About

I am Vivek Thirunellai Radhakrishnan, a biomedical engineer committed to advancing the frontiers of regenerative medicine and translational research. Currently pursuing my MSE in Biomedical Engineering at Johns Hopkins University, I blend a strong foundation in biotechnology with hands-on experience in tissue engineering, biomaterials, and molecular diagnostics.

My fascination with the human body began in childhood and has grown into a mission to engineer solutions for complex clinical challenges. Personal encounters with chronic illnesses in my family have fueled my drive to bridge the gap between laboratory innovation and patient care. I have led and contributed to award-winning research projects, including the development of nanoscaffolds for diabetic wound healing and the creation of rapid diagnostic tools for pancreatitis. My work has been recognized with the prestigious IASc-INSA-NASI Summer Research Fellowship and accolades for scientific presentations.

I thrive at the intersection of research, technology, and clinical collaboration-whether growing intestinal stem cells on biomimetic scaffolds, screening plant metabolites for novel therapeutics, or designing smart biomaterials for wound healing and I strive to advance the frontiers of tissue engineering, biomaterials, and regenerative medicine. My technical toolkit spans advanced molecular biology, tissue engineering, and in-vivo animal testing, underpinned by a passion for scientific communication and leadership.

Looking ahead, I am driven to translate scientific discoveries into impactful healthcare solutions, foster multidisciplinary teamwork, and contribute as both a researcher and an entrepreneur in the evolving landscape of biomedical innovation.

I led a multidisciplinary initiative to create a biodegradable nanoscaffold using carboxymethyl chitosan infused with green tea and Acacia catechu extracts, both known for their wound-healing and antibacterial properties, designed to accelerate healing in diabetic foot ulcers. By integrating laboratory and animal model studies, we demonstrated that our scaffold significantly improved skin regeneration and reduced healing time compared to standard treatments.This project highlights the potential of plant-based nanomaterials as an effective and safe solution for chronic wound care.

I was honored to receive the highly prestigious National IASc -INSA -NASI Summer Research Fellowship from a pool of over 25,000 applicants nationwide. I was fortunate to carry out this fellowship in the field of pancreatitis at the respected All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. During this enriching fellowship, I worked across various labs for two months, gaining proficiency in various molecular biology techniques that enhanced my knowledge. Additionally, I had the privilege to contribute to standardizing an in-house developed kinetic test for quantitative estimation of bile acids from stool samples for the Indian population, a potential rapid and cost-effective diagnostic tool.

I spearheaded a computational drug discovery project to identify pharmacologically active plant secondary metabolites against Streptococcus-caused meningitis by employing bioinformatic tools such as molecular docking and dynamics. In this, we screened 125 flavonoids and terpenoids for the same. They were tested and validated by docking against four virulence factors of Streptococcus pneumoniae on various docking software, and PyRx virtual software was chosen for further studies

Proposed a biomimetic lymph node-on-a-chip system designed to study the immunological effects of micro- and nano-plastics. The design included integration of primary immune cell populations — T cells, B cells, dendritic cells, and macrophages— within a collagen-fibronectin ECM to recapitulate stromal immune interactions in vitro. Proposed assessment of MNP induced alterations in immune cell migration, activation profiles, cytokine production, and ECM remodeling via flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, and live-cell imaging. Intended as a high content, human-relevant model to probe mechanisms of immune dysregulation in response to environmental toxicants. to model micro- and nano-plastic induced immune dysregulation.

Developed a comprehensive proposal for a novel chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T) therapy to treat Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA), a severe antibody-mediated disorder. The concept involved engineering CAR-T cells that display RhD and Glycophorin A epitopes—major red blood cell antigens—on a tandem CAR construct to mimic native RBC surfaces. This antigen-mimicking approach was designed to function as a decoy, selectively binding and eliminating autoreactive B cells responsible for pathogenic antibody production without affecting the broader immune system.

Proposed an innovative immunoengineering approach to generate HIV-specific T cells using a decellularized rat thymus scaffold. The scaffold was to be functionalized with stable HIV peptide–MHC complexes to simulate the natural thymic selection process. The project outlined protocols for thymus extraction, SDS-based decellularization, and ECM preservation verification via DAPI, H&E, and immunohistochemistry. Patient-derived iPSCs were planned to be differentiated into immature thymocytes and seeded onto the engineered scaffold within a perfusion bioreactor system.

Developed a translational research proposal investigating the epigenetic basis of neuroinflammation in Alzheimer’s disease using the DNMT inhibitor RG108. RG108 was chosen for drug repurposing due to its ability to non-toxically inhibit DNA methylation and modulate inflammatory gene expression. The proposed work included the development of in vitro blood-brain barrier models and in vivo rodent studies to evaluate RG108’s delivery, efficacy, and safety. In vivo validation in AD rodent models was included to assess therapeutic modulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6 and IL-15. A computational model was also suggested to estimate pharmacokinetics in humans.

Proposed a localized immunotherapy strategy utilizing a chitosan-based hydrogel embedded with M2pep-functionalized nanoparticles loaded with the CSF-1R inhibitor PLX3397. The hydrogel was designed for post-surgical application at melanoma resection sites to selectively repolarize M2-like tumor-associated macrophages toward an M1 phenotype, thereby enhancing local anti-tumor immunity. The proposal included rheological and drug release profiling, macrophage polarization assays, and in vivo testing in a humanized mouse model of melanoma.

Executed a laboratory-based project using CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing to knock out Cathepsin D (CTSD), a lysosomal protease implicated in therapeutic protein degradation, in Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO-K1) cells. Designed a high-efficiency guide RNA (gRNA), cloned it into a LentiCRISPRv2 plasmid, and carried out bacterial transformation and plasmid purification. Verified successful construct integration through Sanger sequencing. A structured six-step troubleshooting strategy was employed to resolve technical challenges in ligation and transformation.