Principal Investigator
René Olivares-Navarrete, D.D.S., Ph.D.
Associate Professor | Department of Biomedical Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University
email: ronavarrete@vcu.edu | research gate
Lab Members
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Lais Morandini, D.D.S., Ph.D.Postdoctoral Fellow
Lais's current research interests include to study implant surface modifications and how their physical and chemical properties can influence immune response, affecting the osseointegration process. Dr. Morandini received her DDS in 2011 from the São Paulo State University– Institute of Science and Technology, UNESP - Brazil. She also completed her Master in Oral Pathology from São Paulo State University in collaboration with Federal University of ABC – Brazil, in 2012. From 2015-2016 she completed part of her PhD at University of Michigan, Biologic and Materials Sciences & Prosthodontics, studying the effect of nano- and micro-topography on osteoblast behavior and mesenchymal stem cells differentiation. Lais obtained her PhD in Biomaterials in 2017, from São Paulo State University– Institute of Science and Technology, UNESP, Brazil.
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Jamelle Simmons, Ph.D.Postdoctoral Fellow
Jamelle's research is focused on studying the body's immune response to implanted biomaterials in soft tissues. Jamelle holds a joint PhD in biomedical engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University (Virginia Tech) and Wake Forest University, an M.Sc.Eng from California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo) with a specialization in biomedical engineering, and a B.S in general engineering from East Carolina University with concentrations in biomedical and bioprocess engineering. Outside of research Jamelle has interests in data science, higher administration, inclusion & diversity, and STEM student development.
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Derek AveryGraduate Student
Derek holds a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering at VCU. Derek is investigating the role of T cells in the inflammatory response to implants and immunomodulation for enhancing healing.
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Tyler HeathGraduate Student
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Leah BergeyUndergraduate Researcher
B.S. Biology Leah is a biology major on the pre-medicine track. Leah is interested in neutrophil and macrophage response to biomaterials and hold a particular interest in genotyping.
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Melissa GrabiecUndergraduate Researcher
B.S. of Biomedical Engineering |
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Thrishaa JayaprakashUndergraduate Researcher
B.S. of Biomedical Engineering Thrishaa is a Biomedical Engineering major undergraduate on the Tissue and Cellular Engineering track (pre-med). Thrishaa currently works with femoral implants in mice but she is also interested in the role of neutrophils and T cells in tissue regeneration.
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Matthieu PeraltaUndergraduate Researcher
B.S. of Biomedical Engineering |
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Luke SheakleyUndergraduate Researcher
B.S. of Biomedical Engineering Luke is a Biomedical Engineering major interested in the cell and tissue engineering track and plans to attend medical school. Luke's research interests include investigating cell-biomaterial interactions, DAMPs, and AGEs and their significance to immunomodulation, the inflammatory response, and the healing response.
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Alexis WestUndergraduate Researcher
B.S. of Biomedical Engineering Alexis is a biomedical engineering major and she is interested in orthopedic implants, tissue regeneration, and macrophage response to biomaterials and injury.
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Graduate Students Alumni:
Jefferson Abaricia
Current Position: M.D. student at Virginia Commonwealth University
Nancy Ayad
Current Position: Science Officer at Leidos
Kelly Hotchkiss
Current Position: Postdoctoral Research Associate at Duke University
Suraj Kandalam
Current Position: D.D.S student at Virginia Commonwealth University
Kegan Sowers
Current Position: Device Engineer at Sonosa Medical
Undergraduate Students Alumni:
Benjamin Angeles (BME)
Current Position: Post-Baccalaureate CRTA Fellow at NIH-NCI
Emily Burtch (BME)
Current Position: Ph.D. Student at University of Colorado
Natalie Celt (REU Mechanobiology)
Current Position: Ph.D. Student at University of California Irvine
Manotri Chaubal (Biochemistry)
Current Position: M.D. Student at Georgetown University
Cristian Coriano-Ortiz (BME)
Current Position: Ph.D. Student at Boston University
Garrett Cyprus (BME)
Current Position: R&D Scientist at InhibRx
Trang Ly (Biology)
Current Position: M.SS in Biological Data Science at Virginia Commonwealth University
Tate McLean (Biology)
Michael Martis (Bioinformatics)
Current Position: M.S. student of Product Innovation at Virginia Commonwealth University
Davon Mason
Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellow at NIH-National Cancer Institute
Ryan Musselman (BME)
Daniela Negrete (BME)
Abigail Park (BME)
Current Position: Pharmacy Doctorate Student at Virginia Commonwealth University
Gireesh Reddy (BME)
Current Position: Orthopaedic Surgery Resident at University of Miami Health System
Cynthia Rishi (REU Mechanobiology)
Current Position: Analyst at the Dedham Group
Marissa Ruzga (REU Mechanobiology)
Current Position: Ph.D. Student at University of Maine
Andrea Sedano (REU Mechanobiology)
Current Position: BME Undergraduate Student at Saint Louis University
Arth Shah (BME)
Current Position: M.D. Student at Virginia Commonwealth University
Anjali Ta (BME)
Sarah Tracy (BME)
Andy Vo (BME)
Current Position: M.D./Ph.D. Student at University of Virginia
Heidi Ward (BME)
Current Position: Field Service Engineer at Luminex Corporation
Alexander Whitehead (BME)
Current Position: Ph.D. Student at UC San Diego
Marika Whitlatch (BME)
Current Position: Engineer at MBP
Paul Winston (Mechanical Engineering)
Current Position: Engineer at CMTA