Welcome to the Hui Lab!

Our group is focused on the dynamic control of biological systems at the micrometer scale. We are building tools for automating large arrays of biochemical reactions, controlling the spatial organization and temporal dynamics of multicellular communities, and understanding the emergence of structure in developing tissues.

Microfluidic Computing

Pneumatic microfluidic valves are similar in many ways to electronic transistors, suggesting the possibility of constructing mechanical computers out of microfluidic circuits. Following this strategy, we have built a variety of digital logic systems, including a programmable finite state machine.

These logic circuits can control networks of pumps and valves for liquid handling, allowing multistep laboratory procedures to be encoded into autonomous microfluidic networks. These devices contain no electronics and are powered simply by a static pressure differential. We envision that this technology will be attractive for laboratory automation and point-of-care medical applications.

Spatial Cell Biology

Cellular organization plays a fundamental role in determining the emergent properties of living tissue. We are building a set of tools for dynamic manipulation of microscale tissue architecture, enabling the study of contact-dependent signaling, paracrine gradients, and cell-specific behavior within mixed cultures. We seek to understand how communication between different cell types drives phenomena such as tissue development and cancer progression.

Small Model Manipulation

Experimental tools for handling and manipulating organ and animal models with microscale precision enable new scientific studies.