All are welcome to a seminar by Bin Jiang, Ph.D., research assistant professor at Northwestern University, titled “Engineering Targeted Mitochondrial Transplantation for Vascular Repair and Beyond” at 3:15–4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, in room 131 (auditorium) of Perlstein Hall.
Abstract
Mitochondria are increasingly recognized not only as powerhouses of the cell but also as key regulators of immune signaling, metabolism, and tissue regeneration. Leveraging this, our lab has developed a novel platform for targeted mitochondrial transplantation to restore bioenergetic function and promote repair in diseased tissues. In this seminar, I will highlight our recent advances in applying this approach to abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), a life-threatening vascular condition with no current pharmacological treatment. Using synthetic biology, nanomaterials engineering, and stem cell-derived mitochondria, we demonstrate lesion-targeted delivery, in situ bioenergetic rescue, and modulation of vascular cell phenotypes. I will also discuss how this platform can be extended to other indications, including diabetic wound healing and implant-tissue integration. Together, these studies lay the foundation for a new therapeutic paradigm using mitochondria as “living drugs” to treat chronic diseases.
Biography
Bin Jiang, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor of Surgery and Biomedical Engineering at Northwestern University, with a joint appointment at the Feinberg School of Medicine and the McCormick School of Engineering. Her research focuses on the development of innovative regenerative engineering solutions for various vascular complications, including peripheral artery disease, abdominal aortic aneurysms, vascular calcification, and diabetic vascular complications. Dr. Jiang has extensive interdisciplinary research expertise in biomaterial science, stem cell technology, non-invasive imaging, and animal models. Dr. Jiang received her Bachelor’s degree in Bioengineering from Southeast University in China and her PhD in Biomedical Engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology. Before joining the faculty, she was a postdoctoral scholar in the Department of Biomedical Engineering and the Department of Surgery at Northwestern University. Throughout her career, Dr. Jiang has authored over 30 publications and patents and has received numerous awards, including a career development award and a transformational project award from the American Heart Association. Her research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health, American Heart Association, and various internal department funding sources. As a mentor, Dr. Jiang is committed to fostering a collaborative, supportive, and inclusive lab environment. She provides her trainees with personalized mentoring and encourages them to develop independent research skills, think critically, and apply their knowledge to real-world problems. Dr. Jiang’s ultimate goal is to train the next generation of scientists who will advance the field of regenerative engineering and improve the lives of patients with vascular complications.