Alice Tomei

Alice Tomei is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the College of Engineering, University of Miami. Her research focuses on developing innovative approaches for Type 1 Diabetes treatment through pancreatic islet transplantation, biomaterials engineering, and immunomodulation strategies.

Research Interests

Dr. Tomei's research program centers on overcoming the limitations of current Type 1 Diabetes treatments by engineering novel biomaterials and cellular therapies. Her work specifically targets:

• Development of macroporous gelatin scaffolds to enhance lymph node fibroblastic reticular cell identity
• Engineering of biomaterials for pancreatic islet transplantation
• Creating strategies to eliminate the need for chronic immunosuppression in cell transplantation
• Developing drug delivery systems for localized immunomodulation
• Generating glucose-responsive pseudoislets for diabetes research and therapy

Scientific Contributions

Dr. Tomei has made significant contributions to the field of diabetes research and regenerative medicine through her innovative approaches to cell replacement therapy. Her work has been recognized with selection as an Outstanding Reviewer for Biomaterials Science in 2024.

• Developed methods for generating high-yield glucose-responsive pseudoislets from murine insulinoma cells
• Engineered macroporous gelatin scaffolds that enhance lymph node fibroblastic reticular cell identity
• Investigated drug-integrating amphiphilic nano-assemblies for targeted delivery to inflammation sites
• Contributed to advancing the field of beta-cell replacement through bioengineering approaches

Professional Activities

Dr. Tomei is actively engaged in the diabetes research community, serving as a reviewer for prominent journals and collaborating with researchers worldwide. She has established herself as a thought leader in the development of biomaterials-based solutions for diabetes treatment.