New Faculty Spotlight: Rohan Fernandes
This fall, the Fischell Department of Bioengineering (BIOE) welcomed Rohan Fernandes as an Associate Professor. His research lab will be based in the newly established Edward and Jennifer St. John Center for Translational Engineering and Medicine (CTEM) at the 4MLK building in Baltimore, where he will translate his laboratory discoveries into innovative therapies, building connections between engineering research and clinical applications. Fernandes’ research is rooted in immunoengineering, with a focus on designing nanoparticles that can work with the immune system to treat cancer and other diseases. His group has developed theranostic Prussian blue nanoparticles, which combine diagnostic and therapeutic functions and can be used to generate effective immune responses against tumors. With the lab’s location near the University of Maryland Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, Fernandes plans to expand his cancer research while also exploring collaborations in infectious and autoimmune diseases. Fernandes earned his Ph.D. in Bioengineering from UMD and completed his postdoctoral training at Johns Hopkins University. His career spans leadership positions at Children’s National Hospital and George Washington University, where he advanced translational nanomedicine and cancer immunotherapy. His work has been supported by competitive funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), including multiple R01 awards such as the prestigious NCI MERIT Award, as well as Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grants. He has also received support from the Department of Defense and private foundations, including the Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer. He has published in leading journals such as Nature Nanotechnology, Small, and Clinical Cancer Research. His translational focus has led to multiple patents and the launch of his startup, ImmunoBlue, LLC, which is developing a new immunoengineered T cell therapy for glioblastoma. Fernandes has also served in national scientific leadership roles, including as past president of the Society for Thermal Medicine and as a member of the editorial boards for Science Advancesand The International Journal of Hyperthermia. He is an active contributor to the broader scientific community, helping organize national and international workshops and conferences on cancer engineering and nanomedicine. Reflecting on his return to College Park, Fernandes described the move as a “full-circle moment.” He said, “I was part of the inaugural cohort of Ph.D. students in BIOE when the program operated from a single room. To see how it has grown into a vibrant department with a dedicated home in Clark Hall is inspiring, and I am honored to rejoin it as faculty. I look forward to contributing to its continued growth and engaging with the next generation of undergraduate and graduate students.” At UMD, Fernandes will continue developing new approaches to immunoengineering while enriching the academic experiences of undergraduate and graduate students through hands-on research and mentorship.
Related Articles: September 23, 2025 Prev Next |
|
