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Kiana Aran headshot 2022 240x315

Kiana Aran, PhD

Associate Professor of Medical Diagnostics and Therapeutics

Areas of Expertise

Mechanisms of Disease, Medical Diagnostics and Devices

Contact Information

Location: Building 215, room 121B
Phone: 909.607.8512
Kiana_Aran@kgi.edu

Resources

Aran Lab
More information
  • About
  • Selected Publications
  • Patents
  • Courses
  • Media

Dr. Kiana Aran is an Iranian/American biomedical entrepreneur who is an Associate Professor of Medical Diagnostics and Therapeutics at Keck Graduate Institute (KGI), a member of The Claremont Colleges; the Co-Founder and Chief Scientific Officer at Cardea Bio, a biotechnology company developing next-generation bio-integrated electronic chips for precision medicine; and a visiting Assistant Professor at the University of California, Berkeley. Aran also serves as a Consultant of Drug Delivery and Medical Diagnostics for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

She received her undergraduate degree in electrical engineering from the City University of New York in 2007 and her PhD in biomedical engineering from Rutgers University in 2012. She then continued her postdoctoral studies in bioengineering at the University of California, Berkeley and was a recipient of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) postdoctoral training fellowship at the Buck Institute for Aging Research in 2015.

Her research focuses on designing novel bio-integrated electronic platforms, using 2D nanomaterials, for precision medicine and utilizing biology as tech elements for various biosensing applications. In addition to biosensing, she combines various engineering modules to develop tools to understand the aging process better. Aran’s scientific vision is to explore the utility of nano-electronic systems to develop transformative and customizable platforms for multi-omics applications and the commercialization of these platforms.

Aran is a recipient of the National Institutes of Health postdoctoral training fellowship at the Buck Institute for Age Research and is a consultant for the Gates Foundation. Her efforts have been recognized within the scientific community by the Clinical OMICs 10 under 40 Award, Athena Pinnacle Award in Life Sciences, NSF Career award, Nature Research Awards for Inspiring Women in Science: Scientific Achievement Category’s Overall Winner in 2021, and Distinguished Engineering Medal of Excellence from Rutgers University in 2022. Aran also received multiple NIH RO1, DARPA, and Gate Foundation grants and awards from the private sector to develop the next generation of electronic biosensors for precision medicine.

  1. Amiri, P., DeCastro, J., Littig, J., Lu, H.-W., Liu, C., Conboy, I., Aran, K., Erythrocytes, a New Contributor to Age-Associated Loss of Blood–Brain Barrier Integrity. Adv. Sci. 2021, 2101912. https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202101912
  2. S. Balderston, G. Clouse, J. Ripoll, G. Pratt, G. Gasiunas, J. Bock, E.P. Bennett, and K. Aran. Diversification of the CRISPR Toolbox: Applications of CRISPR-Cas Systems Beyond Genome Editing. The CRISPR Journal. Jun 2021.400-415.http://doi.org/10.1089/crispr.2020.0137
  3. Hajian, R., DeCastro, J., Parkinson, J., Kane, A., Camelo, A. F. R., Chou, P. P., Yang, J., Wong, N., Hernandez, E. D. O., Goldsmith, B., Conboy, I., Aran, K., Rapid and Electronic Identification and Quantification of Age‐Specific Circulating Exosomes via Biologically Activated Graphene Transistors. Adv. Biology 2021, 2000594. https://doi.org/10.1002/adbi.202000594
  4. S. Balderston, J. Taulbee, E. Celaya, K. Fung, K. Smith, R. Hajian, G. Gasiunas, S. Kutanovas, R. Peytavi, F. Barron, B.R. Goldsmith, P. G. Collins, I. M. Conboy, V. Siksnys, K. Aran, Discrimination of single-point mutations in unamplified genomic DNA via Cas9 immobilized on a graphene field-effect transistor. Nature Biomedical Engineering, 2021, DOI 10.1038/s41551-021-00706-z
  5. J. DeCastro, J. Littig, P.P. Chou, J. Mack-Onyeike, A. Srinivasan, M.J. Conboy, I. M. Conboy, & K. Aran. The Microfluidic Toolbox for Analyzing Exosome Biomarkers of Aging. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), 26(3), 535 (2021).
  6. R. Hajian, K. Fung, P. Chou, S. Wang, S. Balderston, K. Aran, Graphene Oxide: Properties and Functionalization Methods. Material Matters, 2019, Vol. 14, Issue 1, 37-45
  7. D. K. Rai, M. Gurusaran, V. Urban, K. Aran, L. Ma, P. Li, S. Qian, T.N. Narayanan, P.M. Ajayan, D. Liepmann, K. Sekar, M.E. Álvarez-Cao, J.J. Escuder-Rodríguez, M.E Cerdán, M.I. González-Siso, S. Viswanathan, R. Paulmurugan, V. Renugopalakrishnan. Sci Rep 9, 15519 (2019) DOI:10.1038/s41598-019-51882-7
  8. Reza Hajian, Sarah Balderston, Thanhtra Tran, Tara deBoer, Jessy Etienne, Mandeep Sandhu, Noreen A. Wauford, Jing-Yi Chung, Jolie Nokes, Mitre Athaiya, Jacobo Paredes, Regis Peytavi, Brett Goldsmith, Niren Murthy, Irina M. Conboy, Kiana Aran. (2019). Nature Biomedical Engineering doi: 10.1038/s41551-019-0371
  9. Sadlowski, C. M., Balderston, S., Sandhu, M., Hajian, R., Liu, C., Tran, T. T., … & Aran, K. (2018). Lab on a Chip. https://doi.org/10.1039/C8LC00446C
  10. Aran, K., Chooljian, M., Paredes, J., Rafi, M., Lee, K., Kim, A. Y., An, J., Yau, J. F., Chum, H., Conboy I., Murthy, N., Liepmann, D. (2017). An oral microjet vaccination system elicits antibody production in rabbits. Science Translational Medicine, 9(380). http://stm.sciencemag.org/content/9/380/eaaf6413.abstract
  11. Lee, K., Mohammad, R., Wang, X., Aran, K., Feng, X., Sterzo L., C., … Murthy, N. (n.d.). In vivo delivery of transcription factors with multifunctional oligonucleotides. Natural Materials, 14(7), 701–706. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbamem.2015.02.010.Cationic
  12. Viswanathan, S., Narayanan, T. N., Aran, K., Fink, K. D., Paredes, J., Ajayan, P. M., … Renugopalakrishanan, V. (2015). Graphene-protein field effect biosensors: Glucose sensing. Materials Today, 18(9), 513–522. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mattod.2015.04.003
  13. Aran, K., Parades, J., Rafi, M., Yau, J. F., Acharya, A. P., Zibinsky, M., Liepmann, D. and Murthy, N. (2015), Stimuli-Responsive Electrodes Detect Oxidative Stress and Liver Injury. Adv. Mater., 27: 1433–1436. doi:10.1002/adma.201404562
  14. Acharya, A.P., Sen, P., Aran, K., Gardner, A.B., Rafi, M., Dean, D., Murthy, N. Journal of Polymer Science Part A: Polymer Chemistry 53 (2), 206-210 doi:10.1002/pola.27376
  15. D. Liepmann, K. Aran, PM. Ajayan, S. Viswanathan, P. Li, V. Renugopalakrishnan, MRS Proceedings, 2014, DOI: 10.1557/opl.2015.302
  16. K. Aran, J. Paredes, J. Yau. M. Rafi. MicroTAS 2014, Miniaturized Systems for Chemistry and Life Sciences.
  17. Sasso, L.A., Aran, K., Guan, Y., Ündar, AZahn, J.D. Artificial organs 37 (1) doi.org/10.1111/aor.12021
  18. Aran, K., Fok, A., Sasso, L. A., Kamdar, N., Guan, Y., Sun, Q., … Zahn, J. D. (2011). Microfiltration platform for continuous blood plasma protein extraction from whole blood during cardiac surgery. Lab on a Chip, 11(17), 2858–2868. http://doi.org/10.1039/c1lc20080a
  19. Qiu, F., Talor, J., Zahn, J., Pauliks, L., Kunselman, A. R., Palanzo, D., … Ündar, A. (2011). Translational Research in Pediatric Extracorporeal Life Support Systems and Cardiopulmonary Bypass Procedures: 2011 Update. World Journal for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Surgery, 2(3), 476–481. doi.org/10.1177%2F2150135111402226
  20. Aran, K., Fok, A., Y, G., Sun, Q., Zahn, J., & Undar, A. (n.d.). Differential immune activation during simulated cardiopulmonary bypass procedure using freshly drawn and week-old blood—a pilot study. Artificial Organs, 34(11), 1048–53. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21137157
  21. Aran, K., Sasso, L. A., Kamdar, N., & Zahn, J. D. (2010). Irreversible, direct bonding of nanoporous polymer membranes to PDMS or glass microdevices. Lab on a Chip, 10(5), 548. https://doi.org/10.1039/b924816a

K. Aran, D. Liepmann, N. Murthy. “Ingestible Active Agent Delivery Devices, and Methods of Using the Same” (US BK-2014-192)

K. Aran, J. Perades, N. Murthy, D. Liepmann. “Stimuli Responsive Sensors and Methods of Using the Same (US 62/057,894) 

ENG 5300: Medical Devices
ENG 6310: Drug Delivery Devices
ENG 6320: Biosensors
Registration Open for Silver Anniversary Speaker Series Events Featuring Bioscience and Healthcare Executives
PPC Student Samantha Kuong Pursues OB-GYN Career to Raise Awareness of Endometriosis and Guide Women Through the Birthing Process
KGI’s 25th Anniversary Speaker Series Continues in 2023 with Four Biotech and Healthcare Executives
Breaking the Silos: How One Doctor is Working to Reshape Medicine
#149 – Dr. Kiana Aran and Dr. Paul Grint: Journey to Freedom through Science
Dr. Kiana Aran on a New Wave of Technological Advancements With Graphene: Podcast
KGI Celebrates 25th Anniversary with Founder’s Day Speaker Series and Dinner
Professor Kiana Aran to Receive Rutgers Engineering Alumni Distinguished Engineer Award
Dr. Kiana Aran Receives Research Gift from Agilent Technologies to Develop Real-Time Monitoring of Cell Cultures
Researcher Granted $1.63M by NIH to Set Quality Standards for Gene Editing
KGI’s Dr. Kiana Aran Receives NIH Funding to Help Set Quality Control Standards for CRISPR Therapies
Dr. Kiana Aran Discusses the CRISPR-Chip and Inspiring Women in Science
Husband and Wife Use KGI’s PhD Program as a Stepping Stone to Improve Healthcare in Their Home Country of Nigeria
Dr. Kiana Aran’s Achievements as a Biotech Leader Honored in 2021 Nature Research Awards for Inspiring Women in Science
Professor Kiana Aran and Team Publish Aging Research Paper in Advanced Science
Dr. Kiana Aran’s Publication on the EV-Chip Featured on the Front Cover of Advanced Biology
Dr. Kiana Aran Develops Exosome and Extracellular Vesicles Detection Technology called EV-Chip
CRISPR-SNP-Chip Enables Amplification-Free Electronic Detection of Single Point Mutations
Dr. Kiana Aran Receives Prestigious NSF Career Award
Kiana Aran, Inventor of the CRISPR-Chip, Wins Pinnacle 2020 Award
Claremont McKennna College Graduate Reflects on Research Experience at KGI Lab
Kiana Aran Shares Insight with CRISPR Medicine News
Clinical OMICs Features Kiana Aran on “10 Under 40” List
#100 – Kiana Aran | #2 of 2019 Top Podcasts
Kiana Aran Featured in Berkeley Engineer Magazine
Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News Covers CRISPR-Chip
Kiana Aran Discusses CRISPR-Chip Innovation on The Oxford Biotech Podcast
Kiana Aran’s CRISPR-Chip Innovation Featured in The Scientist
Kiana Aran’s Innovation Featured on the Cover of Nature Biomedical Engineering
#71 – CRISPR Cuts Rebroadcast
Assistant Professor Kiana Aran Discusses Innovation on CRISPR Cuts Podcast
CRISPR-Chip Enables Digital Detection of DNA without Amplification
#62 – Kiana Aran & CRISPR-Chip
Graphene-Based Biosensor Identifies Circulating Biomarkers of Aging
National Institutes of Health Supports Professor’s Research on Aging
Claremont High School Student Excels in KGI Research Lab
Faculty Research Describes How Ions Play Key Roles in Controlling Mucosal Surfaces
Assistant Professor Kiana Aran Helps Build School in Senegal
Professor Develops Oral Vaccination Device Published in Science Translational Medicine

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