Rosalyn Abbott

Rosalyn Abbott is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University's College of Engineering. She leads the Abbott Lab which focuses on adipose tissue engineering, silk biomaterials, and non-invasive tissue assessments to study obesity and its link to type II diabetes.

Her educational background includes:

• Ph.D. in Bioengineering from the University of Vermont (2012)
• MS in Biomedical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (2008)
• BS in Biomedical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (2008)

Prof. Abbott's research centers on developing human adipose microenvironments that respond to stimuli hypothesized to alter disease mechanisms, particularly the transition from obese tissues to insulin-resistant type II diabetic tissues. Her lab integrates systems-based modeling with tissue engineering, perfusion bioreactors, and mechanical studies, using silk as a natural biomaterial to support long-term culture of adipose micro-environments in vitro. She is also actively involved in cellular agriculture research for sustainable meat production.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong focus on adipose tissue modeling, with particular emphasis on developing fat-on-a-chip systems, studying patient variability in adipose tissue, and exploring vascularized adipose constructs using decellularized matrices. Her work bridges fundamental tissue engineering with translational applications for metabolic disease research and sustainable food technologies.

Among her notable scientific achievements is receiving an NSF CAREER Award for her research in biomedical engineering. Her work has been featured in various media outlets including Technology Networks' 'Teach Me in 10' episode, PCN Capital news, BuiltIn, and Tech Times.

Prof. Abbott leads an active research group that includes undergraduate and graduate students. Recent lab news highlights include securing a $42M ARPA-H award for an implantable bioelectric medicine project, student successes such as Khushi graduating with her Master's and continuing as a PhD student, and presentations at various conferences. She actively mentors students who present their research at events like Meeting of the Minds.

The Abbott Lab works at the interface of materials science and regenerative medicine, investigating how the 3D microenvironment affects tissue development and disease. Current research focuses on adipose tissue engineering strategies, silk biomaterials, and non-invasive tissue assessments to study obesity and its link to type II diabetes.