Jouha Min receives NIH Maximizing Investigators’ Research Award (MIRA) for 3D nanoscale topography research
The $1.86M in funding will drive advancements in understanding how 3D nanoscale topographies influence biological interactions.
Michigan Chemical Engineering Assistant Professor Jouha Min has received the Maximizing Investigators’ Research Award (MIRA) from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This $1.86 million award will support Min Lab’s research into how 3D nanoscale topographies influence biological interactions over the next five years.
The funding will aid the Min Research Lab in developing versatile 3D tools and model systems that replicate the complex, dynamic environments in which cells naturally exist. These systems will advance the study of how cells interact with 3D features, with potential applications across multiple diseases and treatments.
“With this support we’re developing new tools and models to mimic dynamic 3D nanoscale topography and investigate how biological systems respond to these cues. This work has the potential to deepen our understanding of biological processes and drive innovations in disease diagnosis and treatment.”.
Jouha Min
Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering
“I’m incredibly grateful for this funding and the opportunity to push our research forward,” Min said. “With this support we’re developing new tools and models to mimic dynamic 3D nanoscale topography and investigate how biological systems respond to these cues. This work has the potential to deepen our understanding of biological processes and drive innovations in disease diagnosis and treatment.”
Min’s research addresses a critical gap in current biomedical research: most cellular studies are conducted on flat 2D surfaces, even though cells in the human body exist in complex three-dimensional environments. Her lab is developing groundbreaking techniques to create miniature 3D landscapes that better mimic the body’s natural environment, allowing researchers to study how various biological components – from biomolecules to individual cells to larger tissue structures – interact with their surroundings. This could lead to innovations in drug delivery, implantable/wearable devices, artificial tissue/organs, and many other medical applications.
Min earned her PhD in chemical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and joined the University of Michigan faculty in 2021. Her group’s interdisciplinary research combines chemical engineering, biochemistry, and clinical science to develop innovative solutions to significant health challenges, with a particular focus on cancer and infectious diseases.