As an integrative physiologist, my research is rooted in cardiovascular and exercise physiology and focuses on pressure, perfusion, and metabolic regulation of the brain.

My line of research falls in two parallel tracks: 1) a spin-up track which is focused on space and aviation physiology including investigating effects of spaceflight on the human bodyand developing countermeasure to maintain human health during long-term spaceflight and extraterrestial exploration 2) a spin-down track which is focused on medical device and technology development, and applying knowledge gained in space for patients on Earth.

Professor Sodini’s research interests are focused on medical electronic systems for monitoring chronic disease and imaging, with emphasis on ultrasound technology and image processing. These systems require state-of-the-art mixed signal integrated circuit and systems with extremely low energy dissipation.

Dr. Balcells’ research group in tissue engineering has shown how endothelial cell states are critical to tissue response to injury, vascular and neurological. The concepts she has elaborated have already helped understand why microvascular disease is such an important element and exacerbent of neurologically dementing diseases. Dr. Balcells’ research bridges the cardiovascular and neuroscientific domains – closing the gap between computational predictions and animal models, through functional and signaling studies on endothelial and neighboring cells performed in a highly multidisciplinary fashion.

Our research and product development interests cross the boundaries of computer vision, acoustic and ultrasonic imaging, large‐scale computation and simulation, optimization, metrology, autonomous systems, and robotics. We use computation, and computer science, as methodology for attacking complex instrumentation problems—our work combines mathematical modeling, simulation, optimization, and experimental observations, to develop instruments and measurement solutions.

The Magnetic Resonance Imaging Group in IMES, EECS, and RLE, conducts investigations in medical imaging with current interests including imaging in pregnancy, the fetus, and placenta, as the fetal stage of human brain development is the most dynamic, the most vulnerable and the most important for lifelong behavioral and cognitive function. With extensive collaborations across MIT, Boston Children’s Hospital, and the Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, the lab’s methodological work spans MRI with inference and mitigation of subject motion, RF design and parallel transmission with shim arrays, AI in MRI, and instrumentation at low field and hands-on form factor.

My research has focused on novel technologies for disease diagnosis and treatment and has spanned from early innovation through development and validation and into clinical applications. Instruments that I have invented and developed have been applied in clinical studies of cervical cancer, bladder cancer, coronary atherosclerosis, laryngeal pathology, dermatologic lesions, colonic and esophageal cancer, and diseases of the common bile duct and pancreas. 

Focusing on the interface of fluid dynamics and epidemiology, The Fluid Dynamics of Disease Transmission Laboratory, within the Fluids and Health Network, led by Prof. Bourouiba, aims to elucidate the fundamental physical mechanisms shaping the transmission dynamics of pathogens in human, animal, and plant populations where drops, bubbles, multiphase and complex flows are at the core, in addition to broader questions at the intersection of health, broadly defined, and fluid physics.

The Edelman Laboratory unites clinicians, engineers, and scientists from academia, industry, and medicine, who guided by a mechanistic understanding of biological and physical systems translate fundamental discoveries into tangible clinical advances. Projects range from examining fundamental basis of dynamical systems and complex diseases, to the interplay of mechanical support devices and native physiology, to investigation of the cellular and molecular mechanisms that govern vascular disease. Using the spectrum of resources from AI to imaging, single cell analysis to clinical trials the Lab transforms complex biological insights into innovative solutions that improve patient outcomes and redefine the boundaries between science and medicine.

Professor Gehrke’s research interests center on molecular aspects of host-pathogen interactions and on the pathogenesis of RNA viruses. Current experimental work focuses on understanding how viruses that are closely related in genetic sequence cause highly variable disease outcomes. Examples include Zika virus, which is correlated with birth defects including microcephaly, as well as dengue fever virus, which is in most cases a self-limited disease that does not cause congenital abnormalities. Cerebral organoids grown from human embryonic stem cells or human induced pluripotent stems cells closely mimic the human brain and serve as models for defining virus tropisms (which cells are infected) and subsequent effects on cell growth or cell death. Collaborative work with other IMES faculty permits three-dimensional imaging of virus infections, and single cell sequence analysis distinguishes transcriptional profiles in infected and uninfected cells.

Professor Gray’s current research builds on her experience directing HST and aims to establish validated approaches to accelerate biomedical technology innovation. Through a novel approach to research development that engages young talent and a diverse group of stakeholders from the academic, medical, and business sectors, she has spearheaded the development of numerous projects that have produced intellectual property flow at more than twice the volume and pace normally seen by MIT’s technology licensing office, brought numerous researchers into new areas, and attracted follow on funding through public and private sources.

The interdisciplinary research in the Shalek Lab aims to create and implement new approaches to elucidate cellular and molecular features that inform tissue-level function and dysfunction across the spectrum of human health and disease. Professor Shalek’s research encompasses both the development of broadly enabling technologies as well as their application to characterize, model, and rationally control complex multicellular systems. Current studies with partners around the world seek to methodically dissect human disease to understand links between cellular features and clinical observations, including how: immune cells coordinate balanced responses to environmental changes with tissue-resident cells; host cell-pathogen interactions evolve across time and tissues during pathogenic infection; and, tumor cells evade homeostatic immune activity.

Are the mechanics and energetic requirements of human performance across the continuum of gravity from microgravity (0 G) to lunar and Martian gravity levels (1/6 G and 3/8 G, respectively) to hypergravity (>1 G) altered from the 1 G mechanics and energetics? The multidisciplinary research effort combines aerospace bioengineering, human-in-the-loop dynamics and control modeling, biomechanics, human interface technology, life sciences, and systems analysis and design. The research studies are carried out through flight experiments, ground-based simulations, and mathematical and computer modeling. Other research efforts include advanced space suit design and navigation aids for EVA astronauts.

Research in the Therapeutic Technology Design and Development Lab incorporates soft robotics, unique fabrication methods and computational analysis tools into the device design process to develop novel strategies for organ assist and tissue repair. We design and develop implantable medical devices that augment or assist native function.

Thomas’s research interests focus on signal processing, mathematical modeling, and model identification to support real-time clinical decision making, monitoring of disease progression, and titration of therapy, primarily in neurocritical and neonatal critical care. In particular, Thomas is interested in developing a mechanistic understanding of physiologic systems, and in formulating appropriately chosen computational physiologic models for improved patient care. His research is conducted in close collaboration with colleagues at MIT and clinicians from Boston-area hospitals.