Welcome to Biomaterials, Inflammation, and Tissue Engineering (BITE) Lab

We are a passionate research group at the F. Joseph Halcomb III, M.D. Department of Biomedical Engineering. We are interested in understanding the mechanobiology of the immune cells and immunomodulatory cells in neotissue formation and tissue repair and applying this knowledge to the development of regenerative therapies. To this end, we study the role of macrophages and mesenchymal stromal cells in bone fracture healing and pathological conditions to elucidate their regenerative potential. My lab also develops microengineered material systems and immunomodulatory biomaterials for promoting tissue regeneration and wound healing. Our research span both basic and translational research areas. 

Our team collaborates with leading experts at the colleges of Medicine, Arts and Sciences, Pharmacy, Engineering, and Dentistry in understanding various aspects of inflammation in diseases and in developing suitable immunomodulatory therapies.

  We are looking for energetic and passionate graduate and undergraduate students with chemical engineering, material science, mechanical engineering or biology background to join the team. Please directly email Dr. Ramkumar Annamalai for more information (more info)

We are grateful for funding from the College of Engineering and the Biomedical Engineering at UK, Centre for Clinical and Translational Sciences at UK, Centre for Pharmaceutical Research and Innovation at UK, and National Institute of Health (NIGMS). 

News

Apr 18, 2023

Congrats Cam for successfully defending your master's thesis on Mechanical stimulation of engineered muscle constructs.

Apr 15, 2023

Congrats on presenting you Honor's thesis on Membrane-cloaked nanoparticles for delivering senolytics to OA Knee.

Apr 11, 2023

Congrats Heather for being selected to receive the NSF gradaute research fellowhip in Engineering. Great achievement. Well deserved!

Apr 03, 2023

Congrats BITErs for winning the outstanding student awards for the acedemic year 2022-2023.

Nov 11, 2022

Congrats, Alex, on succesfully defending your Master's research. Good luck with your future endeavours.

Oct 30, 2022

Congrats, Kate, on giving excellent research presentations and receving the 2nd best poster award at the 2022 Biomaterials Day held at Vanderbilt University! #Proud PI

Oct 20, 2022

Congrats, BITErs, on giving excellent research presentations at the 2022 BMES Annual meeting in San Antonio. You are the best! #Proud PI

Sep 23, 2022

Congrats, Matt, Jeremy, and Harshini on your recent paper developing injectable nanoporous microgels generate vascularized constructs Link.

Aug 20, 2022

Congrats, Matt, on your recent paper developing licensing microgels to modulate inflammation Link.

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