Cynthia Hajal
Assistant Professor,
Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
Affiliated Faculty,
Bioengineering
Contact
- c.hajal@northeastern.edu
- 360 Huntington Ave,
Boston, MA 02115, USA
Office
- ISEC 422
Research Focus
Tissue engineering, microfluidics, cancer
About
Cynthia Hajal joined the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at Northeastern University in August 2023. Her research interests are at the intersection of engineering and cancer biology, developing tissue engineered models of tumors to study cancer progression, drug delivery, and treatment resistance.
She received a BA in Economics and BS in Mechanical Engineering from Columbia University and her SM and PhD in Mechanical Engineering from MIT. Her doctoral work focused on the design of microfluidic models of the vasculature to investigate cancer metastasis and molecular transport between blood and tissues. Prior to joining Northeastern University, she was a postdoctoral research fellow at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT where she investigated resistance mechanisms to chemotherapies in patient-derived glioma tumor models using functional genomic screens. She was selected as a Rising Star in Mechanical Engineering by MIT (2021) and was a Ludwig Molecular Oncology Graduate Fellow (2018-2019).
Education
PhD, Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2021
SM, Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2018
BS/BA, Mechanical Engineering / Economics, Columbia University, 2016
Research Overview
Tissue engineering, microfluidics, cancer
Therapeutic Understanding through Microfluidic Organ-on-a-chip Research
The Therapeutic Understanding through Microfluidic Organ-on-chip Research (TUMOR) Lab specializes in the design of microfluidic, tissue-engineered models of vascularized tumors. Our focus lies in investigating the crucial role that the components and properties of the microenvironment play in cancer progression and drug delivery. Through an interdisciplinary approach combining engineering and biology, we aim to improve clinical outcomes for cancer patients. Our research is compartmentalized into three areas:
- Vascular fluid flows in the context of drug delivery to tumors.
- Tumor tissue properties in the context of cancer progression.
- Chemotherapy-induced alterations to the tumor vasculature and consequences on patient response to treatment.
Research Centers and Institutes
Department Research Areas
Selected Publications
- Ibrahim, L.I., Hajal, C., Offeddu, G.S., Gillrie, M.R., Kamm, R.D. Omentum-on-a-chip: A multicellular, vascular microfluidic model of the human peritoneum for the study of ovarian cancer metastases. Biomaterials (2022).
- Straehla, J.P.*, Hajal, C.*, Safford, H.C., Offeddu, G.S., Boehnke, N., Dacoba, T.G., Wyckoff, J., Kamm, R.D., Hammond, P.T. A predictive microfluidic model of human glioblstoma to assess trafficking of blood-brain barrier penetrant nanoparticles. PNAS (2022).
- Hajal, C.*, Offeddu, G.S.*, Shin, Y.*, Zhang, S., Morozova, O., Hickman, D., Knutson, C.G., Kamm, R.D. Engineered human blood-brain barrier microfluidic model for vascular permeability analyses. Nature Protocols (2022).
- Akinbote A., Beltran Sastre V., Visone R., Hajal, C., Cobanaglu D., Haase, K. Classical and nonclassical fibrosis phenotypes are revealed by lung and cardiac specific microvessels on-chip. Frontiers in Physiology 1622 (2021).
- Hajal, C.*, LeRoi B.*, Kamm, R.D., Maoz, B.M. Biology and models of the blood-brain barrier. Annual Review of Biomedical Engineering 23, 359-384 (2021).
Dec 10, 2024
ChE Student Makes the Most of Research Opportunities
Madeline Szoo, E’25, chemical engineering and biochemistry, has used research to discover her interests, working in multiple labs during her undergraduate career. Her work has earned numerous accolades, including the Trail Blazer PEAK Experience Award and the Stabile Scholarship from the engineering honor society Tau Beta Pi.
Nov 14, 2024
ChE Student Receives Tau Beta Pi Scholarship
Madeline Szoo, E’25, chemical engineering and biochemistry, advised by MIE Assistant Professor Cynthia Hajal, was awarded a Stabile Scholarship from Tau Beta Pi, a prestigious engineering honor society, which supports students based on their academic work, campus leadership, and service, as well as their promise of future contributions to the engineering profession.
Jul 08, 2024
Fall 2024 AJC Merit Research Scholars
Several engineering and science students mentored by COE faculty are recipients of Northeastern’s AJC Merit Research Scholarship, which will fund a July to December 2024 co-op in the laboratory of a Northeastern University STEM faculty member.
May 07, 2024
Summer 2024 PEAK Experiences Awardees for Undergrad Research
Several engineering and science students mentored by COE faculty are recipients of the Summer 2024 PEAK Experiences Awards from Northeastern’s Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships.
Aug 18, 2023
New Faculty Spotlight: Cynthia Hajal
Cynthia Hajal joins the Mechanical and Industrial Engineering department in August 2023 as an Assistant Professor.