Leo Wan

Leo Wan is a Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), where he has served since 2011 after completing his Ph.D. at Columbia University. His research program focuses on developing innovative tissue regeneration strategies and organ-on-a-chip platforms for disease modeling and drug screening, operating at the intersection of engineering and life sciences.

His educational background includes:

• Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University (2007)
• M.Eng. in Fluid Mechanics, University of Science and Technology of China (2001)
• B.S. in Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, University of Science and Technology of China (1998)

Dr. Wan's research centers on tissue engineering and morphogenesis, with particular emphasis on cell chirality—a fundamental property governing left-right asymmetry in biological systems. His laboratory develops organ-on-a-chip devices using micro-/nanofabrication techniques to model cardiac development and disease, while investigating how biomechanical forces influence stem cell differentiation and tissue formation. Current projects explore chiral morphogenesis in vascular systems and its implications for congenital heart defects.

Analysis of his recent publications (2022-2025) reveals a consistent focus on cellular chirality mechanisms in cardiovascular development, with increasing emphasis on biomechanical modeling and organ-on-a-chip translation. His work bridges fundamental biophysics with clinical applications, particularly in cardiac tissue engineering and cancer metastasis modeling.

Major recognitions include:

• Fellow of the American Heart Association (2021)
• NIH Director's New Innovator Award (2014)
• Pew Scholar in Biomedical Sciences (2013)
• National Science Foundation CAREER Award (2013)
• Basil O'Connor Starter Scholar Award (March of Dimes, 2014)

Dr. Wan has secured substantial research funding from NIH, NSF, and the American Heart Association to support his work on tissue regeneration and disease modeling. As principal investigator of the Wan Lab, he directs interdisciplinary research involving graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, with recent projects focusing on helical vasculogenesis and chiral cytotoxicity assays. His laboratory maintains active collaborations with the Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies (CBIS) and Center for Modeling, Simulation and Imaging in Medicine (CEMSIM) at RPI.

The Wan Lab operates within RPI's Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, utilizing advanced microfabrication facilities and stem cell culture resources. Current research teams are developing next-generation organ-on-a-chip platforms that integrate patient-derived cells for personalized drug testing, with particular focus on cardiac applications and tumor-vascular interactions.