David A. Rubenstein, Ph.D.

Associate Professor
Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs, Graduate School

Research Focus

My lab has two major focuses; the first being vascular tissue engineering and the second being the initiation/progression of cardiovascular diseases mediated through platelet and endothelial cell interactions. For our tissue engineering projects, we design and fabricate novel three dimensional biomimetic scaffolds using electrospinning. These scaffolds can be fabricated with tailored mechanical, chemical and topographical properties to match the native vascular extracellular matrix properties. After successful fabrication, we test the scaffolds for mechanical properties and physical properties, using various techniques, such as nanoindentation, goniometry and Raman spectroscopy. Ideal scaffolds are then tested for biocompatibility towards endothelial cells and platelets using cell culture methods that have been developed by us. We specifically are interested in whether or not pro-angiogenic properties are enhanced and pro-inflammatory/pro-thrombotic properties are inhibited. We use both two-dimensional and three-dimensional culture techniques. Finally, our most promising scaffolds can be implanted in mouse models todetermine whether or not wound healing is enhanced throughout these scaffolds. Our long-term goal is to design a scaffold that promotes and/or accelerates wound healing in various applications.
Our second focus involves experiments that are designed to determine the mechanism(s) that instigate cardiovascular disease progression. Specifically, we are interested in how tobacco smoke products, hyperlipidemia, advanced glycation end products and disturbed shear stress can alter the progression of cardiovascular diseases. We currently, use various in vitro techniques to investigate platelet and endothelial cell responses to these various cardiovascular disease risk factors. Additionally, we are looking into various mouse models of these diseases to use a more physiologically relevant setting for our investigations. Our long-term goal is to understand disease progression and identify new biomarkers and/or therapeutic targets for disease intervention. Recently, we have become interested in how the liver and specifically the actions of Kupffer cells can instigate cardiovascular diseases.

Education

• Ph.D. - Biomedical Engineering, Stony Brook University, 2007.
• M.S. - Biomedical Engineering, Stony Brook University, 2005.
• B.E. - Biomedical Engineering, Stony Brook University, 2004.

Academic Appointments

• 2015 - current: Associate Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York
• 2013 - 2015: Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York.
• 2007 - 2013: Assistant Professor, School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma.

Publications

Click here to search David A. Rubenstein's PubMed listings

Courses Taught

• BME 260 - Statics and Dynamics in Biological Systems (SBU)
• BME 353 - Introduction to Biomaterials (SBU)
• BME 430 - Quantitative Human Physiology (SBU)
• BME 501 - Engineering Principles and Practices for Cell Biology (SBU)
• ITS 102 - Tissue Engineering and Society (SBU)
• ENGR 1111 - Introduction to Engineering (OSU)
• ENSC 2123 - Elementary Dynamics (OSU)
• MAE 3013 - Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Analysis (OSU)
• MAE 3233 - Heat Transfer (OSU)
• MAE 5003 - Advanced Biomaterials Science and Engineering (OSU)
• MAE 5023 - Advanced Biofluid Mechanics (OSU)