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Biomedical Engineering Research Seminar

Dr. Juhyun Lee

University of Texas at Arlington / UT Southwestern Medical Center
Joint Department of Bioengineering

Abstract

Congenital heart diseases are among the most prevalent birth defects in humans, often stemming from developmental abnormalities during embryogenesis. While many of these conditions have a genetic basis, environmental factors, including mechanical forces, can also play a role. Dr. Lee has made significant contributions to the field of cardiac research by developing an innovative 4-D imaging technique for studying beating zebrafish hearts in vivo. This technique utilizes a custom-built light-sheet microscope and a sophisticated computational algorithm. Dr. Lee's research extends beyond imaging and delves into the assessment of cardiac mechanics and hemodynamic effects. This involves quantifying intracardiac shear stress through computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and tensor analysis.

His work has shed light on the mechanobiological mechanisms that underlie proper cardiac chamber formation. In particular, Dr. Lee's multidisciplinary approach explores how mechanotransduction regulates Notch signaling to advance our understanding of developmental cardiac mechanics, all made possible by cutting-edge optical systems. Furthermore, Dr. Lee's research interests extend to cardiac regeneration in zebrafish, where he employs novel light-field imaging techniques. These techniques promise to enhance our understanding of cardiac regeneration, further pushing the boundaries of knowledge in the field.

Bio

Dr. Juhyun Lee, PhD, currently holds the position of Associate Professor in the Department of Bioengineering at the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA). His academic journey began with a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Biomedical Engineering, which he completed at the University of Utah in 2010. Subsequently, Dr. Lee pursued his graduate studies, earning a Master's degree from the University of Southern California (USC) and a PhD in Bioengineering from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Following his academic training, he briefly transitioned to the industry, working as a biomedical engineer at Edward Lifesciences. During this time, he specialized in artificial heart valves and hemodynamic monitoring devices.

Returning to the academic sphere, Dr. Lee has been dedicated to advancing the field of high-resolution microscopy for in vivo dynamic imaging techniques. His research primarily focuses on unraveling the mechanobiological mechanisms underlying cardiac trabeculation during development, employing a multidisciplinary approach rooted in engineering methods. He has received multiple awards, including the American Heart Association (AHA) Career Award and the UTA College of Engineering Outstanding Early Career Award. Furthermore, Dr. Lee's research endeavors have garnered support from various funding agencies, including the American Heart Association (AHA), the National Science Foundation (NSF), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).