Education
- Ph.D. UCLA,
- M.S. UCLA,
- B.S. UCSD,
Research
Micro- and nano-technologies provide powerful manipulation and measurement tools for studying biological cells. The match in dimensional scale (in the order of micrometers) offers amazing leverage in the study of the most basic and universal functional unit. This is the motivation for exploring the biomedical applications of novel micro and nano-technologies by way of intelligent and fully-integrated cellular platforms. My current project is to study how cells sense physical signals from their environment and translate them into biochemical cellular responses such as decisions in cell division, differentiation, or even cell death. I am activating these pathways with a novel light induced manipulation technology called Opto-electronic Tweezers (OET) to move microbeads relative to myoblasts, a muscle precursor cell that naturally experiences extensive mechanical forces. In collaboration with the inventors of OET, Dr. Eric Chiou and Ming Wu, I will develop the OET system into a cell viable fluidic chamber in which continuous study of adherent cells is possible. The ability to mimic the physical environment to promote muscle cell growth or numbers of muscle fibers, this can have many implications into on treatment of degenerative diseases in which muscles atrophy or in the maintenance of aging muscle function through therapeutic or preventative exercises.
In my graduate studies and collaborative projects, I have
been exposed to new and cutting-edge research, many of which have executed
patent application and begun the path toward commercialization. These start-ups help society to quickly
benefit from innovative and therapeutic technologies by facilitating public
access. In this way, I have developed an
interest in the strategy and development processes involved in turning these
technologies into real business opportunities.
My internship with Alex Suh and his team at California Technology
Ventures in
OTHER RESEARCH EXPERIENCE:
·
Project Leader for NASA funded university research
-Institute for Cell Mimetic Space Exploration (CMISE)
Led
a multi-disciplinary graduate and post-doc research team that developed an
intelligent live cell experiment platform by integration of 3 novel CMISE
technologies (Electro-wetting on a
Dielectric, Opto-electronic Tweezers, Cell Feedback
Control) producing a prototype
device capable of single cell manipulation within a digitally movable liquid
droplet.
·
Salivary protein detection- Masters Thesis
Developed a high-sensitivity, high-specificity bio-sensing technique for a protein cancer biomarker in saliva that helped diagnose patients with oral cancer.
POSTERS AND PRESENTATIONS
·
World Congress for Chinese Biomedical Engineers
2004,
Presentation: A NEMS approach to specific and sensitive DNA/protein biomarker sensors for the early detection of oral cancer in raw saliva.
· DENSO Corporation, February 2004, UCLA
Presentation: Micro/Nano Technologies for Bio-signature Detection
·
DARPA Bioflips Project
Review, September 2003,
Poster: A NEMS fluidic system with artificial reconfigurable bilayer.
· Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department Research and Technology Review, April 2003, UCLA
Poster and presentation: Integrated microfluidic system for medical diagnosis.
· California NanoSystems Institute (CNSI) Poster Day 2002, UCLA
Poster:
Surface modification for specific protein detection.
PUBLICATIONS AND PATENTS
“A Micro-scale Protein Sensing Technique for an Oral Cancer Specific Biomarker in Natural Saliva” Winny Tan, Yang Li, Tianwei Yu, David T. Wong, Chih-Ming Ho, submitted for publication 2006
"An
Intelligent Nanomedicine Integrating Diagnosis and Therapy" Na Li,
Winny Tan (patent pending)
"Microfluidics for Probing Cell-Microenvironment Dynamics" Pak Kin Wong, Winny Tan, Ieong Wong, Chih-Ming Ho, The International Conference on Bio-Nano-Informatics (BNI) Fusion, Marina del Rey, CA
"Cell Relaxation after Electrodeformation: Effect of latrunculin A on actin cytoskeleton" Pak Kin Wong, Winny Tan, Chih-Ming Ho, Journal of Biomechanics Vol 38, 529-535, 2005.
"Micro/Nano Fluidics for Biosignature Detection" Folk C, Wong PK, Tan W, Li N, Ma Y, Ho CM. XVII National and VI ISHMT/ASME Heat and Mass Transfer Conference, IGCAR, Kalpakkam, Jan. 5-7, 2004
Work Experience
California Technology
Ventures, Pasadena, CA,
Internship 2006-current
· Provided technical evaluation and market assessment reports on potential investment opportunities from confidential company business plans and presentations from the life science industry.
· Participated in strategic discussions with CEOs of portfolio companies
· Provided on-site technical support for the modules of an ultra high-throughput drug discovery system.
· Executed quality control and troubleshooting which required communication with R/D and manufacturing.
· Developed SOPs for application and data analysis.
Imgenex
Corporation,
Performed various molecular biology lab techniques for research antibody production and characterization including expression cloning, PCR, gel electrophoresis, Western blot.
Contact Info
Mailing Address:
Department of Bioengineering
7523 Boelter Hall
Phone:310-825-8275
Fax:310-825-1350
Email: wtan at ucla.edu