Leipzig
Bioengineering
Group
Engineering biomaterial platforms to model disease, direct cell behavior, and drive regeneration.
We create cutting-edge biomaterial and tissue engineering solutions — integrating stem cell niche engineering, organoid and 3D disease modeling, and hydrogel biomaterials science — to advance regenerative medicine and address complex diseases of the CNS, liver, and chronic wounds.
Research Focus Areas
Our interdisciplinary approach combines biomaterials science, cell biology, and bioengineering principles to develop next-generation therapeutics.
Engineering the Stem Cell Niche
Investigating microenvironmental cues that modulate stem cell function — using biomaterial scaffolds with covalently immobilized growth factors, guidance molecules, and fluorocarbons to direct adult stem cell proliferation, adhesion, migration, and differentiation.
Organoids & 3D Disease Modeling
Building patient-derived organoid and 3D tissue models that recapitulate disease microenvironments — enabling mechanistic studies and therapeutic screening in physiologically relevant, human-tissue-mimetic platforms.
CNS Injury, Repair & Regeneration
Sequestering growth factors to unique biomimetic biomaterial scaffolds to promote CNS repair — combining localized protein signaling with stem cell delivery or recruitment for spinal cord injury and syringomyelia treatment.
Wound Healing
Engineering biocompatible photocrosslinkable chitosan hydrogels covalently modified with perfluorocarbons to provide sustained oxygenation for chronic diabetic wounds — creating oxygen-rich, moist healing environments with antimicrobial properties.
Recent News
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Dr. Leipzig Named 2026 Recipient of the Louis A. Hill Award
Dr. Leipzig received the College of Engineering and Polymer Science's highest faculty recognition for outstanding achievement across research, teaching, and service.
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Usaid and Pokharel at Regional SFB 2026 in Cleveland
Ahmed Usaid and Rounak Pokharel presented and gave talks at the Regional Society for Biomaterials meeting hosted by Cleveland State University.
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Bradshaw, Pokharel, and Usaid Present at UA Graduate Research Day 2026
Three lab members showcased their latest research on CNS injury repair and liver organoid platforms at the University of Akron's Graduate Research Day.
Read more →Our Mission
Our research is geared towards enabling new approaches for tissue engineering and regenerative therapies. We engineer microenvironmental cues that actively shape cell behavior — covalently immobilizing growth factors, cytokines, and fluorocarbons within 3D hydrogel platforms to instruct cells with sustained, spatially defined signals. Our research programs span organoid and 3D disease modeling for liver and CNS barrier research, biomaterial scaffold strategies for spinal cord injury repair and regeneration, and oxygenating hydrogel dressings for chronic wound healing.