Kimia Witte
Published: 7 May 2019
#Droplet-based microfluidics, #stem cell, #synthetic biology, #bio-printing, #3D tissue modelling, #cell engineering, #fluid mechanics, # fine art
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School/College |
School of Engineering – University of Glasgow |
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Telephone |
0141 330 2680 |
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@KimiaWitte |
Research vision
I have been long fascinated by the behaviour of fluids at microscale. Life as a dynamic occurrence emerges at this scale. Hence, not surprisingly small interference at this scale, can have significant impact on it.
My area of expertise is in designing and developing small devices which allows me to study fluid mechanics at microscale while finding application for them in the fields of in synthetic biology (during my PhD) and biomedical engineering (now as a PDRA).
As of joining the current post within the field of regenerative medicine, I have designed hydrogel based micro-environments suitable for controlling stem cell differentiation towards bone-formation using engineered bacteria or cartilage formation through combination of locally concentrated growth factors and cell binding sites.
One of my main career aims is to further study physics of fluid mechanics at microscale and employ its physiological implications in in vitro 3D models. On that account, some of my current interest in regenerative medicine revolves around developing in vitro 3D models for blood-brain-barrier, pancreatic cancer and liver fibrosis using droplet-based microfluidics.
In addition, I would like to continue working on a low-cost 3D bio-printing prototypes I have recently developed which can provide a high level of resolution and controllability.
With regards to art, I would like to initiate projects for cross-disciplinary collaboration between artists and scientists.
Expectations from collaboration
I am particularly interested in collaborators (chemists and material scientists) who have the expertise to develop new biomaterials which I can then use to fabricate micron sub-unit laden with cells for making larger tissues.
I would also be interested in making other in vitro 3D models for tissue/organ specific disease-related studies with collaborators (biologists) expert in those specific fields willing to share cell lines and/or imaging equipments for data acquisition and material/tissue characterisation.
I’m also looking for collaborators among physicists who share the same fascination with the fluid mechanic at microscale and would appreciate my reproducible and controllable system for further fundamental studies.
Interest in art and public engagement is appreciable!
Key Skills
Molecular and cellular biology skills: Primary cell lines and stem cell culture, encapsulation and differentiation, immunohistochemistry and imaging, protein engineering (rational design and directed evolution), cell engineering, tissue engineering, synthetic biology
Engineering skills: Lab-on-a-chip fabrication, droplet-based microfluidics, fluid mechanics, biomaterial, hydrogel design, 3D bio-printing, polymer-based vesicles
Fine art skills: Drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, installation, film, photography – both digital and analogue
First published: 7 May 2019
