Personnel

Section Contents
Marjan Rafat

Marjan Rafat

Assistant Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering
Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology
615-343-3899
Email
Website

Overview

Our lab combines engineering and cancer biology concepts to examine the mechanisms driving tumor recurrence and metastasis. We study the relationship between tumor cells, normal tissues, and the immune system as a means of understanding the microenvironment to determine how each component contributes to metastasis and relapse after therapy. We aim to develop bio-inspired hydrogel materials and in vitro tumor- and tissue-on-a-chip models by learning from in vivo mouse models. Specifically, we study: (1) the collateral effect of radiation and surgery of normal tissues on tumor and immune cell migration patterns; (2) the nanoscale communication patterns of normal tissues wounded from therapy; and (3) the changes in the biomechanical properties of the tumor microenvironment and surrounding normal tissues following therapy. We analyze the physical, chemical, and biological cues that influence cancer metastasis and recurrence at the interface of engineering and medicine.

Awards

-Young Innovator in Cellular and Molecular Bioengineering
-NCI Early Investigator Advancement Program Scholar
-NIH Pathway to Independence Award
-AACR Women in Cancer Research Scholar Award
-Women in Molecular Imaging Scholar Award

Selected Publications

Mammary tissue-derived extracellular matrix hydrogels reveal the role of irradiation in driving a pro-tumor and immunosuppressive microenvironment. Zhu T, Alves SM, Adamo A, Wen XN, Corn KC, Shostak A, Johnson S, Shaub ND, Martello SE, Hacker BE, D'Amore A, Bardhan R, Rafat M, Biomaterials, 308, 122531, (2024) View Abstract

Irradiated Mammary Spheroids Elucidate Mechanisms of Macrophage-Mediated Breast Cancer Recurrence. Hacker BC, Lin EJ, Herman DC, Questell AM, Martello SL, Hedges RJ, Walker AJ, Rafat M, Cellular and Molecular Bioengineering, 16, 393-403, (2023) View Abstract

Extracellular vesicles: mediators of intercellular communication in tissue injury and disease. Sanchez GB, Bunn KE, Pau HH, Rafat M, Cell Communication and Signaling, 19, 104, (2021) View Abstract

Lipids in the tumor microenvironment: From cancer progression to treatment. Corn KC, Windham MA, Rafat M, Progress in Lipid Research, 80, 101055, (2020) View Abstract

Organoids as ComplexIn VitroModels for Studying Radiation-Induced Cell Recruitment. Hacker BC, Rafat M, Cellular and Molecular Bioengineering, 13, 341-357, (2020) View Abstract

Education

Ph.D., Engineering Sciences, Harvard University

S.M., Engineering Sciences, Harvard University

S.B., Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology