tabac-debut-de-grossesse-multiplie-risques

An Intelligent Wearable System for the Localization of Coronary Occlusions
We have developed a new and relevant approach for the early detection of coronary artery disease by detecting and analyzing diastolic heart sounds associated with turbulent blood flow in partially occluded coronary arteries. The acoustic approach differs from other more customary techniques based on the coronary artery disease symptoms. Decision parameters used in this research are independent of those used in other noninvasive techniques and may be used with the other noninvasive techniques to achieve an improved, non-invasive diagnostic capability.

The research interests of the joint labs of Drs. Naash and Al-Ubaidi involve primarily the study of the mechanisms of retinal degeneration in animal models of human blinding disorders. Knockin mouse models for mutations that affect humans are generated and subjected to non-invasive functional and structural techniques to assess the rate of degeneration. Then molecular and biochemical analyses are performed on retinal samples obtained from the mouse models. These mouse models are then used to develop nanoparticle based gene therapy to ameliorate the disease phenotype. The animals models used in the labs are for retinitis pigmentosa and Usher syndrome. Another approach that has been recently introduced is the study, using metabolomics, of the metabolic changes that occur prior and during the retinal degenerative process. A student working on any of these projects would attain hands-on experience in electroretinography, optical coherence tomography, fundus imaging, as well as molecular, biochemical, cell biological and histologic techniques. Research in the Naash and Al-Ubaidi labs is funded by awards from the National Eye Institute.

My lab works towards the restoration of movement control via Brain-Machine Interfacing (BMI). We utilize high channel count (100 – 1000 electrodes) neurophysiological recording and stimulation to form bidirectional-BMIs, which translate neural activity into control signals for robotics and computer control and input information directly into the brain, such as somatosensory information. I’m also interested in using ideas from Psychology, Neuroscience, and Economics towards developing autonomously learning BMIs and a general understanding of the brain towards decision making and planning. A third main interest of mine has been the study of learning and memory. I’ve been utilizing psychophysical, electrophysiological, molecular, and computational methods to understand learning and memory and to input and erase memory. Publications: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=KE8n0OAP4cEC&hl=en

Dr. Howard Gifford's research in image science is devoted to medical imaging, primarily emphasizing the development, assessment, and optimization of imaging systems for detecting cancer. One branch of the work is concerned with devising reliable models for predicting the diagnostic utility of new clinical imaging technology. The second and more expansive branch of work is directed at actually applying these predictive models to design and optimize diagnostic imaging systems. Current areas of interest include gamma-ray imaging with positron emission tomography (PET) and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and x-ray digital tomosynthesis (DT).

Cardiovascular Tissue Engineering Laboratory focuses on developing tools and techniques to investigate heart development and cardiovascular disease mechanisms.

Approaches:

• Microenvironmental cues
• Mechanotransduction
• Tissue stucture/architecture
• Electro/chemical signals
• Genetic and epigenetic cues

The research activities in the Biomedical Optics Laboratory concern the development of novel methods for structural and functional imaging of tissues and cells (based on Optical Coherence Tomography and Optical Elastography techniques).

We are interested in development of micro- and nano-scale platforms that enable studying molecular processes on and across biological membranes, and mimic these membranes for drug delivery and biosensing applications.

Dr. Mohan’s laboratory focuses on the diagnostics and therapeutics of autoimmune diseases and malignancies, as detailed in https://mohanlab.bme.uh.edu

Diseases of Interest: Lupus, Autoimmune Diseases, Cancers of the gastrointestinal and urinary tracts 

Techniques/Platforms of Interest: Proteomics, Arrays, Point of Care Tests (Vertical Flow Assays), Novel diagnostic tools, Imaging Mass Cytometry, 3D cultures of renal and immune tissue, Nanomaterials, AI and Machine Learning 

Please visit lab URL for more details: https://mohanlab.bme.uh.edu

Our aim is to better understand human neuromotor control of dynamic whole-body movements, with an emphasis on locomotion. We develop recording and signal processing approaches for cleaning non-invasive electrophysiological recordings in mobile conditions. By applying state-of-the-art methods for simultaneously measuring gait biomechanics, and electrical brain and muscle activities, we have identified human locomotor control processes in virtual and real-world environments that were previously not possible.

The REIGN Lab’s research is focused on understanding the mechanisms of neuromuscular coordination in neurologically intact and impaired individuals (esp. stroke) and translating resultant scientific findings into developing novel neurorehabilitation strategies. We also assess the effects of the rehabilitation methods by using multi-modal approaches including brain imaging. Our multi-faceted work uses rehabilitation robotics, brain stimulation and neuromodulation, and electromyographic and kinematic quantification. We often collaborate with engineers, neuroscientists, and clinicians because of the multidisciplinary nature of the work. Below are the major research areas in the REIGN lab:

• Developing myoelectric signal-guided neurorehabilitation strategies to improve motor function after stroke
• Examining the effects of operant conditioning of motor evoked potential on intermuscular coordination after stroke
• Developing automatized quantification of motor impairment after stroke by using rehabilitation robotics

The research in the Blood Microfluidics Laboratory (Prof. Sergey Shevkoplyas) is focused on development and clinical translation of high-throughput microfluidic devices and single-cell analysis tools in the field of blood storage and transfusion medicine.  Our goal is to develop technology for eliminating mediators of toxicity from stored blood, and for separating whole blood into components for transfusion in resource-limited settings.  A significant additional thrust of our research efforts is the development of low-cost point-of-care diagnostics (e.g., for sickle cell disease).

Dr. Tianfu Wu Research Laboratory has the following research focus: (1) Discovery and identification of drug targets for immunological and neuropsychiatric diseases; (2) Development of next generation point-of-care diagnostics systems, including biochips, nanomaterial-based fluorescent/NIR probes, and nano-polymeric biosensors for ultrasensitive detection of disease state. The goal is to tackle the existing technological challenges in effective detection of low-abundant proteins and post-translational modified proteins in complex biological samples, especially when these proteins are critical in the pathogenesis of diseases. The development of these novel technologies will aid in early diagnostics, disease monitoring, assessment of drug responses and guiding treatment strategy; (3) Development of versatile and biocompatible nanomaterials for drug delivery to improve bioavailability, effective targeting and controlled release of drugs for chronic diseases. This includes the delivery strategy for combinatory medicine, e.g. the combination of drug/gene therapy. The goal is to tackle the problems of drug efficacy, drug resistance and side-effects commonly seen in today’s medicine.