Dr. Prasanna Padmanaban
Bioengineer | Computational Scientist | Science communicator
Phone:
+34 671980906
Email:
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Google scholar:
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"Open for Collaborations"
(Tissue mechanics, Microfluidics, Soft matter & AI based microscopy)
Prasanna is a EIPOD4 Postdoctoral Fellow in the Haase Lab of Dr. Kristina Haase, EMBL Barcelona. He also works in the Petridou Lab of Dr. Nicoletta Petridou, EMBL Heidelberg and Multiscale Porous Media Lab of Dr. Amir Raoof, Utrecht University.
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Prasanna develops novel 3D vascularised anastomosable tissues for disease modelling and tissue engineering applications. He enjoy working at the interfaces of biofluid mechanics, microfluidics, engineering design and multiphysics based computational modeling for tissue vascularization.
Apart from research, he appreciate and participate in public speaking and science communication events (like Fame Lab, Science Cafe) to promote science to the general audience and being creative when it comes to cooking, drawing and making crafts from recycled items. As a outgoing person, he always enjoy organizing social events and very active in Twitter.
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Research
Hierarchically Engineered Anastomosable Tissues (HEAT)
In this project HEAT, Prasanna and team explores the influence of fluid flow dynamics on vascular development in native and engineered tissues. Understanding of flow dynamics in developing vascularized tissues helps bioengineers to utilize flows to control and fabricate functional multiscale tissues on chip. Prasanna and team employs a variety of fabrication, microscopy and biological techniques to ultimately increase the understanding of complex vascularized tissues. The project HEAT is cofunded by EMBL and Marie Sklodowska Curie Actions (Grant agreement number 847543).
Previous and current research
Engineered tissues will often need to contain a organized vascular network (micro and macro vessels), to accommodate a functional connection with patient / animal (clinical testing) and / or to ensure a physiological response (drug testing). Prasanna and team has expertise in developing methodologies to spatially control the organization of vascular cells and their microenvironment within tissue analogues. Particularly, Prasanna has developed engineering platforms to investigate the effect of mechanical perturbations on native and engineered vascularised tissues. These platforms provide us with valuable information that can be translated to an in vitro tissue engineering setting.
Future projects and goals
Prasanna is interested in developing strategies to vascularize controllable micro and macro tissues
Specific projects
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Computational modelling main aim is to model multiscale blood vessels and compute heterogenous velocities and shear stress patterns within these blood vessels. Prasanna is developing various computational strategies to model different biological processes such as vasculature and bone development & remodeling within multiple model systems. Currently he is intend to combine computational fluid dynamics model with machine learning tools to optimize his microfluidic tissue chips platform.
Cellular Potts model showing
angiogenesis simulation
Voronoi based biomimetic
cancellous bone scaffold
Computational Fluid Dynamics COMSOL simulation showing heterogenous flow profile within
in vitro blood vessels
Pore flow model showing pressure distribution within 3D hierarchical blood vessels
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Bioengineering one aim is to vascularize scalable micro tissues to develop physiological drug screening platforms. By applying pressure-induced flows across the microfluidic chips, he intend to create micro and macro vessels. Fusing these micro and macro vessels, he will be able to engineer an anastomosable tissue, that can be further use for preclinical applications.
Microfluidics integration within developing chick embryo
3D printing of sacrificial blood
vessel like structures
Perfusable in vitro micro vessels-on-chip
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Vascular imaging one focus will be to capture developing vasculature (micro and macro vessels) within various model systems such as chick embryos, zebrafish and microfluidic tissue chips. Morphology (structure) and blood flow perfusion (function) during different developmental stages will be assessed using multiple imaging techniques. Prasanna is developing both ex ovo and in vitro platforms to monitor and improve the understanding of vascular changes in health and disease conditions.
Laser speckle contrast imaging of developing chick embryo showing perfusion within blood vessels
Side stream dark field imaging of developing chick blood vessels showing erythrocytes movements
EXPERIENCE
2022-Present
Postdoctoral Fellow|EIPOD Marie-Curie
EUROPEAN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY LABORATORY, BARCELONA - HEIDELBERG
Secured funding for a self-designed multidisciplinary project titled Hierarchically Engineered Anastomosable Tissues (HEAT). This initiative harnesses state-of-the-art microphysiological systems to investigate the impact of fluid dynamics on both in vivo and in vitro vascularized tissue anastomosis. The project is conducted in the lab of Dr. Kristina Haase, partnering with Dr. Nicoletta Petridou and Dr. Amir Raoof. In a nutshell, the project HEAT aims to develop high-throughput platforms for engineering, tissue-specific vascularized anastomosable microtissues designed for clinical testing.
2019-2019
Visiting Researcher
As a part of PhD mobility, I visited Professor Roeland Merk's group and trained with the cellular Potts model. This experience has enabled me to develop a framework for integrating Multiphysics models that involve chemical gradients (growth factors), matrix degradation, and fluid flow with the cellular Potts model. Also, I took the initiative to establish a new collaboration between Leiden University and Twente University.
2017-2017
Master Thesis
MAX PLANCK INSTITUTE OF MOLECULAR CELL BIOLOGY AND GENETICS, DRESDEN, GERMANY
Under the supervision of Dr. Moritz Kreysing in Dresden, my research involved modeling and simulating microscale thermophoresis and designing microfluidics gradient generators for biological applications. Building upon this research, I expanded and utilized it as the foundation for my master’s thesis assignment, where I successfully developed a functional prototype with long range temperature-controllable capabilities at microscale.
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2016-2017
Research Internship
Erasmus Trainee Scholarship
UCB PHARMA, Braine-l'Alleud, BELGIUM
During my Master's mobility, I engaged in a project at UCB focused on optimizing cell culture and bioreactor systems for monoclonal antibody production. My research specifically involved in evaluating the efficiency and functionality of CHO cells over long-term passages. Additionally, I conducted a comparative analysis of the cell functionality across various culture systems of different scales, including T-flasks, mini-bioreactors, and reactor tanks of 1L, 10L and 200L. In recognition of my contribution to enabling data-driven decisions in the cell line assessment study, I was honored with the “Focused Recognition Award”.
2016-2016
Research Internship
MAX PLANCK INSTITUTE OF MOLECULAR CELL BIOLOGY AND GENETICS, DRESDEN, GERMANY
Under the supervision of Dr. Moritz Kreysing, I worked on modeling and simulation of microscale thermophoresis and microfluidics gradient generators for biological applications. Later I extended this work, to my Master's thesis assignment.
2015-2016
Scientific Research Assistant
Part Time
MAX PLANCK INSTITUTE FOR THE SCIENCE OF LIGHT, ERLANGEN
Under the guidance of Professor Philip Russell in Erlangen, I focused on the fabrication of nanoelectrodes, developed a novel technique that involved selectively filling gold and aluminum metals inside the hollow-core photonic crystal fibers. Subsequently, as a part of my mini-thesis, I expanded this research by integrating microfluidics and photonic crystal fibers for biosensing and particle guidance applications. The outcomes of this work were presented at an international symposium, earning me the "Best Scientific Poster Award".
2013-2014
Design Engineer R&D
SOCIETY FOR INTEGRATED CIRCUIT TECHNOLOGY AND APPLIED RESEARCH (SITAR), BENGALURU
While at SITAR, I specialized in the development of micro mixers for Lab-on-chip devices tailored for medical applications. Additionally, I underwent comprehensive training in the use of COMSOL Multiphysics software, gaining expertise in simulation and modeling for various applications.
2012-2013
Sales Engineer Trainee
THERMO FISHER SCIENTIFIC INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED, BENGALURU
I am responsible for overseeing pre-sales activities related to liquid handling consumables, primarily focusing on single-channel and multichannel pipettes, encompassing both manual and electronic variants.
2011-2011
Bachelor Thesis Internship
CLINIGENE INTERNATIONAL LIMITED, BENGALURU
During my bachelor’s thesis assignment, I conducted research on quantifying Ibuprofen in human plasma samples using HPLC method. Additionally, I actively participated in “mock audits” simulating FDA assessment.
EDUCATION
2018-2022
Doctorate Degree
Ph.D
UNIVERSITY OF TWENTE, ENSCHEDE,
THE NETHERLANDS
Topic: "Engineering tools to study and tune the vascular organization".
Mechanical signals have a strong effect on vascular development and organization. However, there exists no proper tool to study their influence on vascular organization. Under the supervision of Dr. Jeroen Rouwkema, I am working towards creating efficient engineering tools to probe, perturb and predict the evolution of vascular networks in invivo, invitro and insilico models.
2014-2018
Master's Degree
MSc.Hons
ERLANGEN-NUREMBERG, GERMANY
2007-2011
Bachelor's Degree
B.Tech
ANNA UNIVERSITY, INDIA
I studied Biotechnology in "Adhiyamaan College of Engineering" focusing on molecular cell biology and bioprocesses as specialization. This study program allows me to gain basic knowledge about cell biology and bioreactor operations. Moreover, this study program provide me a chance to work in various research institutions and biopharmaceutical industry.
2009-2010
Post Graduate Diploma
PGDNBT
LIFE SCIENCE FOUNDATION, INDIA
I studied a PGDBT course via online focuses on nanotechnology. This study program allows me to gain basic knowledge about nanobiotechnology concepts and their applications.
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PUBLICATIONS
P Padmanaban, A Chizari, T Knop, J Zhang, VD Trikalitis, B Koopman, W Steenbergen,* and J Rouwkema* Assessment of flow within developing chicken vasculature and biofabricated vascularized tissues using multimodal imaging techniques, 2021, Scientific Reports
M Kaya, F Stein, P Padmanaban, Z Zhang, J Rouwkema, Khalil I S M, and S Misra* Visualization of micro-agents and surroundings by real-time multicolor fluorescence microscopy,2022, Scientific Reports
D Rana, P Padmanaban, M Becker, F Stein, J Leijten, B Koopman, and J Rouwkema* Spatial control of self-organizing vascular networks with programmable aptamer-tethered growth factor photopatterning, 2023, Materials Today Bio
C Moccia, M Cherubini, M Fortea, A Akinbote, P Padmanaban, Violeta Beltran Sastre and Kristina Haase* Mammary microvessels are sensitive to menstrual cycle sex hormones, 2023, Advanced Science
M Cherubini, S Erickson, P Padmanaban, P Haberkant, F Stein, Violeta Beltran Sastre and Kristina Haase* Flow in fetoplacental microvessels in vitro enhances perfusion, barrier function, and matrix stability, 2023, Science Advances
P Padmanaban,* D van Galen, N Salehi-Nik, M Zakharova, L Segerink, and J Rouwkema* Switching to external flows: perturbations of developing vasculature within chicken chorioallantoic membrane, 2024, Lab on chip
D Rana, V Rangel, P Padmanaban, VD Trikalitis, A Kandar, HW Kim and J Rouwkema* Bioprinting of aptamer-based programmable bioinks to modulate multiscale microvascular morphogenesis in 4D , 2024, Advanced Healthcare Materials
Kannan Govindaraj*, and P Padmanaban* In vivo models of cell migration, In: Brüning-Richardson, A., Knipp, S. (eds) Cell Migration in Development, Health and Disease. Learning Materials in Biosciences. Springer, 2024, Springer
P Padmanaban*, D Wanders, OK Katovich, N Salehi-Nik, S Levenberg and J Rouwkema* Shape that matters: Yolk geometry spatially modulates developing vascular networks within chick chorioallantoic membrane , 2024, BioxRiv
Susanna Piluso, Yang Li, Liliana Moreira Texeira, Prasanna Padmanaban Jeroen Rouwkema, Jeroen Leijten, René van Weeren, Marcel Karperien, and Jos Malda* Effect of fluid flow-induced shear stress on the behavior of synovial fibroblasts in a bio-inspired synovium-on-chip model, 2025, The Journal of Cartilage & Joint Preservation
COLLABORATIONS
SKILLS
Science Communication
Creative Design
Multidisciplinary Collaborations
Multiphysics Simulations
Content Creation
Project Management
MEDIA
DANCE YOUR SCIENCE
2023, BARCELONA
FAME LAB NATIONAL FINALS 2019, UTRECHT
INTERVIEW AT UT, ENSCHEDE
