Joe Tien

Joe Tien is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Boston University, with an additional affiliation in the Division of Materials Science & Engineering. He leads the Tien Group, an interdisciplinary research team focused on inventing new types of biomaterials for applications in quantitative physiology and regenerative medicine. His work addresses challenges in tissue engineering, particularly the vascularization of clinically relevant tissue volumes.

Education:

• A.M., PhD, Physics, Harvard University
• B.S., Physics, B.S., Mathematics, University of California, Irvine

Research Interests:

Dr. Tien's research spans several key areas:

• Mechanics of vascularization: Understanding how microfluidic scaffolds vascularize and the mechanical stresses affecting long-term perfusion.
• Techniques for patterning biological materials: Developing subtractive methods to create vascular networks within hydrogels, with applications in composite tissue engineering.
• Engineering vascularized microphysiological systems: Creating "organs-on-a-chip" models, such as breast cancer and obesity models, to study disease progression and metastasis.

Research Trends: His recent publications focus on lymphatic vessel function in obesity, tumor cell escape mechanisms in breast cancer models, and advancements in microfluidic biomaterials. These works highlight a strong emphasis on integrating biophysical principles with biomedical applications to address complex physiological questions.

Scientific Awards: While no specific awards are listed in the provided text, his extensive funding history from NIH, DoD, and BU programs underscores recognition of his research impact.

Advising and Grants: Dr. Tien has mentored numerous PhD, Master's, and undergraduate students, with former students pursuing careers in academia, industry, and medicine. His research is supported by grants including:

• Engineering Vascularized Models of Obesity Progression (BU Dean’s Catalyst Award)
• Engineered Invasive Human Breast Tumors with Integrated Capillaries and Lymphatics (NIH/NCI U01 CA214292)
• Synthesis and Characterization of Patterned Microvascular Networks (NIH/NIBIB R01 EB005792)

Labs and Teams: The Tien Group operates from the 7th floor of the Engineering Research Building at Boston University, utilizing state-of-the-art facilities for lithography, imaging, and materials characterization. Collaborations extend to Princeton University and other BU departments, fostering a rich interdisciplinary environment.