Her lab engineers microfluidic devices and bioMEMS—that is, microelectromechanical systems with biological applications—to study neuroscience, genetics, cancer biology, systems biology, and biotechnology. These miniaturized lab-on-a-chip tools enable a unique approach to biological research as they allow for the gathering of large-scale quantitative data on complex systems. Shrinking the devices down to a scale comparable to that of typical biological systems makes them especially suitable for this kind of research. Dr. Lu and her team design novel techniques and devices to learn more about unique biological phenomena at the micro- and nano- length scales, such as enhanced surface effects and transport phenomena.

The Lu Fluidics Group brings together molecular and genetic techniques with microfluidic devices to closely study complex biological systems. They build technologies to investigate molecular events and signaling networks, cellular behavior, connectivity and activities of cell populations, and the resulting complex behaviors of animals. The group’s goal is to use innovation to better understand natural and dysfunctional states of biological systems and ultimately develop cures to a number of biological diseases.

• Neuroscience and neurobiology: Nervous system development and function as well as influences of genetic and environmental factors on behavior
• Cancer therapy: Immunology and signal transductions of adoptive transfer
• Systems biology: Data mining and large-scale experimentation/automation with applications in neuroscience and cell biology

• Microfluidic devices and systems: Developing high-throughput screens and image-based genetics and genomics
• Machine vision and automation: Using computer models and metric geometry to map brain cell activity 
• Cancer biology: Understanding the role of extra-cellular matrix and soluble factors in cell migrations, embryonic development, and stem cells

• Love Family Professor of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Tech