Dr. Alge’s primary research interest is in soft hydrogel biomaterials that mimic natural tissues and are programmed with bioactive cues to direct cell-material interactions. Current projects are focused on the incorporation of chemical functionalities (e.g., photoreactive moieties) that allow for tunable, dynamic changes to the biochemical composition and biophysical properties of cellular microenvironments. These materials are being used to study factors that influence osteogenesis, chondrogenesis and wound healing. By studying these biological processes, it will be possible to design bio-instructive matrices to direct tissue regeneration and healing in vivo.
