The neurovascular unit-on-a-chip: modeling ischemic stroke to stem cell therapy.

Dr. Wonjae Lee’s research explores how neural cells integrate biological signals at multiple levels to communicate with immune cells within the brain’s unique immune landscape. Central to this process is the blood-brain barrier (BBB), a highly selective interface between the brain and peripheral circulation. Dr. Lee investigates the BBB’s role in mediating immune interactions and leverages it as a potential therapeutic target.

To study this, Dr. Lee builds functional models of the neurovascular unit (NVU), a simple but comprehensive tissue structure that replicates neurophysiological and immunological features of the brain.  This platform allows researchers to track the spatiotemporal immune dynamics throughout disease progression and treatments within the brain’s original immune context.

By advancing techniques for modeling cellular cross-talk within engineered tissues, Dr. Lee’s research pushes the boundaries of experimental neuroscience. His team integrates multimodal spatiotemporal data analysis to uncover novel insights into brain-immune interactions. Through active collaborations with experts in biomedical engineering, neurobiology, immunology, and oncology, Dr. Lee drives interdisciplinary innovations to address complex challenges in neuroimmunology and precision medicine.