Assistant Professor, Bioengineering Northeastern Univiersity
Prof. Tao Sun is an Assistant Professor of Bioengineering and a core member of Institute of Chemical Imaging of Living Systems (CILS) at Northeastern University. He joined Northeastern in January 2023 after postdoctoral trainings from Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Engineering School (Bioengineering), and an Instructor role with Harvard Medical School. His group works at the intersection of focused ultrasound (FUS), neuroimaging and immunoengineering with expertise in developing ultrasound devices, imaging methods and engineered cell systems to modulate the neuro-immune interface and their applications in immunomodulation, drug delivery, and cell-based theranostic systems.
The goal of his research program is to unveil how FUS modulates the neuroimmune disease/aging environment and to develop ultrasound-based techniques for treating and monitoring neurological disorders, such as glioblastoma and Alzheimer's disease, and beyond. Tao has received many recognitions for his scientific contributions to the fields of FUS, drug delivery, cancer immunoengineering, and neuroimaging. He is a recipient of the Young Investigator Awards from Focused Ultrasound Foundation and Acoustical Society of America. Many of his works were featured in mainstream science and technology media including WIRED (https://www.wired.com/story/the-second-coming-of-ultrasound/), Science Daily, and Medical Xpress.
Prof. Tao Sun is an Assistant Professor of Bioengineering and a core member of Institute of Chemical Imaging of Living Systems (CILS) at Northeastern University. He joined Northeastern in January 2023 after postdoctoral trainings from Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Engineering School (Bioengineering), and an Instructor role with Harvard Medical School. His group works at the intersection of focused ultrasound (FUS), neuroimaging and immunoengineering with expertise in developing ultrasound devices, imaging methods and engineered cell systems to modulate the neuro-immune interface and their applications in immunomodulation, drug delivery, and cell-based theranostic systems.
The goal of his research program is to unveil how FUS modulates the neuroimmune disease/aging environment and to develop ultrasound-based techniques for treating and monitoring neurological disorders, such as glioblastoma and Alzheimer's disease, and beyond. Tao has received many recognitions for his scientific contributions to the fields of FUS, drug delivery, cancer immunoengineering, and neuroimaging. He is a recipient of the Young Investigator Awards from Focused Ultrasound Foundation and Acoustical Society of America. Many of his works were featured in mainstream science and technology media including WIRED (https://www.wired.com/story/the-second-coming-of-ultrasound/), Science Daily, and Medical Xpress.
Lab Contribution: Develop and characterize a nanoparticle formulation that is designed to encapsulate a hydrophobic drug and an ultrasound-sensitive contrast agent to achieve targeted drug delivery. Perform focused ultrasound and microbubble mediated BBB opening, and record confirmatory observation and measurements through MRI, flow cytometry and histology.
Beyond the Lab: Avid coffee drinker!! I also love being outdoors and enjoy trying new hobbies every few months.
Lab Contribution: I’m a first-year PhD student in the Bioengineering department at Northeastern University. My research revolves around algorithm development for Passive Acoustic Detection and parallelism, specifically in the fascinating field of immunomodulation.
Beyond the Lab: I’m a big fan of long-distance running, especially in the serene Middlesex Fells reservation just north of Boston.
Lab Contribution: I am investigating the immunomodulatory effects of Focused ultrasound paired up with microbubbles to open the blood-brain barrier. I am particularly interested in how this method influences the brain's immune cells, like macrophages and microglia, aiming to unlock the answers on the mechanism of how these cellular machines can defeat Glioblastoma. This approach bridges tissue engineering, neurology, and immunology, offering potential breakthroughs in combating brain cancer.
Beyond the Lab: I am a fan of extreme sports like rock climbing and mountain biking, and sometimes when I want to wind down from the extreme adrenaline rush, I play flute.
Lab Contribution: Develop and conduct a comprehensive investigation of various beamforming algorithms with the aim of enhancing image quality, with a particular emphasis on the performance differences between Robust Minimum Variance Distortion Less Response (MVDR) and Multiple Signal Classification (MUSIC) algorithms.
Beyond the Lab: I enjoy preparing a variety of dishes, especially something from the Chinese cuisine. I have also been into body building for the last two years, my favorite move is deadlift. I also love live music.
Lab Contribution: Currently, I am working on a project centered towards the formation of monodispersed microbubbles for focused ultrasound therapy.
Beyond the Lab: I am a fan of music, enjoy lifting, and have dabbled in competitive gaming! Recently, I have been getting into EDM concerts in and around Boston.
Lab Contribution: Developing a mathematical model of multiple linear sound-sources to model Ultrasound frequency interaction with an inhomogeneous layer. This is primarily done using MATLAB k-wave toolbox, to support the study of Ultrasound interactions with the blood-brain barrier.
Beyond the Lab: I love to run, and I have been training for longer-distance races since entering college (half-marathon, marathon,etc.)! I also love baking and hiking, especially with friends! I also love going to museums and art exhibits.