About me

Dr. Qiang is a researcher and educator specializing in the field of biomedical engineering. Dr. Qiang seeks to explore multi-disciplinary evidence-based engineering approaches, including bioMEMS, microfluidics, micro-physiology, biophysics, computational simulation and artificial intelligence for the study of cell biology that is difficult to achieve using conventional techniques. Dr. Qiang is committed to addressing critical questions with emphasis on blood-related or immune-related hematological diseases, contributing to advancements in the diagnosis and treatment of hematological conditions, such as malaria and sickle cell disease. Dr. Qiang’s research integrated both experimental and computational methods to uncover how mechanical forces affect red blood cell lifespan and lead to hemolytic disorders. In his prior research work, Dr. Qiang has developed many bio-inspired microdevices allowing for precise spatio-temporal recapitulation of physiologic microenvironment, and simultaneous phenotyping of blood cells at single cell and sub-cellular level. Dr. Qiang is also working on designing and evaluating synthetic RBC substitutes that can withstand various mechanical stresses and oxidative stresses within our microcirculation and immune systems, offering new avenues for transfusion therapy and treatment. In addition, Dr. Qiang is passionate about the education for the next-generation scholars in the field of biomedical engineering.

Education

Postdoc., Biomedical Engineering, MIT

Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, Florida Atlantic University

M.Sc., Mechanical Engineering, Nanjing University of Sci. & Tech.

Professional Appointments

Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering, UMES

Adjunct Professor, Biomedical Engineering, Regis College

Selected Publications

1. Qiang, Y., Sissoko, A., Liu, Z. L., Dong, T., Zheng, F., Kong, F., … & Dao, M., 2023. Microfluidic study of retention and elimination of abnormal red blood cells by human spleen with implications for sickle cell disease. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 120(6), e2217607120.
2. Qiang, Y., Liu, J., Dao, M., Suresh, S. and Du, E., 2019. Mechanical fatigue of human red blood cells. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 116(40), pp.19828-19834.
3. Qiang, Y., Liu, J., Dao, M. and Du, E., 2021. In vitro assay for single-cell characterization of impaired deformability in red blood cells under recurrent episodes of hypoxia. Lab on a Chip, 21(18), pp.3458-3470.
4. Qiang, Y., Dieujuste, D., Liu, J., Alvarez, O., & Du, E. 2023. Rapid electrical impedance detection of sickle cell vaso-occlusion in microfluidic device. Biomedical Microdevices, 25(3), 23.
5. Qiang, Y., Xu, M., Pochron, M. P., Jupelli, M., & Dao, M. (2024). A framework of computer vision-enhanced microfluidic approach for automated assessment of the transient sickling kinetics in sickle red blood cells. Frontiers in Physics, 12, 1331047.
6. Zhang Y.†, Qiang Y. †, He Li, Guansheng Li, Lu Lu, Ming Dao, George E. Karniadakis, Aleksander S. Popel, and Chen Zhao. “Signaling-biophysical modeling unravels mechanistic control of red blood cell phagocytosis by macrophages in sickle cell disease.” PNAS Nexus (2024): pgae031.
7. Li, H.†, Qiang, Y.†, Li, X., Brugnara, C., Buffet, P.A., Dao, M., Karniadakis, G.E. and Suresh, S., 2024. Biomechanics of phagocytosis of red blood cells by macrophages in the human spleen. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 121(44), p.e2414437121.