J. Kent Leach Research Group

University of California, Davis

How can cell-instructive biomaterials be designed to direct tissue regeneration through local biophysical cues and signaling? The Leach Lab develops cell-instructive biomaterials to control cell behavior by tuning scaffold composition and mechanics to influence tissue formation. Researchers probe the local biophysical microenvironment to understand mechanobiology mechanisms that guide cell differentiation and matrix deposition. The group designs drug and gene delivery strategies embedded in biomaterials to modulate local signaling and improve regenerative outcomes. They apply in vivo imaging tools to monitor tissue formation and evaluate scaffold performance during musculoskeletal repair.