Academics

Bio

Dr. Maneesha Shaji is a passionate engineer and researcher specializing in Biomedical Engineering. Her educational background includes a Ph.D. in Engineering from Kyoto University, Japan, an M. Tech in Biomedical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IITH), and a B. Tech in Electronics and Instrumentation Engineering from Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kerala. She is the recipient of the prestigious Ph.D. Fellowship from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) as part of the Japan-India FRIENDSHIP project and Asia Innovative program. Additionally, Dr. Shaji has earned recognition for her outstanding academic achievements, including the Institute Silver Medal for achieving the highest CGPA in Biomedical Engineering at IITH and Academic Excellence Awards during both her undergraduate and graduate studies. Dr. Shaji's previous research works focused on novel Organ-on-chip systems for cancer drug screening, tissue/organoid vascularization, and neurological disease modeling. She has won several accolades such as the Science Pitch Award from the Molecular Biology Society Japan for delivering the best research presentation at their annual meeting in Japan and the Kyoto University Foundation Travel Grant for her presentation at the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS) Forum in 2022. Leveraging her expertise in microfabrication, cell culture, genomics, and microscopy, she is currently dedicated to the development of biomedical devices and micro-physiological systems tailored for healthcare applications.

Research Areas

Biomedical devices, Biosensors, Microfluidics, Micro-physiological systems, Organ-on-chip, Organoids, Cancer drug screening, Vascular biology

Publication List

1. Shaji, M. Tamada et al., “Deciphering potential vascularization factors of on-chip co-cultured hiPSC-derived cerebral organoids”, Lab on a Chip, 24, 680-696 (2024). DOI:10.1039/D3LC00930K

2. Shaji, M., Kitada, A., et al., “Long-term effect of sodium selenite on the integrity and permeability of on-chip microvasculature”. APL Bioengineering 6, 046105 (2022). DOI: 10.1063/5.0122804

3. Shaji, M., Mudigunda V., S. et al. Microfluidic design of tumor vasculature and nanoparticle uptake by cancer cells. Microfluid Nanofluid 25, 46 (2021). DOI: 10.1007/s10404-021-02446-7

4. Shaji, M., Tamada, A., et al., “Co-culture of cerebral organoid and microvasculature on a chip for identifying organoid vascularization factors” RIKEN BDR-CuSTOM Joint Organoid Symposium “Integrated organoid science: Stem cells, Engineering, Medicine”, 15-17 February 2023, Kobe, Japan.

5. Shaji, M., Tamada A., Fujimoto K., et al., “Identification of early angiogenic factors of hiPSC-derived brain organoids co-cultured with microvasculature on-chip”, Sensors, micromachines and applied systems. Symposium Proceedings, Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan, Sensor and Micromachine Division, 39 39:2022.11.14-17 p.5-11, (2022). DOI: http://id.ndl.go.jp/bib/032693427

6. Shaji, M., Tamada, A., et al., “Identification of proangiogenic factors for in vitro vascularization of hiPSC-derived brain organoids” The Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS) Forum 2022, 9-13 July 2022, Paris, France.

7. Kitada, A., Shaji, M., et al., "Evaluating morphology and functionality of on-chip vascular network derived from Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVECs) during long-term culture", IEEJ Transactions on Sensors and Micromachines 143, 5, 82-88 (2023). DOI: 10.1541/ieejsmas.143.82

8. Irisa T., Shaji, M., et al., “Optimizing growth factor combinations for perfusable microvasculature-on-a-chip”, 25th International Conference on Miniaturized Systems for Chemistry and Life Sciences (MicroTAS) 471-472 (2021). DOI: http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-85136990952&partnerID=MN8TOARS

Google Scholar Link

https://scholar.google.co.in/citations?user=1kC1JoMAAAAJ&hl=en

Scopus Link

https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=56990826900

ORCID Link

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6658-4614