Christopher Hughes, PhD profile page

Dr. Hughes is also Chancellor’s Professor of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, and Biomedical Engineering at UC Irvine. Dr. Hughes’ research focuses on the development and growth of blood vessels and spans multiple scales – from understanding the basic molecular mechanisms of angiogenesis, to engineering of artificial tissues. Recently his lab has been pioneering “Body-on-Chip” technology, which allows for micro-organs to be grown on a “chip”, each with its own blood vessel network. Tissues generated include liver, pancreas, lung, various tumors and brain, including a blood-brain barrier. These devices are gaining use as screening tools for new therapeutic drugs, and the technology, co-developed by two co-founders Dr. Steve George and Dr. Abe Lee, is now licensed to Aracari Biosciences. Dr. Hughes has published over 130 peer-reviewed manuscripts, and in 2014 was elected a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Dr. Hughes served for 10 years as chair of his department, and is now Associate Dean of Research and Innovation. He previously served as Director of the Edwards Lifesciences Center for Advanced Cardiovascular Technology, and as a Program Leader in the Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center at UCI. Dr. Hughes works extensively with the non-profit organization, cureHHT, which supports those with this rare vascular disorder. He chairs its North American Scientific Advisory Council. In 2021 received the cureHHT Lifetime Achievement Award.