Our Research

The Wolf Lab applies bioengineering to address critical challenges in kidney and gynecological health. We investigate how mechanical forces influence tissue development, function, and disease in the urogenital tract to uncover new therapeutic targets. We simultaneously engineer advanced human tissues to accelerate discovery and therapeutic development.

Our work focuses on the kidney and uterus—organs with complex mechanical environments and urgent clinical need. Engineered, functional kidney tissues support therapeutic testing and advance whole-organ bioengineering for renal replacement therapy. Uterine tissue models offer unique insight into human reproductive biology, which is difficult to study in animal models. Engineered uterine tissues are especially valuable for understanding menstruation, early pregnancy, and menopause.

To bring these technologies closer to the clinic, we develop scalable biomanufacturing strategies that enhance tissue function and therapeutic potential.

Our Values

We value scientific curiosity, creativity, and rigor to advance knowledge and the professional development of our lab members. To foster these values, we actively cultivate a community of inclusion and respect both within our group and through interdisciplinary collaborations.

Outreach and Community Engagement

We are committed to scientific outreach, and our lab members are actively involved in programs including the Cornell Chapter of the Biomedical Engineering Society, Society of Women Engineers, the Center for Teaching Innovation, and more.

Land Acknowledgment

Cornell University is located on the traditional homelands of the Gayogo̱hó:nǫ’ (the Cayuga Nation). The Gayogo̱hó:nǫ’ are members of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, an alliance of six sovereign Nations with a historic and contemporary presence on this land. The Confederacy precedes the establishment of Cornell University, New York state, and the United States of America. We acknowledge the painful history of Gayogo̱hó:nǫ’ dispossession, and honor the ongoing connection of Gayogo̱hó:nǫ’ people, past and present, to these lands and waters.