(4fq) Engineered Microenvironments to Assess the Potential of Idiosyncratic Toxic Events

As faculty, I aim to establish a research group that combines the skills acquired throughout my training – the toxicology foundations obtained in my graduate research, the systems biology and immunology skills attained in my postdoctoral fellowship, and the biomaterials knowledge established throughout both programs. My laboratory will combine engineered solutions and systems biology to study factors that cause idiosyncratic toxicity (unpredictable toxic events due to patient-specific biology). Idiosyncrasy is a function of patient immune response, biotransformation enzyme profile, and genetic factors. I aim to establish a research group that combines (i) in vitro high-throughput systems, (ii) analysis of patient biopsy samples and open-source genomics data to identify genetic trends, and (iii) the use of biomaterials to impart defined environments to examine how the immune system and genomic profile evolves in response to treatment and to identify corresponding changes in toxicity. Taken together, the Orbach lab will aim to identify and understand patient factors that correlate to their potential to develop toxic events. This work will provide an avenue for personalized medicine to reduce morbidity and mortality in patients and help reduce the uncertainty in the development of new pharmaceuticals.

Teaching Interests:

I have acted as a research mentor for numerous undergraduate and graduate students. I advised students in experimental design and methods as well as technical and communication skills. I acted as a teaching assistant in a variety of chemical engineering courses including material and energy balances and kinematics. Furthermore, I have unofficially tutored in additional chemical and biomedical engineering, math, and chemistry courses as well as continued to tutor students in grades 1-12 on a variety of subjects. As a faculty member, I am excited to teach both chemical and biomedical engineering courses and continue academic outreach to the local community.

Education:

Ph.D., Department of Chemical Engineering, Virginia Tech, 2018

M.Eng., Department of Chemical Engineering, Virginia Tech, 2015

B.S.E, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, 2012

Research Experience:

Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Michigan, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Advisor: Prof. Lonnie Shea, 2018 – Present

Graduate Research Assistant, Virginia Tech, Department of Chemical Engineering, Advisor: Prof. Padma Rajagopalan, 2013 – 2018

Undergraduate Research Assistant, University of Michigan, Department of Chemical Engineering, Advisor: Prof. Michael Solomon, 2011

Selected Publications:

1. Orbach, S.M.*, G.G. Bushnell*, J.A. Ma, H.C. Crawford, M.S. Wicha, J.S. Jeruss, L.D. Shea, “Disease-induced immunomodulation at biomaterial scaffolds detects early pancreatic cancer in a spontaneous model”, Biomaterials, 2021.
2. Orbach, S.M.,J. Ford, S.E. Saverot, P. Rajagopalan, “Multi-cellular transitional organotypic models to investigate liver fibrosis”, Acta Biomaterialia, 2018.
3. Orbach S.M.,F. Ehrich, P. Rajagopalan, “High-throughput Toxicity Testing of Chemicals and Mixtures in Organotypic Multi-Cellular Cultures of Primary Human Hepatic Cells”, Toxicology in Vitro, 2018.
4. Orbach, S.M.,E. Cassin, M.F. Ehrich, P. Rajagopalan, “Investigating Acetaminophen Hepatotoxicity in Multi-Cellular Organotypic Liver Models”, Toxicology in Vitro, 2017.

Awards/Honors:

NIH NCI: F32 Postdoctoral Fellowship; 2019 (Impact Score = 10, 1^st percentile)

University of Michigan: Postdoctoral Translational Scholar Program; 2019

Virginia Tech: Sigma Xi PhD Research Award; 2016

Virginia Tech: Outstanding Interdisciplinary Doctoral Student; 2015

Society of Toxicology: FutureTox III Gold Level Award Recipient; 2015

University of Michigan: Magna Cum Laude; 2012