Principal Investigator
Dr. Edith Mathiowitz
Dr. Edith Mathiowitz is a full Professor of Medical Science and Engineering at Brown University in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. Her extensive experience includes development of polymers that are used in drug and gene delivery systems and tissue engineering applications. Following her undergraduate degree in physical chemistry and graduate school at the Weizmann institute of science, Dr. Mathiowitz trained as a postdoctoral associate with Professor Robert Langer at MIT.
Dr. Mathiowitz directs an interdisciplinary laboratory that focuses on developing smart delivery systems based on bioadhesive polymers, which enhance the non- specific interaction with intestinal mucosa by inducing reversible secondary bonds and prolonging the residence time of traditional and novel oral dosage forms. She has been a pioneer in the area of nanomedicine by developing spontaneously forming biodegradable nanoparticles that in contrast to traditional thinking that mucosal barrier will prevent those particles from even passing the mucosal tissue. They can be engineered by combining hydrophobic polymers with high concentration of carboxylic acid, penetrate mucosal barriers and deliver active biologics. These nanoparticles are being used as cancer vaccines as well as for the oral delivery of peptides and proteins. In addition, she has experience with polymers, vascular grafts and micro/nanoencapsulation. What characterizes her work is using combination of basic scientific concepts in interfacial biophysics and applying them to improving health.
Graduate Students
Kosta Milovanovic
Ph.D. Candidate, Biomedical Engineering
Sc.M. Brown University, Biotechnology
B.S. Biomedical Sciences, University of South Florida
Email: kosta_milovanovic@brown.edu
Zakhar Lyakhovych
Ph.D Candidate, Biomedical Engineering
Sc.M. Biomedical Engineering, Brown University
B.S. Bioengineering, Stony Brook University
Research Interests: I work on loading biomedical polymers with drugs while trying to maximize their bioadhesive properties through a variety of drug choices, polymer formulations, and processing methods resulting in varying muco-adhesive properties.
Email: zakhar_lyakhovych@brown.edu
Rudra Trivedi
Sc.M. Candidate, Biotechnology
M.Pharm., NMIMS University (India)
MBA, NMIMS University (India)
B.S. Pharmacy, GTU (India)
Research Interests: I work on drug delivery systems, focussing on HIV drug delivery by fabricating multiple formulations and devices with varied release mechanisms. I am also interested in the intersection of design, technology and biology.
Email: rudra_trivedi@brown.edu
Yashvi Deokule
Sc.M. Candidate, Biotechnology
B.S. Biomedical Engineering (Cellular and Tissue Engineering), UC Davis
Research Interests: My scientific interests include drug delivery, materials science, tissue engineering, and oncology. In the Mathiowitz Lab, my current work involves analyzing mesophase, morphology, and drug delivery abilities of polyethylene oxide.
Email: yashvi_deokule@brown.edu
Jiaying Yan
Sc.M. Candidate, Biotechnology
B.S. Pharmaceutical Chemistry, UC Davis
Research Interests: Polymeric nanoparticles in oral drug delivery.
Email: jiaying_yan@brown.edu
Gayathri Sundaresan
Sc.M. Candidate, Biomedical Engineering
B.E. Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering Guindy; Anna University (India)
Research Interests: I am currently working on inducing mesophases in polymers for drug delivery applications. My interest lies in pharmaceutical drug discovery, and delivery strategies for conventional therapeutic agents.
Email: gayathri_sundaresan@brown.edu
David Shafiei, Esq.
Sc.M. Candidate, Biotechnology
J.D. , Rutgers Law
B.A. , Cell Biology & Neuroscience, Rutgers University
Research Interests: I am currently working on a transdermal drug delivery system incorporating mesophase and a patentability overlay.
Email: david_shafiei@brown.edu
Undergraduate Students
Jelynn Tatad
Sc.B. Candidate, Biochemistry
Research Interests: I’m investigating the role of mesophase in polymer drug delivery systems, specifically inducing mesophase on PEO and polymer blends.
Email: jelynn_ellianna_tatad@brown.edu
William Borges
Sc.B. Candidate in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Research Interests: I am an aspiring physician-scientist with an interest in nanomedicine. In the laboratory, I am focused on understanding the oral drug delivery mechanism of bio-coated nanoparticles in dense intestinal mucosa.
Email: william_borges@brown.edu
Jacob Koster
Sc.B. Candidate, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Research Interests: I am currently interested in the formulation of long-acting injectable HIV treatments using existing FDA approved medications.
Lara Aklouk
Sc.B. Candidate, Biomedical Engineering
Research Interests: My research interests are focused on interdisciplinary vocation that combines healthcare and technology with principles of the natural sciences and engineering. Therefore, I am eager to conduct research within the polymer science- medicine interface, that Dr. Mathiowitz’s lab emphasizes. I also enjoy carrying out extensive research on innovative ways to develop novel materials that can be used in biological systems to evaluate, treat, or replace any tissue, organ, or function of the body.
Email: lara_aklouk@brown.edu
Ishitaa Gupta
Sc.B Candidate, Biomedical Engineering