Where Science Meets Innovation to Heal and Rebuild
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Who We Are

We’re a dynamic, interdisciplinary team in the Department of Biomedical Engineering, driven by curiosity and a shared mission: to unlock the secrets of how cells, materials, and the body’s repair mechanisms intertwine. Our passion lies in pioneering regenerative therapies that could transform lives—from healing nonunion fractures to battling chronic diseases like osteoarthritis and sarcopenia. —

Our Research: Bridging Discovery and Impact

At the TERM Lab we pursue four integrated research areas that convert basic insights into therapies and diagnostics for musculoskeletal health.

🔬 Mechanoimmunology and Tissue Regeneration

• How mechanical cues (strain, curvature, viscoelasticity) shape macrophage responses and repair outcomes.
• Identification of pathways (e.g., macrophage-derived TSP1) linking mechanical instability to fibrosis and fracture nonunion.
• Spatial and single-cell mapping of immune–stromal interactions that determine regeneration versus scarring.

💡 Active Immunotherapies for MSK Health

• Nanoparticle vaccines to treat osteoporosis, sarcopenia, osteoarthritis, and skeletal fragility.
• Targeting inhibitors of bone formation (Mstn, Sost) to promote durable bone and muscle repair.
• Developing longer‑lasting, accessible alternatives to frequent‑dosing therapies.

🦠 Infection Biology and Orthopedic Infections

• Studying interactions among pathogens, host immunity, biomaterials, and mechanics in implant-associated infection.
• Developing vaccines and phage-based treatments to prevent or resolve implant infections and improve healing.

📡 Device Development

• In collaboration with BME labs, creating stick-to-skin wearables (including electrical impedance tomography) to monitor inflammation and remodeling after injury.
• Building continuous strain sensors for fractures to study mechanobiology and predict nonunion.
• Translating mechanistic insights into devices and approaches to restore function in nonunion fractures, osteoarthritis, and related pathologies.

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Join Our Team!

Are you a curious student or researcher with a background in chemical engineering, materials science, mechanical engineering, or biology? Join us in solving puzzles at the frontier of regenerative medicine! Reach out to Dr. Ramkumar Annamalai (Email) to explore opportunities.

Funding & Support

We gratefully acknowledge support from:

• National Institutes of Health (NIAMS, NIGMS)
• Centre for Clinical and Translational Sciences
• UB School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
• Orthopedic Trauma Association (OTA)

Inspiring Healing. Engineering Hope.
Let’s build the future of regenerative medicine—one discovery at a time.