Photo of Kevin  Lo, PhD

Kevin Lo, PhD

Associate Professor
Department of Medicine, Endocrinology
Department of Biomedical Engineering
Institute of Materials Science (IMS)
Assistant Director
Connecticut Convergence Institute for Translation in Regenerative Engineering
Academic Office Location:
UConn Health
293 Farmington Avenue
Farmington, CT 06030-6404
Phone: 860-679-2949
860-679-5576
Email: wlo@uchc.edu
Education
DegreeInstitutionMajor
PhDHong Kong University of Science and TechnologyBiochemistry

Post-Graduate Training
TrainingInstitutionSpecialty
FellowshipUniversity of Connecticut Health CenterSupervisor: Dr. Cato T. Laurencin, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery

MSc in Regenerative Engineering


CHEG 5013: Regenerative Engineeirng and Applications


CLTR 5360: Critical Issues Involving Science Publication: The Scientific Review


YIIP seminar series

Name & DescriptionCategoryRoleTypeScopeStart YearEnd Year
NIH/NICHD/Development Biology Study SectionStudy SectionPanelistExternalNational20242024
The Annual Congress of International Drug Discovery Science & Technology; Kobe, JapanAdvisory CommitteeOrganizing Committee MemberExternalInternational20242025
NIH T34 U-RISE Program (University of Hartford)Education CommitteeExtramural Mentor ExternalNational20242027
The 3rd International Electronic Conference on Biomedicines (ECB 2025)Workshop/ConferenceOrganizing Committee memberExternalInternational20242025
Scientific ReportsEditorial BoardEditorial Board MemberExternalInternational2024
UConn Graduate Faculty CouncilEducation CommitteeMemberUConn-StorrsLocal2024
NIH/NIGMSStudy SectionPanelistExternalNational20242024
ASSAY and Drug Development TechnologiesOtherEditor-in-ChiefExternalInternational20242029
Network for Enriched Mentorship (NEM) initiativeCommunity ServiceMentorUConn-StorrsLocal2024
Orthopeadic Research and Education Foundation (OREF)Advisory CommitteeReviewerExternalNational2023
NIH/NICHD/Development Biology Study SectionStudy SectionPanelistExternalNational20232023
DoD/CDMRPStudy SectionPanelistExternalNational20232023
NSF/EFRI PanelStudy SectionPanelistExternalNational20222022
BiomedicinesEditorial BoardEditorial Board memberExternalInternational2022
NIH Small Business GrantsStudy SectionPanelistExternalNational2022
Frontiers in Bioengineering and BiotechnologyProfessional/Scientific JournalAssociate EditorExternalInternational2021
DoD/CDMRPAdvisory CommitteePeer review panelExternalNational20212021
NIH Small Business GrantsStudy SectionPeer review panelExternalNational20212021
Swiss National Science FoundationResearch CommitteePeer ReviewerExternalInternational20202020
T32 Doctoral TrainingOtherMentorUConn HealthLocal2020
PLoS ONEProfessional/Scientific JournalAssociate EditorExternalInternational2019
ASSAY and Drug Development TechnologiesEditorial BoardBoard MemberExternalInternational20192024
F1000 ResearchEditorial BoardRefereeExternalInternational20192020
Society for BiomaterialsProfessional/Scientific OrganizationBiomaterials Forum ReporterExternalInternational2019
Israeli Ministry of Science and TechnologyAdvisory CommitteePeer ReviewerExternalInternational20192019
Health Career Opportunity Programs (HCOP)OtherMentorUConn HealthLocal2019
Aetna Health Cafe SeriesCommunity ServiceOrganizerExternalRegional20182022
Society for BiomaterialsProfessional/Scientific OrganizationPublication CommitteeExternalInternational2018
Connecticut Convergence Institute for Translation in Regenerative EngineeringProfessional/Scientific OrganizationAssistant Director of EducationUConn HealthLocal2018
New Investigator grants, Orthopeadic Research and Education Foundation (OREF)Advisory CommitteePeer ReviewerExternalNational20182020
Advanced Regenerative Manufacturing Institute (ARMI)/BioFab USAAdvisory CommitteeWorking Group MemberExternalNational2017
Research Experience Mentoring (REM) summer research program funded by NSFEducation CommitteeProgram LeadExternalRegional2017
Young Innovative Investigator Program (YIIP)OtherMentorUConn HealthLocal2017
Regenerative Engineering Society of AIChEProfessional/Scientific OrganizationBoard MemberExternalInternational2016
Kavli Science Café SeriesCommunity ServiceOrganizerExternalRegional20162020
Regenerative Engineering and Translational MedicineProfessional/Scientific JournalAssistant Managing EditorExternalInternational2016
Core Interest Group (CIG) of CICATSResearch CommitteeLeadUConn HealthRegional20162018
Connecticut Institute for Clinical and Translational Science (CICATS)Investigator AdvocateUConn HealthRegional20142018
Advances in Regenerative BiologyEditorial BoardBoard MemberExternalInternational20142018
J. of Racial and Ethnic Health DisparitiesProfessional/Scientific JournalDeputy EditorExternalInternational2013
Current Pharmaceutical DesignProfessional/Scientific JournalGuest EditorExternalInternational20132013
University of Connecticut Stem Cell Institute (USCI)OtherPrinciple InvestigatorUConn HealthLocal20132016
Institute for Regenerative EngineeringOtherAssistant ProfessorUConn HealthLocal20122018
Society for BiomaterialsProfessional/Scientific OrganizationMemberExternalInternational2009
The American Society for Cell BiologyProfessional/Scientific OrganizationMemberExternalInternational20042008
Nature BME, Biomaterials, Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, Biomedicines, Scientific Reports, PLoS ONE, Biomaterials Advances, Chemical Engineering J., Cells, Journal of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Annals of Biomedical Engineering, Trends in Biotechnology, Journal of Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering, Current Pharmaceutical Design, Journal of Biomaterials Science: Polymer Edition, International Journal of Molecular Sciences, Current Medicinal Chemistry, Cell Health and Cytoskeleton, Regenerative Biomaterials Professional/Scientific JournalReviewerExternalInternational
Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Current Drug Delivery, Regenerative Engineering and Translational Medicine; J. Control Release; Biomaterial Science; Materials Chemistry and Physics; Acta Biomaterialia; Drug Delivery; ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces; International Journal of Pharmaceutics; Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, J. of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities,International Journal of Biological Macromolecules Professional/Scientific JournalReviewerExternalInternational


  • SHORT-HEAL (SHORT-term treatment HEALing) Initiative
    Our research on SHORT-HEAL small molecules focuses on three key areas: activating stem cells, modulating the immune response, and promoting angiogenesis for tissue regeneration. We aim to harness these processes for rapid, long-term healing with minimal side effects and plan to expand this strategy to neural, cardiac, and muscle tissues. We will also explore using targeted delivery systems to optimize localized treatment.




  • The Role of Piezoelectricity in Stem Cell Culture
    We aim to explore how piezoelectric stimuli affect stem cell differentiation into musculoskeletal tissues by designing systems that generate controlled stimulations. Using advanced piezoelectric materials like biodegradable PLLA, we will conduct in vitro and in vivo studies to validate the efficacy of these scaffolds in promoting tissue regeneration.




  • Pre-Innervated Tissue-Engineered Constructs for Bone Regeneration
    This research integrates neural elements with piezoelectric components in tissue-engineered constructs to enhance bone regeneration. We will fabricate, optimize, and assess these constructs to improve therapeutic outcomes in bone healing, potentially extending this approach to other musculoskeletal tissues.



PhD studentship and postdoctoral fellowship. 

Accepting new students at all levels.

Journal Articles

Book Chapters

  • Cytoplasmic Dynein Function Defined by Subunit Composition. Chapter 15
    Pfister, K.K. and Lo, K.W.-H.: Dyneins: Structure, Biology and Disease 2012 Jan;423-436
  • Biomimetric Matrices for Integrin-mediated Cell Adhesion
    Ashe, K.M., Lee, D.A., Lo, K.W.-H., Nair, L.S., and Laurencin, C.T. (2010) Biologically-Responsive Hybrid Biomaterials: A Reference for Material Scientists and Bioengineers 247-284
  • Calcium Phosphate based Ceramics for Biomedical Application. Biodegradable polymers in clinical use and clinical development.
    Lv, Q., Lo, K.W.-H., Nair, L.S., and Laurencin, C.T. Chapter 14 495-517

Editorials

  • Bone morphogenetic proteins for bone regeneration and their alternatives.
    Laurencin CT and Lo KWH (2013) Curr Pharm Des 19(19):3353

Reviews

Title or AbstractTypeSponsor/EventDate/YearLocation
From Molecular Motors to Regenerative Medicine: My Journey in Biomedical Research and Innovation. LectureUniversity of Hartford NIH/U-RISE T34 Program2024University of Hartford
Harnessing Small Molecules for Enhanced Fracture Healing and Bone RegenerationTalkSDDS-20242024Osaka, Japan
AI as your Research PartnerLectureLetPub2024Webinar
Innovative Strategies in Bone Regenerative Engineering: Small Molecule Therapeutics, Targeted Drug Delivery Systems, and Piezoelectric BiomaterialsTalkSchool of Dentistry2024University of Maryland, Baltimore
Behind the Manuscript: Insights and Strategies from an EditorLectureYoung Innovative Investigator Program (YIIP)2024UConn Health
Innovative Strategies in Bone Healing and Regeneration: Exploring Small Molecule-based Therapeutics and Novel BiomaterialsLectureCollege of Medicine2024Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL
Small molecule-based treatment approaches for long bone fracturesLectureCanadian Biomaterials Society 2023University of Alberta, Canada
Mentoring Future Researchers at UConn (NSF/EFRI All teams meeting)TalkNSF/AAAS 2021Virtual
Advancing Bone Regenerative Engineering: The Role of Small Molecules in Fracture HealingLectureDepartment of Biology2021University of Bridgeport, Bridgeport, Connecticut
Harnessing small signaling molecules in musculoskeletal regenerative engineering: A Convergence ApproachTalkDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, UConn2020Storrs CT
Regenerative Engineering: The roles of Small MoleculeLectureUniversity of Hartford2020West Hartford, CT
The Power of Convergence in Regenerative Engineering: Advancing Healing and InnovationTalkThe Aetna Foundation2019YWCA Hartford
Cytoplasmic Dynein Associated Peptide-linked Nanoparticles for Non-viral Vector ApplicationsPosterWorld Biomaterials Congress2016Montreal, Canada
Inductive Small Molecule Regeneration: Convergence of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Biomedical Engineering.LectureDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Wallace H. Coulter Foundation Lecture Series.2015Florida International University, Miami, FL,
Osteotropic Nanoscale Drug Delivery System via a Single Aspartic Acid as the Bone-targeting MoietyPosterBMES2015Tampa, FL
Development of Poly-aspartic Acid Peptide Linked PLGA-based Nanoparticles for Bone TargetingPlenary LectureBMES2014TX
Engineered Bone Tissue Through Short-term Administration of an Osteogenic Small MoleculePosterBMES2014TX
Inductive Small Molecule Regeneration: Convergence of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Regenerative EngineeringLectureCollege of Pharmacy 2014University of Houston, Houston, TX