image of Lola Eniola-Adefeso

Lola Eniola-Adefeso

Vennema Endowed Professor of Chemical Engineering, Associate Dean for Graduate and Professional Education – Michigan Engineering

Contact

lolaa@umich.edu

(734) 936-0856

Additional Title(s)

Associate Dean for Graduate & Professional Education (ADGPE)
University Diversity and Social Transformation Professor of Chemical Engineering
Miller Faculty Scholar

Location

Chemical Engineering

B-28 G072W NCRC
2800 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2800

Primary Website

Cellular Adhesion and Drug Delivery Lab

Twitter: @Lola_UMich

Education

University of Pennsylvania
PhD Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering ’04
MSE Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering ’00

University of Maryland, Baltimore County
BSE Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering ’99

Research Interests

Due to their high specific interaction with their counter-receptors and their carefully regulated expression (limit to inflammation), leukocyte-endothelium adhesion molecules (LECAM) are attractive molecules for vascular targeting in human diseases in which inflammation plays a role. Our research goal is to use knowledge of the cellular inflammatory response and blood flow dynamics to design bio-functionalized particles for targeted drug delivery and imaging.

Work in the lab is divided into 3 major groups:

  1. Cell Adhesion and Migration – Cells of the immune system.
    Our goal is to use in vitro experimental setups to understand the receptor-ligand interactions involved in leukocyte firm arrest and transmigration.
  2. Design of polymeric cells for targeted drug delivery.
    We are working on designing sophisticated leukocyte mimetics that can target therapeutics to diseased vasculature via multiple receptor-ligand interactions with applications in cardiovascular disease and cancer.
  3. Smart Biomaterials for Drug Delivery.
    We working closely with polymer chemists and material scientist to identify new materials for drug delivery. Our work in this area is currently focused on immune response to new materials.

Biography

Professional Experience

University of Michigan
Chemical Engineering Department
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Professor, 2017-present
Associate Professor, 2014-2017
Assistant Professor, 2006-2014

Baylor College of Medicine
Pediatrics/Leukocyte Biology
Houston, Texas, 2004-2006

Courses Taught

Undergraduate ChE Courses
ChE 230 – Material and Energy Balance, Fall 2009, Fall 2010
ChE 342 – Mass and Heat Transfer, Fall 2006, Fall 2007, Fall 2008
Student Projects

Graduate ChE Courses
ChE 696 – Engineering Principle in Drug Delivery and Targeting, Winter 2010

Awards

Senior Fellow, Michigan Society of Fellows, 2017

American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering, Fellow, 2017

American Institute of Chemical Engineers, Women’s Initiatives Committee’s Mentorship Excellence Award, 2017

American Institute of Chemical Engineers, Minority Affairs Committee’s William W. Grimes Award for Excellence in Chemical Engineering, 2017

Raymond J. and Monica E. Schultz Outreach and Diversity Award, 2017
College of Engineering, University of Michigan

Harold R. Johnson Diversity Service Award (2016)
The University of Michigan

NAE Frontier of Engineering Education, Selected Participant (2012)

Provost Teaching Innovation Award (2012)
The University of Michigan

Departmental Research Achievement Award (2012)
Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Michigan

NSF CAREER (2011)
National Science Foundation

Innovator Award (2010)
American Heart Association

Scientist Development Grant (2007)
American Heart Association

University of Michigan Rackham Faculty Development Grant, 2006
APS/NIDDK Travel Fellowship Awards: EB, 2006

Baylor College of Medicine NIH T32 Training Grant in Lung Disease, 2004 – 2006

Janice Lumpkin Awards For Excellence in Arts & Sciences, 2003

NASA Graduate Research Fellowship, 2002-2004

GEM Masters Fellowship in Engineering, 1999

UMBC Meyerhoff Scholarship, 1997-1999

UMBC MARC U* STAR Scholar, 1998 – 1999

Publications