CENTER FOR ADVANCED
REGENERATIVE ENGINEERING

Summer 2024 Cohort

Perla Bran is transferring to UIUC to study Biomaterials. She recently graduated from Wilbur Wright this past spring. Over the summer, she worked with her mentor, Shivakalyani Adepu, on bioresorbable stents (BRS), gained hands-on experience with the entire fabrication process and learned about the importance of BRS. She also worked with cell cultures and focused on using Iodixanol to create radiopaque stents.

Alexandra Velazquez-Cotto is a fourth-year student at the University of Puerto Rico at Humacao, where she is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in microbiology. At her home institution, she is preparing to embark on research in a cancer immunotherapy laboratory where she will be evaluating glucose transporters, enzymes, and kinases in melanoma tumors and Myeloid-derived suppressor cells from cancer patients. Currently, as part of the REM program, she collaborates with her mentor María de los M. Méndez-Santos on investigating the properties of the PPCN polymer with copper, particularly its role in diabetic wound regeneration and antimicrobial properties. In the future, Alexandra has a keen interest in pursuing an MD-PhD program specializing in Pediatrics. Beyond her academic pursuits, she enjoys hobbies such as beach outings and surfing.

• Joaquin Figueroa was born and raised in Chicago. He is going into his third year at Washington University in St. Louis where he plans to major in biomedical engineering. This summer his mentor was Xinlong Wang and their research area focused on stem cell nanoparticle gene delivery using mPOC microstructures. After undergrad, Joaquin is planning on pursuing an MD-PhD focused in regenerative engineering.

 Joseph Gonzalez is a rising sophomore at Wilbur Wright Community College, majoring in Chemical Engineering. This summer, Joseph will be working on the development of new Citrate-based biomaterials that can be used in a wide range of tissue engineering applications. Outside of research, Joseph serves as president of his home college's ACS chapter, an organization dedicated to advancing the broader chemistry enterprise and its practitioners for the benefit of Earth and all its people.

Bridget Kilpatrick is a rising junior at Scripps College, where she is majoring in chemistry. At her home institution, she works in an organic chemistry lab studying how metal catalysts and chiral auxiliaries influence enantioselectivity in bioactive molecules. This summer, Bridget will work on using PPCN encapsulating VEGF-C to improve glaucoma surgery recovery as well as PEDOT incorporated in PPCN for diabetic wound healing.  After completing her undergraduate degree, she plans on pursuing a PhD in organic chemistry. Outside of research and school, you can find her spending time with her family and friends, running, or playing piano.

 Braulio Landeros is a rising sophomore at Wright College. He was co-mentored by Cody Dunton and Nancy Rivera Bolaños. His project is titled, "Chromatin Plasticity Modulation in Human Cardiomyocytes via Low Frequency Electromagnetic Radiation."

 Jessica Li is a rising senior at Oak Park and River Forest High School in Oak Park, Illinois. She is particularly interested in regenerative engineering utilizing materials sciences, such as scaffold fabrication or drug delivery. Following graduation, she intends to study biomedical engineering and continue to pursue translational research opportunities, while also exploring medical/life science illustration. With her mentor, her project this summer focused on "Optimization for Netrin-1-BSA Co-Loaded PLGA Microspheres to Prevent Intimal Hyperplasia via Sympathetic Reinnervation."

Nourdean Shraim is a rising junior at San Jose State University. He aims to perform life changing research in tissue engineering to further help underserved communities in medicine. He grew up in the United Arab Emirates for fourteen years of his life before moving back to the United States to continue his education. He was mentored by Ansen Tan and Madeleine Goedegebuure. His project is titled, "Accelerating Bladder Regeneration Through Electrical Stimulation."

Joey Zhang is a rising junior at Deerfield High School. She was mentored this summer by Pengpeng Zhang and Evan Jones. Her project is titled, "3D-Printed Lenses for Realistic Eye Models."