Dr. Ting-Yuan (TY) Tu is an Associate Professor at the Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University (NCKU), where he has been a faculty member since 2016. He holds a B.S. in Energy and Air-conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering from National Taipei University of Technology, an M.S. in Applied Mechanics from National Taiwan University (focusing on thermal-fluid engineering and MEMS), and a Ph.D. in Mechanobiology from the National University of Singapore, where he conducted his research at the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART).

Before joining academia, Dr. Tu worked as an Application Scientist at Clearbridge Biomedics, contributing to the development of downstream assays for analyzing circulating tumor cells. At NCKU, his research has pioneered the development of biomimetic in vitro tumor microenvironments and 3D microfluidic platforms for cancer drug discovery. His work integrates engineering and biology, focusing on cancer metastasis, tumor-stroma interactions, and innovative therapeutic strategies.

Founded in August 2016, IMBSLab is an interdisciplinary research laboratory dedicated to integrating engineering and biology to advance the understanding of disease mechanisms and develop innovative therapeutic strategies. Our mission is to create cutting-edge in vitro cell and tissue culture models that mimic physiological and pathological conditions, enabling insights into complex biological processes.

Our key research areas include:

• Cancer Metastasis and Tumor Microenvironment: Developing advanced tumor-on-chip platforms to investigate the spatial and interfacial mechanisms of cancer metastasis, with a focus on circulating tumor microemboli (CTM) and their role in invasion and progression.
• Ligamentum Flavum Hypertrophy and Biomechanics: Exploring extracellular matrix remodeling, fiber alignment, and mechanical stiffness to understand ligament degeneration and hypertrophy.
• Liver Tissue Engineering and Drug Metabolism: Utilizing 3D liver spheroid models to study drug metabolism, hepatotoxicity, and tissue-specific responses.
• Microfluidic and Rapid Prototyping Technologies: Employing microfluidics, acoustic manipulation, and advanced manufacturing to create precise, scalable models for biomedical research.

We embrace a multidisciplinary approach, integrating fields such as microfluidics, extracellular matrix materials, advanced imaging, and biomechanics to address critical challenges in biomedical engineering. IMBSLab is committed to fostering a collaborative environment, welcoming students and researchers from diverse backgrounds who share our passion for innovation at the intersection of engineering and biology.