Rebecca L. Carrier
Professor & Associate Chair of Research,
Chemical Engineering
Affiliated Faculty,
Bioengineering
Office
- 208 Lake Hall
- 617.373.7126
Research Focus
intestinal tissue engineering, retinal regenerative medicine, oral drug delivery
About
Joined the Chemical Engineering Department in Fall 2003.
The overall theme of my research interests is the interaction between biological systems and materials, with specific applications in drug delivery and regenerative medicine. The two main goals of my research program are: 1. To enhance understanding of compound transport in biological systems, (e.g., drug transport through the body), and how it is influenced by exogenous and endogenous carrier systems (e.g., lipid micelles) and 2. To develop and study biomimetic biomaterials and cellular response to them. Quantitative, mechanistic understanding of compound transport in the body will enable rational design of drug delivery systems, streamlining the resource-intensive drug development process and enabling viable pharmaceutical products to be developed from promising drug candidates. It could also enhance understanding of physiological function (e.g., significance of biological barriers such as gastrointestinal mucus in normal and disease states). Precisely biomimetic biomaterials could enable meaningful cell culture models for research and scaffolds promoting tissue regeneration when combined with appropriate cells. Current specific research focus areas include the impact of lipids on oral compound absorption, mechanistic studies of mucus barriers to drug and drug carrier transport, and development of biomimetic biomaterials for intestinal and retinal tissue engineering.
Education
- PhD (Chemical Engineering) Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2000
- BS Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 1995
Honors & Awards
- 2017 Søren Buus Outstanding Research Award
- 2016 NAE Frontiers of Engineering Symposium
- 2014 COE Faculty Fellow
- 2013 NAE Frontiers of Engineering Education Symposium
- 2008 NSF CAREER Award
Research Overview
intestinal tissue engineering, retinal regenerative medicine, oral drug delivery
Department Research Areas
Selected Publications
- J. Kundu, A. Michaelson, P. Baranov, M. Chiumiento, T. Nigl, M.J.Young, R.L. Carrier, Interphotoreceptor Matrix Based Biomaterial: Impact on Human Retinal Progenitor Cell Attachment and Differentiation, Journal of Biomedical Materials Research B Applied Biomaterials, 106(2), 2018, 891-899
- J.Y. Lock, T.L. Carlson, C.M. Wang, A. Chen, R.L. Carrier, Acute Exposure to Commonly Ingested Emulsifiers Alters Intestinal Mucus Structure and Transport Properties, Scientific Reports, 8(1), 2018,10008
- T.L. Carlson J.Y. Lock R.L. Carrier, Engineering the Mucus Barrier, Annual Reviews in Biomedical Engineering, 20, 2018, 197-220
- et al, R.L. Carrier, M. Cirit, L.G. Griffith, D.A. Lauffenburger, Integrated Gut/Liver Microphysiological Systems Elucidates Inflammatory Inter-Tissue Crosstalk, Biotechnology and Bioengineering,114(11), 2017, 2648-2659
- A.N. Koppes, M. Kamath, C.A. Pfluger, D.D. Burkey, M. Dokmeci, L. Wang, R.L. Carrier, Complex, Multi-Scale Small Intestinal Topography Replicated in Cellular Growth Substrates Fabricated via Chemical Vapor Deposition of Parylene C, Biofabrication, 8(3), 2016, 035011O
- Rezhdo, L. Speciner, R.L. Carrier, Lipid-associated Oral Delivery: Mechanisms and Analysis of Oral Absorption, Journal of Controlled Release, 240, 2016, 544-560
Jun 20, 2019
Carrier Awarded Patent for Controlling Apical Flow to a Cell Culture
ChE Professor Rebecca Carrier was awarded a patent for a "Device for controlled apical flow in cell culture inserts." Abstract Source: USPTO A device for controlling apical flow to a cell culture includes an apical insert that defines at least one inlet channel extending from an inlet port to an apical feed port and at […]
Dec 03, 2018
Rebecca Carrier Elected as a AIMBE Fellow
ChE Professor and Associate Chair of Research Rebecca Carrier has been elected as a fellow of the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) for her exceptional achievements and significant contributions within the medical and biological engineering fields.
Oct 18, 2018
Carrier Receives $1.57M in Renewal of NIH Grant
ChE Professor Rebecca Carrier was awarded a four-year $1.57M renewal NIH grant for “Impact of lipids and food on oral compound absorption: mechanistic studies and modeling.” Abstract Source: NIH The overall goal of this project is to enable mechanistic understanding and quantitative prediction of the influence of ingested lipids and food on orally delivered compound absorption. […]
Sep 06, 2018
ChemE Research & Creative Endeavor Awardees
The Department of Chemical Engineering is proud to announce that eight of their students have received the Northeastern University Research and Creative Endeavor Awards from the Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships.
Aug 15, 2018
Strong Female Role Models Contributed to Their Success
Jennifer Morales, PhD Bioengineering, comes from a place where feminist role models are rare and detainees are prevalent. She’s from Mission, Texas, a city in Hidalgo County—one of the immigration epicenters in the United States. “Whenever you hear about families getting separated at the border, they’re probably talking about Hidalgo,” she said. It’s economically depressed, […]
Jul 30, 2018
Carrier Awarded $300K NSF Grant for Tissue Modeling
ChE Professor Rebecca Carrier, in collaboration with Erin Lavik from the University of Maryland Baltimore County, was awarded a $300K NSF grant for “Engineering Architecture for Tissue Models”.
Feb 22, 2018
Making World-Changing Progress through Cancer Immunology Research
Jordan Harris, BS, Chemical Engineering, 2017—Jordan Harris’ goal was simple: Take advantage of Northeastern’s College of Engineering education and experience to gain access to a graduate program to render his opportunities in science and engineering virtually limitless. Graduating with a 4.0 GPA and being accepted into many dual MD/PhD programs, Harris is on target for […]
May 03, 2017
Faculty and Staff Awards 2017
Congratulations to all the winners of the faculty and staff awards, and to everyone for their hard work and dedication during the 2016-2017 academic school year. Faculty Fellow Edward Beighley, CEE Yun Raymond Fu, ECE Tommaso Melodia, ECE Rising Star Staff Award Erin Schnepp, Undergraduate Academic Advising Carolina Venegas-Martinez, CEE Outstanding Teachers of First Year […]
Apr 26, 2017
NU Talks: Linking diet and health
ChE Associate Professor Rebecca Carrier discusses her research into the human gut microbiome during a NU Talks session at the ISEC opening.
Nov 30, 2016
Bioengineering PhD Candidate Jaclyn Lock Wins AIChE Poster Competition
BioE PhD candidate Jaclyn Lock, advised by ChE Associate Professor Rebecca Carrier, was awarded first place in the AIChE Materials Engineering & Sciences Division (MESD) poster competition.