March 2024

• Welcome our new postdoctoral researcher Tess, who will be starting the research of using advanced fabrication methods for the regeneration of a hierarchical blood vessel network in urological tissues, under joint mentorship of Dr. Nasim Annabi and Dr. Renea Sturm.

January 2024

December 2023

October 2023

• Annabi Lab welcomes our latest additions:
  – Jim and Jessie, Ph.D. students
   – Fang, Master’s student.
   We are thrilled to have you on board and extend our best wishes for your academic journey. Here’s to a year filled with success and remarkable achievements!

April 2023

• Congratulations to Dr. Hossein Montazerian for defending his doctorate thesis on Micro- and Nano-Technology Approaches to Biomaterials Processing and Design! We wish him all the best in his postdoctoral position at MIT!

November 2022

• Congratulations to Jose Chevalier for his acceptance into the Medical Doctor program at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA!

May 2022

• Congratulations to Dr. Annabi on being recognized as one of the world’s most highly cited researchers in Engineering & Science! https://research.com/

June 2021 

• Dr. Annabi’s recent e-seminar on Multifunctional Adhesive Hydrogels for Medical Applications! Check this link for more info: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iiduwgWviK4
• Warmest congratulations to Dr. Annabi for receiving the 2021 Biomaterials Science Lectureship Award! Please check this link for more info! https://blogs.rsc.org/bm/2021/06/02/2021-biomaterials-science-lectureship-awarded-to-nasim-annabi/?doing_wp_cron=1622683652.8895180225372314453125

May 2021

• Wound healing is a complex process based on the coordinated signaling molecules and dynamic interactions between the engineered scaffold and newly formed tissue. So far, most of the engineered scaffolds used for the healing of full-thickness skin wounds do not mimic the natural extracellular matrix (ECM) complexity and therefore are not able to provide an appropriate niche for endogenous tissue regeneration. Recently, we engineered adhesive and hemostatic scaffolds with sustained release of the growth factors, which have the potential to stimulate complete skin regeneration for full-thickness wound healing!! Check out for more details: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S174270612100057X?via%3Dihub
• Check out our new work published at Biofabrication on suturable elastomeric tubular grafts with patterned porosity for
  rapid vascularization of 3D constructs, for more details: https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1758-5090/abdf1d
• We are pleased to welcome our new master students Annabella Budiman, Albert Lee and Huo Yadi!!
• Welcome undergraduates Yimin Gu, Cathy Lu, Dominic Gully and Heather Griffiths to our research team!
• Annabi lab welcomes PhD student Joyce Huang from Bioengineering department, who will do rotation in our lab!
• Check out our new paper published at Interventional Neuroradiology focusing on a new aspiration device equipped with a hydro-separator for acute ischemic stroke due to challenging soft and stiff clots. This paper presents a neurostar aspiration catheter with novel hydro-separator technology that macerates clots by a stream of saline inside the catheter. This neurostar catheter with hydro-separator resulted in better success rates than a commercially available aspiration catheter and stent retriever in this experimental model. Check the link for more details:https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/15910199211015060
• Warmest congratulations to Dr. Annabi for being recognized by the Society For Biomaterials (SFB) for the major 2021 Young Investigator Award! SFB has recognized young investigators from around the world who demonstrate outstanding achievement and leadership in the field of biomaterials research. This award is greatly deserved!!! https://www.chemeng.ucla.edu/nasim-annabi-awarded-the-2021-young-investigator-award-from-the-society-for-biomaterials/
• Huge congratulations to our visiting scholar Azadeh for successfully defending her PhD and meanwhile getting a new job as a Scientist – cell line developer and tissue engineer at Orbillion!!

April 2021 

• Our grant on “Eye-Targeted Sustained Delivery of Anti-Inflammatory and Antibiotic Drugs to Injured Eyes” has been approved! Many congratulations!
• Congratulations to our master student  Xi Chen for getting a great position (Decision Analytics) at ZS!
• Check out our new paper on a tissue-engineered human trabecular meshwork hydrogel for advanced glaucoma disease modeling! https://doi.org/10.1016/j.exer.2021.108472

March 2021

• Congratulations to Shima Gholizadeh for publishing a new paper titled “ Advanced nanodelivery platforms for topical ophthalmic drug delivery” in Drug Discovery Today (2021), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drudis.2021.02.027
• Hearty Congratulations to our postdoc researcher Shima for getting a great job as a Senior Scientist at Illumina!!!
• Check out Prof Annabi’s interview on the top of the interview list in the Voices of biotech research section of the most recent issue of Nature Biotechnology!https://www.nature.com/articles/s41587-021-00847-1?utm_source=other&utm_medium=other&utm_content=null&utm_campaign=JRCN_1_DD01_CN_NatureRJ_article_paid_XMOL

February 2021

• Read our recent work on simultaneous targeting of primary tumor, draining lymph node, and distant metastases through high endothelial venule-targeted delivery, published in Nano Today!https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nantod.2020.101045
• Read our recent paper just published in International Journal of Biological Macromolecules. In this work, we highlighted advances in the development of multifunctional hydrogel-based dressings for wound healing. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2020.12.202

January 2021

• Congratulations to Nahideh Asadi for publishing a new paper titled “Multifunctional hydrogels for wound healing: Special focus on biomacromolecular based hydrogels” in International Journal of Biological Macromolecules. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2020.12.202

December 2020

• Congratulations to Farideh Ordikhani for publishing a new paper titled “Targeted nanomedicines for the treatment of bone disease and regeneration” in Medicinal research reviews. https://doi.org/10.1002/med.21759
• Congratulations to Clotilde Jumelle for publishing a new paper titled “Growth factor-eluting hydrogels for management of corneal defects” in Materials Science & Engineering C. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msec.2020.111790
• Congratulations to Farideh Ordikhani and Vivek Kasinath for publishing their paper titled “Selective trafficking of light chain-conjugated nanoparticles to the kidney and renal cell carcinoma” in Nanotoday.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nantod.2020.100990

September 2020

• Congratulations to Dr. Annabi for being selected for the 2020 NSEF Young Investigator award! https://www.aiche.org/community/awards/nsef-young-investigator-award

November 2019

• Congratulations to Jessii and Patrick for winning awards for their poster presentations at the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS) at Anaheim.

October 2019

• Congratulations to Nasim Annabi for her interview with CBS Los Angeles! https://cbsloc.al/2nECcrq

September 2019

• Professor Annabi gave a presentation at the 31st Biennial Cornea Conference in Boston Massachusetts on September 20, 2019.

September 2019

• Annabi Lab welcomes predoctoral student Hamed Nilchi.

September 2019

• Congratulations to Sohyung for passing her candidacy exam!

June 2019

• Congratulations to Andrew Spencer for his excellent dissertation defense titled “Advanced Biofabrication of Gelatin Methacrylate Based Hydrogels”. Andrew becomes the first PhD graduate from Annabi Lab!
• Congratulations to Bahram Saleh for publishing his paper titled “Local Immunomodulation using an adhesive hydrogel loaded with miRNA-laden nanoparticles promotes wound healing” in Small.

May 2019

• Congratulations to Brian Walker for receiving the first place in Poster Award at the 2019 UCLA Bioscience Innovation Day!
• Ashley Dickman wins best poster presentation award in UCLA Undergraduate Research Poster Presentation competition. Congratulations to Ashley!

March 2019

• Congratulations to Ehsan Shirzaei Sani for publishing his paper entitled “Sutureless repair of corneal injuries using naturally derived bioadhesive hydrogels” in Science Advances! more info!
• Congratulations to Brian Walker for publishing his paper entitled “Engineering a naturally-derived adhesive and conductive cardiopatch” in Journal of Biomaterials!
• We are excited to announce that Shima Gholizadeh will be joining Annabi Lab as a postdoctoral scholar.
• Welcome Mahsa Ghovvati to Annabi Lab!

February 2019

• Congratulations to Brian Walker for publishing his paper in Progress in Polymer Science. More info!
• Dr.  Annabi delivered an invited seminar on 27 Feb at UC Riverside: Link
• Dr.  Annabi delivered an invited seminar on Bioadhesive at Duke University on 04 Feb.
• Dr. Annabi gave an invited talk in Bioengineering Day at UCLA on 08 Feb: Link

November 2018

• Congratulations to Ehsan Shirzaei Sani for winning the best poster award in 2018 AIChE Annual Meeting! More info!
• Ehsan Shirzaie Sani presented his work on “Engineering an Adhesive Hydrogel for Corneal Sealing and Regeneration” at AIChE Annual Meeting, Pittsburgh, PA.
• Brian Walker presented his work on “Adhesive and Electroconductive Patches for Cardiac Tissue Regeneration following Myocardial Infarction” at AIChE Annual Meeting, Pittsburgh, PA
• Welcome Brenden Lee to Annabi Lab!
• Welcome Nicole Prusty to Annabi Lab!

October 2018

• Welcome Jessica Chun to Annabi Lab!
• Welcome Gokberk Unal to Annabi Lab!
• Welcome Ashley Dickman to Annabi Lab!

September 2018

• Welcome Sinziana Popescu to Annabi Lab!

August 2018

• Welcome Sevana Baghdasarian to Annabi Lab!

July 2018

• Annabi Lab has moved to UCLA!

March 2018

• Congratulations to Ehsan for winning the best poster award in COE PhD Expo Recap 2018.

Feburary 2018

• Congratulations to Jon for the media coverage of his recently published paper, “Photocrosslinkable Gelatin/Tropoelastin Hydrogel Adhesives for Peripheral Nerve Repair,” published in Tissue Engineering, Part A  More info!

November 2017

Congratulations to Ehsan for winning the best poster award in Materials Research Society (MRS) Conference 2017  More info!

September 2017

Selected media highlights on “Engineering a Highly Elastic Human Protein-based Sealant for Surgical Applications”:

• EurekAlert
• BWH
• Northeastern News
• Boston Magazine
• Wyss institution
• Medical Press

May 2017

Congratulations to Brian for receiving Outstanding Leadership Award!

Nasim Annabi’s Research was Featured on the Cover of Science Translational Medicine.

Surgical sealants have been used for sealing or reconnecting ruptured tissues but often have low adhesion, inappropriate mechanical strength, cytotoxicity concerns, and poor performance in biological environments. To address these challenges, we engineered a biocompatible and highly elastic hydrogel sealant with tunable adhesion properties by photocrosslinking the recombinant human protein tropoelastin.

Our research based on a “Highly Elastic Micropatterned Hydrogel for Engineering Functional Cardiac Tissue” was selected as a media highlights on:

• Science Daily: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/04/130429133652.htm
• Wyss Institute: https://wyss.harvard.edu/a-new-and-heart-warming-biomaterial-for-tissue-engineering/
• Materials Views: http://www.materialsviews.com/new-materials-for-heart-tissue-regeneration/
• BWH: http://www.brighamandwomens.org/about_bwh/publicaffairs/news/pressreleases/PressRelease.aspx?PageID=%201444
• ACS press release: http://press-news.org/125031-building-heart-tissue-that-beats.html
• CNET: https://www.cnet.com/news/a-beating-patch-of-cells-could-mend-broken-hearts/

Selected media highlights on “A Highly Elastic and Rapidly Crosslinkable Elastin-Like Polypeptide-Based Hydrogel for Biomedical Applications”:

• Science Daily: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/07/150702073601.htm
• Geriatric Medicine: http://www.todaysgeriatricmedicine.com/news/ex_030216.shtml
• HealthHub: http://healthhub.brighamandwomens.org/new-biodegradable-gel-helps-heal-wounds#sthash.x9dxijtm.dpbs
• RegMedNet: https://www.regmednet.com/users/1297-elena-conroy/posts/2400-bioengineers-develop-novel-elastic-hydrogel-for-wound-healing
• Healthcare News: http://www.smile-onnews.com/news/view/elastic-gel-with-ability-to-heal-wounds

RegMedNet, April 10, 2017

State of the art and future perspectives for biomaterials design for regenerative medicine

In this contribution, Roberto Portillo-Lara & Nasim Annabi comment on future perspectives of rational design for efficient clinical translation of biomaterials for regenerative medicine.

2015
The American Bazaar, July 3, 2015
New Protein-Based Hydrogel Can Heal Wounds

ScienceDaily, July 2, 2015
Elastic gel to heal wounds
Bioengineers develop highly elastic biomaterial for better wound healing: A team of bioengineers has developed a new protein-based gel that, when exposed to light, mimics many of the properties of elastic tissue, such as skin and blood vessels. They now report on the new material’s key properties, many of which can be finely tuned, and on the results of using the material in preclinical models of wound healing.

2014
Press-News, March 18
Building heart tissue that beats
When a heart gets damaged, such as during a major heart attack, there’s no easy fix. But scientists working on a way to repair the vital organ have now engineered tissue that closely mimics natural heart muscle that beats, not only in a lab dish but also when implanted into animals. They presented their latest results at the 247th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS), the world’s largest scientific society.

CNET, March 18
A beating patch of cells could mend broken hearts
Harvard researchers create a heart patch using gels and 3D-printing technology that could someday lessen reliance on transplant surgery.

2013
Materials Research Society, May 22
Protein Makes More Elastic Artificial Heart Tissue
A new study has found a way to make a more elastic material that may be useful for engineering artificial heart tissues. Utilizing a human-based protein, tropoelastin, researchers at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston and the University of Sydney in Australia were able to create an artificial tissue that mimics the mechanical and biological properties of a real heart. This new engineered heart tissue can be sutured into regions of the heart left dead by cardiac events, such as a heart attack.

Wyss Institute, May 7
A new – and heart-warming – biomaterial for tissue engineering
Scientists have been trying for years to design the “Goldilocks” of biocompatible materials that are “just right” for tissue engineering applications — not too difficult to make, elastic enough to respond to the dynamic nature of the human body, and stable enough to support effective cell growth.

Materials Views, May 7
New materials for heart tissue regeneration

Brigham and Women’s Hospital, April 29
Patterned Hearts
A team of bioengineers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) is the first to report creating artificial heart tissue that closely mimics the functions of natural heart tissue through the use of human-based materials. Their work will advance how clinicians treat the damaging effects caused by heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States.

The University of Sydney, April 29
Straight from the heart: an elastic patch that supports cardiac cell growth
Scientists are a step closer to being able to repair damaged human heart tissue thanks to a world leading research collaboration between the University of Sydney and Harvard University.