Ph.D., Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore

Manisha joined the TTDD lab in April 2021. She is a Biomedical Engineer by training and holds a Ph.D. in Biomaterials from Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore. During her doctoral studies, she harnessed the chemistry of stimuli-sensitive biomaterials to create voltage-curable tissue adhesives. She also developed a proof-of-concept catheter device to deliver these adhesives into blood vessels and activate them in situ using direct electric current. Her motivation for this work stemmed from her passion for bridging the gap between engineering and biology. She envisions that this minimally invasive device can help surgeons seal vascular defects such as aneurysms, potentially replacing traditional sutures. Manisha's current research interests revolve around applying her technical expertise to practical biomedical products that serve society. Her current research focuses on (1) building anatomically accurate bench-top mock circulatory flow models for cardiac pathophysiology research and developing mechanical circulatory support using bioinspired engineering and biomimetic design, (2) developing soft robotics-driven beating heart models to improve cardiac device design and enhance medical imaging tools for structural heart interventions, (3) integrating medical devices with smart materials for seamless implantation. Through her research, Manisha aims to make patient-specific healthcare treatments accessible to a broader audience, breaking free from the constraints of prohibitive costs and the one-size-fits-all approach. She is committed to advancing patient-specific solutions for cardiovascular medical technology and is enthusiastic about improving how we diagnose and treat congenital and structural heart diseases.