Date/Time
Date(s) - 09/29/2025
3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Location
Communicore, C1-009
Chronic respiratory diseases—including pulmonary fibrosis and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH)—are a leading global cause of morbidity and mortality. These conditions exhibit striking sexual dimorphism in incidence, progression, and response to therapy, yet the biological mechanisms driving these differences remain poorly understood. There is a pressing clinical need for human-relevant models that capture sex-specific disease features to advance drug discovery and precision medicine.
The Magin Lab engineers 3D in vitro models of lung disease using dynamic biomaterials, tunable hydrogels, and 3D bioprinting to replicate the mechanical and biochemical microenvironments of diseased lung tissue. These platforms enable the study of cell–matrix interactions, mechanotransduction, and hormone-mediated signaling in ways that traditional cell culture and animal models cannot. Our recent work reveals how sex, stiffness, and serum composition interact to drive epithelial injury and fibroblast activation, and how these variables influence drug responses in models of fibrosis and PAH.
This presentation will highlight our progress in developing sex-informed, biomimetic lung models and the translational potential of these platforms for drug testing. In addition to research, Dr. Magin will reflect on her journey from a first-generation college student to PhD trainee in the J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Florida, through postdoctoral and industry roles, and now as a faculty leader in academic bioengineering.
Bio:
Dr. Chelsea M. Magin is an Associate Professor of Bioengineering, Pediatrics, and Medicine at the University of Colorado Denver | Anschutz and leads the Bio-inspired Pulmonary Engineering Laboratory. Her research integrates biomaterials, 3D modeling, and mechanobiology to study chronic lung diseases, with a focus on sex-specific mechanisms and drug responses. She directs the QA/RA Certificate Program and previously led product development at Sharklet Technologies. Dr. Magin is a recipient of the NSF CAREER Award, ATS Early Career Achievement Award, and the University of Florida’s 40 Gators Under 40. She earned her PhD in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Florida.