
Vascularization for Tissue Engineering
Develop Innovative Biofabrication Technologies + Understand Multi-cellular Interactions

About Me
I consider myself as a maker. I love to make things working, and make things better. Throughout my research career, I've approached challenges in Tissue Engineering to make artificial tissues and to improve tissue functions. If you’re interested in learning more about me, keep reading or get in touch.
Areas of Interest:
Tissue Engineering | 3D Bioprinting |
Vascular Engineering | Biomaterials |
Biomimetic Models | Vascular Biology |
Cancer Research | Microfluidics | Biotechnology
Education & Training

Korean Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)
2004 - 2009
B.S. in Bio and Brain Engineering

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI)
2009 - 2014
Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI)
2014 - 2016
Postdoctoral Research Associate

Northeastern University
2016 - present
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Research Experience
Postdoctoral Research AssociateNortheastern University & RPI
2014 - present
Developed in vitro brain tumor-vascular tissue and neuro-vascular niche models
Investigated patient-specific tumor invasion patterns of glioblastoma multiforme (collaboration with Dr. Hongyan Zou and Dr. Roland Friedel at Mount Sinai Hospital)
Developed fabrication technology for in vitro tissue vascularization
Resulted in 4 publications, 2 first-author, and two manuscripts in preparation.
Graduate Student / Research AssistantRensselaer Polytechnic Institute
2009 - 2014
Established 3D bioprinting methods and developed bioreactor platforms to create various tissue models including vascular tissue and skin tissue; Tested and characterized functional features of printed tissue models (Skin tissue: collaboration with Dr. Pankaj Karande at RPI)
Conducted collaboration projects to integrate 3-D bioprinting and optical imaging (with Dr. Xavier Intes at RPI)
Conducted collaborations with Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Albany Medical College
Published 5 first-author journal articles
Visiting ResearcherHarvard Medical School
2007 - 2008
Developed custom-made 3D bioprinting platform for tissue engineering applications
Developed printer machine control software and 3D hydrogel printing methods
Produced Youtube videos to publicize bioprinting technology (youtube.com/user/vlimage)
Resulted in 4 publications
InternCenter for Computational Biology and Bioinformatics,
Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information (KiSTi)
2006 - 2007
Collected and categorized gene sequencing data from international databases to establish IBS (Integrated Bioinformatics System)
HONORS AND AWARDS
Rising Stars in Biomedical: Women 2018
2018
IMPACT Program Fellow, MIT
2018
The Arnold O. Beckman Postdoctoral Fellows Award (3-Year Funding)“Glioblastoma-Endothelial Interaction in 3D Bio-printed Tumor Vasculature Tissue”
September 2015 - August 2018
Karen and Lester Gerhardt Prize in Science and Engineering,Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
2014
Nominated as a top presentation in the Tissue Engineering Track at the 2013 BMES Meeting
2013
Most Valuable Teaching Assistant Award, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
2012
Founders Award of Excellence, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
2010
Chung Moon Soul Pioneer, KAIST
2005
Teaching & Mentoring Experience
Future Faculty Program at the Center for Advancing Teaching and Learning Through Research (CATLR) at Northeastern University
2017 - 2018
Teaching Assistant at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Introduction to Cell and Tissue Engineering Undergraduate/Graduate 2012
Biomaterial Applications in Medicine Undergraduate/Graduate 2011
Bioengineering Lab Undergraduate 2011 - 2012
* Most Valuable Teaching Assistant Award
Trained and mentored 21 undergraduate/grad/high school students
2007 - present
Research Projects

3D Bioprinter & Bioreactors
Developed printer control software and upgraded hardware parts
Developed bioreactor platform for long-term perfusion.

Tissue Vascularization
Developed bioprinting methods to construct thick tissue with fluidic vasculature
Capillary bed (µm-scale) was connected to large fluidic vascular channels (mm-scale)

Brain Tumor Invasion Study
Developed 3D glioblastoma (GBM)-vascular niche model
Studied tumor invasion and long-term drug responses

Skin Tissue Bioprinting
Developed bioprinted skin tissue
3D printed skin tissue has advantages in shape-retention, flexibility, reproducibility, and high culture throughput.

Integration of Bioprinted Tissue
& Optical Imaging
Mesoscopic fluorescence molecular tomography visualized 3D structures of thick and opaque tissue without scarifying samples.

Microenvironment Study Models
Developed customizable study models
Studied cell-cell interactions and cell-ECM interactions in 3D culture
Publications
Journal Article
13. D Kim, V Lee, T Dorsey, L Niklason, L Gui, G Dai. "Neuropilin-1 Mediated Arterial Differentiation of Murine Pluripotent Stem Cells", Stem cells and development, 27(7), 2018 (Cover page)
12. VK Lee, G Dai, "Printing of Three-Dimensional Tissue Analogs for Regenerative Medicine" Annals of Biomedical Engineering, 45 (1):115-131, 2017 [PDF]
11. X Cui, YW Lu, V Lee, D Kim, T Dorsey, Q Wang, Y Lee, P Vincent, J Schwarz, G Dai, “Venous Endothelial Marker COUP-TFII Regulates the Distinct Pathologic Potentials of Adult Arteries and Veins”, Scientific Reports, 5:16193, 2015
10. V Lee, G Dai, “3-D Bioprinting and Tissue Fabrication: Prospects for Drug Discovery and Regenerative Medicine” Journal Advanced Health Care Technologies, 1: 23, 2015
9. VK Lee, DY Kim, H Ngo, Y Lee, L Seo, S-S Yoo, PA Vincent, G Dai, "Creating perfused functional vascular channels using 3D bio-printing technology", Biomaterials, 35(28): 8092-8102, 2014 [PDF]
8. VK Lee, AM Lanzi, H Ngo, S-S. Yoo, PA Vincent, G Dai, "Generation of Multi-Scale Vascular Network System within 3D Hydrogel using 3D Bio-Printing Technology", Cellular and Molecular Bioengineering, 7(3): 460-472, 2014 (Outstanding 2013 BMES contribution) [PDF]
7. V Lee*, G Singh*, JP Trasatti, C Bjornsson, X Xu, TN Tran, S-S Yoo, G. Dai, P Karande, “Design and Fabrication of Human Skin by 3D Bioprinting”, Tissue Engineering Part C, 20(6): 473-484, 2014 [PDF]
6. VK Lee*, MS Ozturk*, L Zhao, G Dai, X Intes, “Mesoscopic fluorescence molecular tomography of reporter genes in bioprinted thick tissue”, Journal of Biomedical Optics, 18(10): 100501, 2013
5. VK Lee*, L Zhao*, S-S Yoo, G Dai, X Intes. "The integration of 3-D cell printing and mesoscopic fluorescence molecular tomography of vascular constructs within thick hydrogel scaffolds", Biomaterials, 33(21): 5325-5332, 2012
4. W Lee, V Lee, S Polio, P Keegan, J-H Lee, K Fischer, J-K Park, S-S Yoo,. “On-Demand Three-Dimensional Freeform Fabrication of Multi-Layered Hydrogel Scaffold With Fluidic Channels” Biotechnology and bioengineering, 105(6):1178, 2010
3. W Lee, J Pinckney, V Lee, JH Lee, K Fischer, S Polio, JK Park, SS Yoo. “Three-Dimensional Bio-printing of Rat Embryonic Neural Cells” Neuroreport, 20(8):798, 2009
2. W Lee, JC Debasitis, VK Lee, JH Lee, K Fischer, K Edminster, JK Park, SS Yoo. “Multi-layered culture of human skin fibroblasts and keratinocytes through three-dimensional freeform fabrication” Biomaterials, 30(8):1587, 2009
1. SS Yoo, JH Lee, H O'Leary, V Lee, SE Choo, FA Jolesz. “Functional magnetic resonance imaging-mediated learning of increased activity in auditory areas” Neuroreport, 18(18):1915, 2007
Book Chapter
3. VK Lee and G Dai, “Chapter 9: Bioprinting vascular networks” in 3D Bioprinting in Regenerative Engineering, Taylor & Francis Group, 2018
2. VK Lee et al., “3-D Bio-printing and 3-D Imaging for Stem Cell Engineering”, in Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine book series, Springer, 2015
1. V Lee and G Dai, "Micro and nanotechnology in vascular regeneration" in Tissue and Organ Regeneration: Advances in Micro and Nanotechnology, Singapore, Singapore: Pan Stanford Publishing, 2014, ch. 20, pp. 691-720.
My Skills

Laboratory Skills
Mammalian cell culture
3D hydrogel culture
Microscopy
Histology
PCR | Western Blotting
Flow cytometry

Programming / Software
C | C++ | Python | JAVA |
Visual Basic | HTML | MATLAB |
LABVIEW | COMSOL | Abaqus |
AutoCAD | Solidworks |
Microsoft Office | Photoshop | Illustrator | VEGAS | Premiere

Other Professional Skills
Data analysis
Basic machining
Scientific writing | Grant writing
Teaching | Communication
Contact Info
Vivian K. Lee
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Department of Bioengineering
Northeastern University
360 Huntington Ave
ISEC 260
Boston, MA 02115
