Christopher Rodell

Christopher Rodell, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems at Drexel University. He leads the Tissue Instructive Materials Laboratory focusing on biomaterial design for therapeutic applications. His research integrates supramolecular chemistry, drug delivery, and immune engineering to develop novel therapies for cancer, cardiovascular disease, and organ injury.

Education:

• Postdoctoral Scholar: Massachusetts General Hospital & Harvard Medical School (2016-2019)
• PhD in Bioengineering: University of Pennsylvania (2016)
• MS in Biomedical Engineering: Tulane University (2011)
• BS in Biomedical Engineering & Physics: Tulane University (2011)

Research Focus: Dr. Rodell's work centers on creating injectable biomaterials (hydrogels, nanoparticles) for precision drug delivery and immune modulation. Key therapeutic areas include cancer immunotherapy (reprogramming tumor-associated macrophages), myocardial repair (hydrogel-based ventricular support), and renal disease management (targeted anti-inflammatory delivery). His research bridges fundamental material science with translational applications.

Publications & Impact: With over 30 peer-reviewed articles and continuous output through 2025, his work demonstrates strong emphasis on nanoparticle-hydrogel hybrid systems for immunotherapy. Recent publications show growing focus on macrophage-targeted cancer therapies and advanced biomaterial characterization techniques. Key journals include Nature Biomedical Engineering, Advanced Materials, and Bioconjugate Chemistry.

Awards & Honors:

• Materials Research Society Gold Award
• Solomon R. Pollack Award for Excellence in Graduate Research
• American Heart Association Predoctoral Fellowship

Intellectual Property: Holds 3 patents including stabilized shear-thinning hydrogels (US Patent 9,827,321) and macrophage-targeted immunotherapeutics (patent pending).