Vinay Abhyankar Headshot

Vinay Abhyankar

Associate Professor

Department of Biomedical Engineering
Kate Gleason College of Engineering

585-475-4665
Office Location
Office Mailing Address
160 Lomb Memorial Dr Rochester, NY 14623

Vinay Abhyankar

Associate Professor

Department of Biomedical Engineering
Kate Gleason College of Engineering

Education

BS, Binghamton University; Ph.D., University of Wisconsin

Bio

Dr. Vinay Abhyankar received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Binghamton University and his M.S. and Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. After one year in technical consulting, he joined the Biotechnology and Bioengineering Department at Sandia National Laboratories in Livermore, CA. Prior to joining RIT, he led the Biological Microsystems Division at the University of Texas at Arlington Research Institute. Dr. Abhyankar’s research laboratory works at the intersection of engineering, biomaterials science, and biology. 

Current work focuses on developing accessible microfluidic systems that integrate controlled microenvironments with topographically defined matrices to engineer biomimetic tissue interfaces.These technology platforms are well-suited for both undergraduate and graduate research involvement and combine simulation-based design, hands-on prototyping, and experimental studies to better understand human disease.

Select Scholarship

RIT students are in bold

Joshi, I.M., Mansouri, M., Ahmed A., Simon, R.A., Esmaili, P., Desa, D.E., Elias T.M., Brown III E.B., Abhyankar, V.V. (2023).Microengineering 3D Collagen Matrices with Tumor-Mimetic Gradients in Fiber Alignment, Advanced Functional Materials, https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202308071

Mansouri M, Hughes A.R., Audi L.A., Carter A.E., Vidas J.A., McGrath J.L., Abhyankar V.V., 2023 Transforming Static Barrier Tissue Models into Dynamic Microphysiological Systems. JoVE https://www.jove.com/t/66090/transforming-static-barrier-tissue-models-into-dynamic

Lomeli-Martin, A, Ahamed, N., Abhyankar, V.V.,* Lapizco-Encinas, B.H.* (2023). Electropatterning - Contemporary developments for selective particle arrangements employing electrokinetics. Electrophoresis 44 884-909,https://doi.org/10.1002/elps.202200286, *corresponding authors

Ahmed, A., Joshi, I. M., Goulet, M. R., Vidas, J. A., Byerley, A. M., Mansouri, M., Day, S. W., & Abhyankar, V. V. (2022). Microengineering 3D Collagen Hydrogels with Long-Range Fiber Alignment. J. Vis. Exp., e64457. https://doi.org/10.3791/64457

Mansouri, M., Ahmed, A., Ahmad, S. D., McCloskey, M. C., Joshi, I. M., Gaborski, T. R., Waugh, R. E., McGrath, J. L., Day, S. W., & Abhyankar, V. V. (2022). The Modular μSiM Reconfigured: Integration of Microfluidic Capabilities to Study in vitro Barrier Tissue Models under Flow. Advanced Healthcare Materials, 2200802. https://doi.org/10.1002/adhm.202200802

McCloskey, M. C., Kasap, P., Ahmad, S. D., Su, S.-H., Chen, K., Mansouri, M., Ramesh, N., Nishihara, H., Belyaev, Y., Abhyankar, V. V, Begolo, S., Singer, B. H., Webb, K. F., Kurabayashi, K., Flax, J., Waugh, R. E., Engelhardt, B., & McGrath, J. L. (2022). The Modular µSiM: A Mass Produced, Rapidly Assembled, and Reconfigurable Platform for the Study of Barrier Tissue Models In Vitro. Advanced Healthcare Materials, 2200804. https://doi.org/10.1002/adhm.202200804

Hsu, M.-C., Mansouri, M., Ahamed, N. N. N., Larson, S. M., Joshi, I. M., Ahmed, A., Borkholder, D. A., & Abhyankar, V. V. (2022). A miniaturized 3D printed pressure regulator (µPR) for microfluidic cell culture applications. Scientific Reports, 12(1), 10769. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-15087-9

Ahmed, A., Mansouri, M., Joshi, I. M., Byerley, A. M., Day, S. W., Gaborski, T. R., & Abhyankar, V. V. (2022). Local extensional flows promote long-range fiber alignment in 3D collagen hydrogels. Biofabrication, 14(3), 035019. https://doi.org/10.1088/1758-5090/ac7824

 

Currently Teaching

BIME-470
3 Credits
This hands-on course gives engineering students experience with different culture platforms and analysis techniques. Students will be given experiments relating to current literature and state of the art techniques in the area of Tissue Engineering. In a project-based course style, individual experiments require multiple weeks and students will be expected to maintain their own cultures.
BIME-499
0 Credits
One semester of paid work experience in biomedical engineering.
BIME-570
3 Credits
This course is intended to provide an overview of how replacement organs and tissues can be engineered using both natural and synthetic biomaterials that direct cellular differentiation and integration. The objectives of the course are to present how tissues can be engineered using the physical and chemical properties of biomaterials and targeted differentiation of multi- and pluripotent stem cells. Topics include the adhesion, migration, growth and differentiation of cells as well as the optimization and modeling of molecular and cellular transport within and across engineered tissues. Additionally, the course will investigate the engineering parameters and necessary functionality of artificial tissues.
BIME-697
2 - 6 Credits
This course will give students supervised practical training within academic research laboratories prior to conducting their own dissertation research. Students will identify a laboratory or laboratories to conduct the research with the permission of the graduate director and principal investigator. For each practicum, students will complete a brief critical literature review in the sub-field of the particular laboratory with the principal investigator. Students will then be trained on experimental or computational methods and learn relevant applied data analysis techniques. The practicum will conclude with a written summary and oral presentation. A typical 2 credit practicum is 120 hours of research training in a laboratory. Students will typically enroll in either 2 or 4 credits per semester (1 or 2 practicums) with a maximum of 6 credits earned during the degree program.
ENGR-701
3 Credits
This course emphasizes collaboration in modern research environment and consists of five modules. Students will introduced to the concepts of inter-disciplinary and trans-disciplinary research conducted from both a scientific and an engineering perspective. Students will learn how to write a dissertation proposal, statement of work, timeline for their program of study and the elements of an effective literature review. Students will develop skills related to reviewing and annotating technical papers, conducting a literature search and proper citation. Students will demonstrate an understanding of (a) ethics as it relates to the responsible conduct of research, (b) ethical responsibility in the context of the engineering professions, (c) ethics as it relates to authorship and plagiarism, (d) basic criteria for ethical decision making and (e) identify professional standards and code of ethics relevant to their discipline. Students demonstrate an ability to identify and explain the potential benefits of their research discoveries to a range of stakeholders, including policy makers and the general public.
ENGR-795
1 Credits
This seminar course presents topics of contemporary interest to graduate students enrolled in the program. Presentations include off campus speakers, and assistance with progressing on your research. Selected students and faculty may make presentations on current research under way in the department. All doctoral engineering students enrolled full time are required to attend each semester they are on campus. (Graduate standing in a technical discipline)
ENGR-899
3 Credits
This course is used by students who plan to study a topic on an independent study basis. The student and instructor must prepare a plan of study and method of evaluation for approval by the program director prior to course registration.

In the News

  • December 20, 2023

    two college students and a professor test cell movement on a tiny scissor lift in a lab.

    RIT researchers develop new technique to study how cancer cells move

    In tumors, cells follow microscopic fibers, comparable to following roads through a city. Researchers at Rochester Institute of Technology developed a new technique to study different features of these “fiber highways” to provide new insights into how cells move efficiently through the tumor environment.

  • March 22, 2023

    person holding a microphone giving a presentation.

    RIT honors 14 researchers added to prestigious PI Millionaires group

    RIT faculty members, who led research initiatives as principal investigators, were honored at a reception on March 21 to celebrate the individuals who helped the university reach record awards surpassing $92 million and place among the top private research universities in the country.

  • July 25, 2022

    professor and two students talking in a lab.

    Vinay Abhyankar receives NSF grant to assess cancer cell migration processes

    Cancer spreading from the primary tumor location to another is called metastasis and is the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Research efforts today focus on discovering the guidance cues, or indicators, that promote movement of cancer cells toward blood vessels during early metastasis, and some of that work is taking place at RIT and the University of Rochester.