Robert Oakes

Dr. Robert “Smitty” Oakes is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Delaware, with a joint appointment as a Career Development Awardee (CDA-2) at the Department of Veterans Affairs. His research focuses on immunoengineering, leveraging nanotechnology and biomaterials to control innate immunity for applications in autoimmunity, cancer, and implantable medical devices. He holds a Ph.D. in Bioengineering from the University of Utah, with postdoctoral training at the University of Michigan (focusing on cancer metastasis) and the University of Maryland (specializing in autoimmunity therapies).

His expertise spans Cell & Tissue Engineering, Drug Delivery & Nanomedicine, and Biomaterials. Key research areas include designing immunotherapies that target innate immunity to combat autoimmune diseases and cancer metastasis, as well as developing implantable systems for monitoring disease progression. His lab’s innovations include engineered niches for metastasis detection and biomaterial platforms for antigen-specific immune tolerance.

Scientific Achievements: Dr. Oakes has authored 26 publications in top journals like ACS Nano and Nature Communications, secured NIH and VA funding, and received the 2023 BioInterfaces Rising Star Award. His work bridges engineering principles with immunology to address unmet clinical needs, such as improving vaccine efficacy and reducing adverse immune responses to medical implants.

His research also emphasizes translational applications, including implantable diagnostics for cancer and pre-metastatic niche mimics to study tumor behavior. Collaborations span academia and industry, with a focus on advancing personalized medicine and regenerative therapies.