We develop high-throughput platforms for cell-based assays and we take a quantitative approach to extract high-content information from the data collected. 

One current project aims at determining the effects of microparticles on cellular function. Using microfluidic technology, we can array thousands of single cells and monitor their individual responses to diverse chemicals. Applied to particle matters collected from air filters, such a platform will allow us to gain a better understanding of the impact of air quality on health.

We also develop platforms for organoids. Organoids are 3D cell assemblies that recapitulate part of an organ function. We have designed and implemented a device for the culture of individual brain organoids on chip. This system allows for better control of culture conditions and study the conditions of differentiation from pluripotent cells to highly specialized cells. This platform may be used for disease modeling and drug screen.

Highlighted Lab Publications

[1] Chung, K., Rivet, C., Kemp, M., and Lu, H., Imaging Single-Cell Signaling Dynamics with a Deterministic High-Density Single-Cell Trap Array. Analytical Chemistry. 2011, 83. https://doi.org/10.1021/ac2011153

[2] Chingozha, L., Zhan, M., Zhu, C., and Lu, H., A Generalizable, Tunable Microfluidic Platform for Delivering Fast Temporally Varying Chemical Signals to Probe Single-Cell Response Dynamics. Analytical Chemistry. 2014, 86. https://doi.org/10.1021/ac5019843

[3] He, L., Kniss, A., San-Miguel, A., et al., An automated programmable platform enabling multiplex dynamic stimuli delivery and cellular response monitoring for high-throughput suspension single-cell signaling studies. Lab Chip. 2015, 15. https://doi.org/10.1039/C4LC01070A

[4] Kniss-James, A., Rivet, C., Chingozha, L, Lu, H., Kemp, M., Single-cell resolution of intracellular T cell Ca2+ dynamics in response to frequency-based H2O2 stimulation, Integrative Biology, 2017, 9. https://doi.org/10.1039/C61B00186F

[5] Charles, S., Aubry, G., Chou, H., Paaby, A., Lu, H., High-Temporal-Resolution smFISH Method for Gene Expression Studies in Caenorhabditis elegans Embryos. Analytical Chemistry. 2021, 93. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.analchem.0c02966