معرفی
Dr. Ann Na Cho is a Lecturer in the School of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Sydney, where she serves as Principal Investigator and Group Leader of the human Brain Microphysiological System (hBMS) Laboratory. She holds prestigious fellowships including the Sydney Horizon Fellowship and NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellowship. Dr. Cho is also a member of The University of Sydney Nano Institute, the Brain and Mind Centre, and the Charles Perkins Centre.
Dr. Cho's research focuses on developing innovative human brain organoids and microphysiological systems to model brain function and disease. Her expertise spans stem cell biology, tissue engineering, microfluidics, biomaterial chemistry, nanomedicine, drug development, and bioinformatics. She established the world's first Tissue engineered human brain-on-a-chip combining human pluripotent stem cells, 3D brain-mimetic biomaterial and organ-on-a-chip technology, with her pioneering work published in high-impact journals including Nature Communications, Nature Biomedical Engineering, and Science Advances.
Her research has significant implications for understanding neurological disorders, viral infections' effects on the brain (including SARS-CoV-2 induced 'brain fog'), and developing personalized therapeutic approaches without relying on animal models. Dr. Cho's publications demonstrate a clear trajectory from fundamental stem cell and tissue engineering research toward increasingly sophisticated brain models with clinical applications, particularly in neuroinflammation, psychiatric disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases.
- MIT Technology Review, Innovators Under 35 (TR35) Asia Pacific (2024)
- Australian Museum Eureka Prize Finalist for Outstanding Early Career Researcher (2024)
- Dean's Award, University of Sydney, Outstanding Research (2025)
- Vice-Chancellor Award, University of Sydney, Early Career Research of the Year (2025)
- Member of the Year in Nano Institute (2024)
Dr. Cho mentors multiple graduate students working on cutting-edge projects including human cortex-midbrain organoid-on-a-chip platforms, neuroinflammation modeling, and mechanisms regulating TDP-43 dysfunction. She has secured significant research funding including NHMRC Investigator Grants and Sydney Horizon Fellowships focused on modeling neuroinflammation, viral infections, and developing personalized brain models for Alzheimer's disease. Her laboratory serves as a hub for interdisciplinary collaboration, connecting neuroscience, engineering, and clinical research to advance our understanding of brain function and disease.
