
Woojin Han, PhD
About Me
Dr. Woojin Han is an Associate Professor of Orthopaedics at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, with a secondary appointment in the Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine. He investigates how the muscle stem cell niche can be manipulated to restore function after injury or disease, integrating mechanobiology approaches with genetic tools and therapeutic biomaterials to link basic discovery with translational innovation. His lab’s work spans mechanistic studies of how physical forces shape stem cell self-renewal and quiescence to the development of platforms for reprogramming muscle tissue, with strong potential for treating trauma and degenerative disease. He received his B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Rochester, his Ph.D. in Bioengineering from the University of Pennsylvania, and completed postdoctoral training at Georgia Tech, supported by AFAR and NIH F32 fellowships. Dr. Han has published over 35 papers, including in Nature Materials, Science Advances, Stem Cell Reports, and Advanced Biology. His work has earned national recognition, including Popular Science’s “Brilliant 10,” the 2025 BMES/CMBE Young Innovator Award, and the 2025 NEBEC Emerging Investigator Award. He serves as Secretary/Treasurer of the Society for Biomaterials Tissue Engineering SIG, Founding Member and Research and Education Chair of the Orthopaedic Research Society’s Skeletal Muscle Section, and on the editorial boards of Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A, Matrix Biology, and Matrix Biology Plus. Since 2021, he has mentored over 15 trainees across career stages, reflecting his commitment to developing future leaders in science and medicine.
For more information, please see Han Lab and Orthopaedic Research Lab pages.
Language
English
Position
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR | Orthopedics, Orthopedic Research
Research Topics
Biomechanics/Bioengineering, Biomedical Sciences, Muscle Cells, Orthopaedics, Regeneration, Stem Cells, Tissue Engineering
Multi-Disciplinary Training Areas
Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies in Medicine [AIET], Development Regeneration and Stem Cells [DRS], Disease Mechanisms and Therapeutics (DMT)
Education
BS, University of Rochester
MSE, University of Pennsylvania
PhD, University of Pennsylvania
Awards
2025
NEBEC Emerging Investigator Award
Northeast Bioengineering Conference
2025
BMES/CMBE Young Innovator Award
Biomedical Engineering Society
2024
Mount Sinai Faculty Council Award for Junior Faculty
Mount Sinai Hospital
2023
Popular Science's The Brilliant 10
Popular Science Magazine
2022
Stephen I. Katz Early Stage Investigator Grant Awardee
NIAMS/NIH
Publications
Selected Publications
- The matricellular protein ADAMTS-like 2 regulates differentiation of skeletal muscle-resident fibro-adipogenic progenitor cells. Charlene Redhead, Nandaraj Taye, Britney Chin-Young, Kasoorelope Oguntuyo, James H. Cummins, Kevin J. Hart, Woojin M. Han, Dirk Hubmacher. iScience
- 3D Mechanical Confinement Directs Muscle Stem Cell Fate and Function. Ga Young Park, Josh A. Grey, Foteini Mourkioti, Woojin M. Han. Advanced Biology
- Biomaterial-Based Regenerative Strategies for Volumetric Muscle Loss: Challenges and Solutions. Charlene W. Cai, Josh A. Grey, Dirk Hubmacher, Woojin M. Han. Advances in Wound Care