Danielle Wu
Assistant Professor
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
School of Dentistry
Department of Diagnostic and Biomedical Sciences
Dr. Wu's main areas of expertise include mechanobiology and tissue engineering. Her research interests include developing and testing tissue engineering prototypes in preclinical models for the restoration of tissue function after radiation-induced damage. This work uses primary human stem/progenitor cells in bioactive hydrogel culture systems as a vehicle for transplantation and biointegration.
Additionally, she investigates mechanotransduction mechanisms in skeletal tissues and uses biomimetic culture systems to elucidate bone's responses to mechanical loading, aging, and disuse. Bioequivalent and scalable ‘tissue-avatars’ are used to investigate bone remodeling and repair, implant performance, microgravity effects, and therapeutic interactions in health and disease.
Graduate students and trainees working in the laboratory will gain experience in biomaterials, 3D culture models, and translational tissue engineering approaches with an emphasis on live-cell imaging and analysis, dynamic culture design, molecular biology techniques, and pre-clinical prototyping. Our research projects are collaborative and interdisciplinary with fellow engineers, scientists, dentists, and/or physicians that harness the team’s collective expertise to develop solutions to improve overall heath.
Education & Training
PhD, The City College of New York, 2012