Dr. Mai Lam is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering.
Main Discipline(s):
Main Professional Societies:
Affiliation(s):
- Cardiovascular tissue engineering
- Biomedical Engineering Society
- American Heart Association
- Wayne State University Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering
What are your undergraduate and graduate degrees in and from where?
BSE in Materials Science and Engineering, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
MSE in Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
PhD in Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
MSE in Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
PhD in Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
Give a brief summary (250 words or less) of your current area of research.
My lab tissue engineers blood vessels for use as vascular grafts and disease models. On the graft side, we hope to address the issue of low donor supply for vascular surgery for ailments such as coronary artery blockages and peripheral artery disease. We are developing grafts from patient cells to minimize immune rejection. For disease models, we are developing benchtop models of vascular disease to provide a much-needed alternative to animal models and 2D cell culture approaches that lack customization of experimental design (i.e. animal models) and disease pathology (i.e. cell culture). We are developing models for atherosclerosis, diabetes and stenting among others.
How did you arrive at your current area of research?
Interest was peaked in the first lab I did research in as a sophomore undergrad, which was a muscle tissue engineering lab.
What do you see as a current emerging area of research that you would like to participate in and why?
Genetic manipulation for application in engineering tissues.
Tell us your (one) favorite STEM research paper or book. Why it is your favorite?
I love How it Works books geared towards a younger audience, because it piques interest in our next generation of STEM leaders.
Do you have a favorite scientist, engineer or other role model? Who is it and why?
I admire all the women scientists who didn’t give up even when credit was taken away from them (e.g. Rosalind Franklin, Marie Curie, etc.)
What do you do for fun outside of your role as a woman in STEM?
Avid tennis player. Love to spend time with my 8 year old son!