The Department of Medical Engineering is pleased to welcome Dr. Neda Latifi, who joined us in Fall 2023 as an Assistant Professor. Dr. Latifi directs the newly established Translational Tissue Engineering and Biofabrication () Laboratory, where she is developing a dynamic research program focused on engineering functional, living tissues capable of growth, remodeling, and repair throughout a patient鈥檚 lifetime.
Dr. Latifi brings a robust interdisciplinary background to USF, encompassing tissue engineering, biomaterials, biofabrication, and cell-biomaterials interactions. She earned her Ph.D. in Tissue Engineering from McGill University, and her accomplishments include prestigious awards such as an NSERC Postdoctoral Fellowship from the Government of Canada and two FRQNT postdoctoral fellowships from the Government of Quebec at the University of Toronto and Ted Rogers Center for Heart Research, Toronto, ON Canada. Her academic journey began with a B.Sc. with Distinction in Mechanical Engineering and an M.Sc. with Distinction in Applied Solid Mechanics from Isfahan University of Technology.
Representative scanning electron microscopy images of an anisotropic electrospun scaffold, accompanied by a second harmonic generation image showing the anisotropic three-dimensional network of aligned collagen fibers embedded within the scaffold's fibers.
Her research addresses one of the critical challenges in regenerative medicine: developing engineered tissue replacements and repair patches that can grow or remodel within the body. Through innovative work combining autologous mesenchymal stromal cells, advanced biofabrication techniques, and tissue-mimetic biomaterials, her team has engineered double-sided heart valve constructs that replicate the mechanical and biochemical complexities of native valves. Preclinical studies have demonstrated promising results, representing significant progress toward one-time valve therapies for children with congenital heart disease.
Dr. Latifi's groundbreaking work has been published in leading journals such as Advanced
Functional Materials, Matter, Circulation, ACS Nano, and Scientific Reports. Her 2017
and 2018 studies on collagen architecture and injectable hydrogels have become foundational
in the field, cited over 180 and 90 times respectively, and recognized among Scientific
Reports鈥� Top 100 Materials Science authors. She was also honored with the 2020 Rising
Star in Engineering in Health award from Columbia University.
Beyond her research, Dr. Latifi advocates for inclusive excellence in STEM. She serves
on the Social Impact Committee of the Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES), where
she co-founded the 鈥淧eople with Disabilities鈥� subcommittee and organized national
sessions on accessible laboratory environments and inclusive mentoring. Additionally,
she contributes as a reviewer for the American Heart Association and the National
Science Foundation.
At USF, Dr. Latifi has already made a notable impact. Her Ph.D. student recently received
the prestigious Dr. Mark Bauer Graduate Student Award, and one of her undergraduate
mentees was recognized with the department鈥檚 top student honor and the College of
Engineering Prestigious graduation award. She promotes a collaborative and critical
thinking culture through weekly journal clubs and hands-on mentoring in her lab.
When asked what attracted her to USF, Dr. Latifi said: "I was drawn to apply to USF
by its remarkable ascent in the rankings over the past 15 years and the chance to
contribute to the establishment of translational tissue engineering and regenerative
medicine research within a burgeoning biomedical engineering program. Learning of
USF's invitation to join the AAU solidified my decision to accept the position here."
We are delighted to welcome Dr. Latifi to the USF community and look forward to her future contributions in research, education, and clinical translation.