NYC
BEC
New York City Biomaterials Eating Club
Welcome to the New York City Biomaterials Eating Club, an initiative designed to foster a vibrant, collaborative community within the bustling biomaterials research ecosystem of New York City.
Our mission is to break down inter-institutional barriers and cultivate a space where ideas and innovations flourish through regular, informal research seminars and events. By uniting researchers, trainees, educators, and industry professionals from diverse backgrounds and institutions, we aim to facilitate knowledge exchange, build synergistic relationships, and advance biomaterials research. Drawing inspiration from the rich tradition of salon-style gatherings, our club aspires to create an intellectually stimulating environment that encourages thought-provoking discussions and the free exchange of ideas related to biomaterials and their applications. Together, we are committed to enriching the local biomaterials community, promoting inclusivity, and accelerating scientific breakthroughs.
Below you’ll see labs across Columbia, NYU, Mt. Sinai, and City College who are members of NYC.BEC. If you’re a PI in the NYC area who is interested in participating in NYC.BEC activities, please contact us!
DelRe Lab
Chris DelRe
Nanoscience
Advanced Science Research Center
The functionalities of macromolecules—such as proteins and synthetic polymers—are governed by their hierarchical structures and dynamics, which change dramatically when macromolecules are confined in narrow spaces. Our research combines concepts from polymer science, protein science, and inorganic chemistry to engineer the microenvironment of confined macromolecules and unlock novel functionalities in materials.
Cell-Instructive Biomaterials and Regenerative Engineering
Woojin M. Han, PhD
Orthopaedics
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
We develop cell-instructive biomaterials to study mechanisms of stem cell-niche interactions, disease modeling, stem cell manufacturing, and stem cell therapy. Our long-term goal is to engineer therapies for treating skeletal muscle trauma and diseases.
Immune Nanomedicine Lab
Ryan Williams
Biomedical Engineering
The City College of New York
Our lab focuses on the design of biomaterials as nanomedicines to treat and diagnose chronic inflammatory diseases and cancer. We incorporate engineering design principals with materials chemistry, molecular biology, and pre-clinical studies to translate novel technologies to the clinic.
The Cruz-Acuña Lab
Ricardo Cruz-Acuña
College of Dental Medicine
Columbia University Irving Medical Center
The Cruz-Acuña Lab focuses on integrating aspects of biomaterial engineering, cell and molecular biology, and 3D organoid biology to create engineered 3D organoid platforms that reveal novel mechanisms of tumorigenesis and organ development that can be leveraged for therapeutic studies and personalized medicine applications. Our primary focus is on the oral-esophageal tract, with potential applications to other gastrointestinal organs.
NanoBioEngineering for Tissue Reprogramming
Irene de Lazaro
Biomedical Engineering
New York University
Our lab designs, develops, and applies nanoscale and bioengineering tools to understand and manipulate cell fate and function. Our ultimate goal is to help the body regenerate and fight disease better.