Biomanufacturing: The Future of Fashion Innovation

Lauren Blake is a molecular biophysics PhD candidate at Johns Hopkins with a bachelor's degree in biomedical engineering from the University of Cincinnati. Her thesis work involves building biomolecular tools to control mRNA metabolism and protein synthesis at the single molecule level in living cells. Lauren is a rising leader in the climate-tech space after co-founding the Alt Protein Project at Johns Hopkins and mobilizing hundreds of Hopkins affiliates to join the cellular agriculture movement. Her current mission is to obviate the need for plastics and animals in clothing through biomanufacturing of next-gen, biodegradable raw materials for the textile industry.

Awards like those from the NSF have allowed Alexis Peña to work on cutting edge research that directly impact patients. Alexis is a Biomedical Engineering Ph.D. candidate in Dr. Jennifer Elisseeff’s lab where they target the immune system to make healthy tissues. Alexis researches human cell/tissue products for musculoskeletal injuries and disease. Tissue- and blood-based biomaterials are a class of regenerative medicine technologies that have shown great clinical promise in promoting tissue regeneration through mechanisms of immune modulation. To date, she have co-authored 9 publications spanning regenerative medicine strategies and in vitro cell platforms to ultimately provide tissue engineering and regenerative medicine solutions. Her North Star is improving the quality of life of others and to that aim, is exploring climate tech, biomedical, food, and behavioral lifestyle applications of her expertise.