In the body, cells are influenced by a large host of factors, including soluble signals such as growth factors, insoluble signals that are components of the extracellular matrix surrounding the cells, the interaction of various populations of cells with each other, and mechanical signals. By studying these various signals, we can gain a greater insight for how tissues are formed and maintained. In turn, we can use this knowledge to regenerate damaged or diseased tissues, and also to better understand how diseases start and progress and how they can be treated. Our lab is engineering biomaterial systems for tissue engineering, drug delivery, and 3D cell culture.