Giulia ADRIANI

Giulia Adriani is a Principal Investigator at the Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN, A*STAR) and holds an Adjunct Assistant Professor position in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the National University of Singapore (NUS). Her work focuses on developing 3D microfluidic systems to study tumor-immune interactions and improve cancer immunotherapy efficacy.

Education:

• PhD in Biomedical and Biomechanical Engineering (2012)

Research Interests:

Giulia’s research addresses the limitations of conventional 2D cell cultures and in vivo models by creating 3D microfluidic platforms that mimic tumor microenvironments. These systems enable precise control of parameters like ECM stiffness, oxygen gradients, and cytokine signaling, critical for studying immunosuppressive mechanisms in solid tumors. Her work aims to bridge gaps between pre-clinical studies and clinical outcomes by providing quantitative, real-time insights into tumor-immune dynamics.

Lab & Collaborations:

Her lab at SIgN includes postdocs, research officers, and PhD students like Nur Izzah Nabilah Binte Hussein and Ying Jie QUEK. Collaborations include MIT’s SMART BioSyM Group and institutions in Singapore and internationally.

Awards:

• Recipient of the Interpolytechnic Doctoral School Fellowship during her PhD.

Key Contributions:

Giulia pioneered microfluidic-based assays to study tumor immune microenvironments, emphasizing their advantages over traditional models in screening immunotherapies and understanding ECM-cancer interactions.