Tammy T. Chang

Tammy T. Chang, MD, PhD is a Professor in the Department of Surgery at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) School of Medicine. Her work focuses on advancing regenerative surgical therapies for liver diseases through tissue engineering and mechanobiology research.

• Professor of Surgery, UCSF
• Director, The Chang Laboratory for Liver Tissue Engineering

Education:

• 1990-1992: California State University, Los Angeles (Early Entrance Program)
• 1992-1994: University of California, Los Angeles (Bachelor of Science in Biology)
• 1994-2003: Harvard Medical School and Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (MD/PhD combined degree)
• 2003-2004: UCSF Surgical Intern
• 2004-2009: UCSF Surgical Residency
• 2009-2010: UCSF Chief Surgical Resident

Research Interests center on liver tissue engineering, hepatocyte mechanotransduction, and surgical strategies for organ regeneration. Her lab investigates:

• Physical environment's role in hepatocyte function
• Dimensionality in liver organoid generation
• Orthotopic engraftment techniques

Her publications and grants highlight interdisciplinary work spanning biotechnology, stem cell research, and microgravity studies. Recent articles focus on organoid transplantation, extracellular matrix engineering, and mechano-signaling in liver disease.

Scientific Awards & Funding

• NIH R01DK114311 (2017-2022): Matrix Rigidity and Hepatocyte Mechanotransduction in Fibrotic Liver Disease
• American College of Surgeons Clowes Award (2017-2022)
• NSF/CASIS Grant (2018-2021): Liver Tissue Engineering in Space
• NASA Grant (2018-2020): Organoid Gravity Effects
• Open Philanthropy Project (2017-2020): In Situ Decellularization and Organoid Engraftment

Clinical Expertise includes hernia repair, complex abdominal surgery, gastrointestinal cancer, and laparoscopic techniques. She is board-certified by the American Board of Surgery and affiliated with the UCSF Liver Center and Acute Care Surgery Program.

The Chang Laboratory for Liver Tissue Engineering collaborates with experts in stem cell biology, bioengineering, and immunology to develop therapeutic solutions for end-stage liver disease. Current work explores non-thermal irreversible electroporation as a platform for cell delivery and space-based tissue engineering.