BME Seminar Series: Postdoc Quick Talks

Details

Gopal Agarwal, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Associate, J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida.
“Decellularized Tissue Based Injectable Hydrogel for Injured Spinal Cord Regeneration”

Biography:
Dr. Gopal Agarwal is a Postdoctoral Associate at the University of Florida where he is leading innovative research in the field of spinal cord regeneration. His work focuses on developing enzyme therapeutics and injectable hydrogels, exploring their potential for promoting neural repair and recovery. Dr. Agarwal earned his Ph.D. in Biotechnology from the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER)-Ahmedabad, India. During his doctoral studies, he pioneered research on nerve conduits designed for spinal cord repair, emphasizing cell guidance and immunomodulation. His work also included the fabrication and characterization of electroconductive, and porous hydrogels aimed at enhancing neural tissue engineering and drug delivery. Dr. Agarwal has been recognized for his contributions to the field through numerous awards and honors, including being a keynote speaker at significant academic sessions. Dr. Agarwal has served as peer reviewer for several international journals. Dr. Agarwal is serving as Secretary/Treasurer of the Special Interest Group for Drug Delivery and Program Chair of a Special Interest Group for Biomaterial Education at the Society for Biomaterials. His dedication to advancing biomedical science and his commitment to education make him a valuable member of the academic community.

Kinyata J. Cooper, PhD, CSCS, Post Doctoral Associate, Department of Physical Therapy, University of Florida.
“Magnetic Resonance Markers of Rotator Cuff Muscle Microvascular Function and Energetics Following Rotator Cuff Tears”

Biography:
Dr. Kinyata J. Cooper “Dr. Coop” is an alumna of Howard University in Washington D.C. (Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, 2014) and earned her Ph.D. in Rehabilitation Science from the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in 2023.
As a clinical biomechanist, her passion is to pursue translational research that impacts patients directly by optimizing rehabilitation efficacy and return to sport/activity outcomes in patients with musculoskeletal injuries. As a Postdoctoral Associate in the Physical Therapy Department here at UF, her current research aims to use magnetic resonance and spectroscopy to non-invasively quantify shoulder muscle performance in individuals with rotator cuff tears. Determining whether magnetic resonance analysis can provide accurate measures of rotator cuff vascularity and energetic status would help to validate non-invasive markers of shoulder health and inform novel treatment strategies to maximize patients’ functional recovery after rotator cuff tears.
Dr. Cooper has achieved great success this year by receiving the American Society of Biomechanics (ASB) Up and Comer Award, NIH Loan Repayment Award, and inventorship on a patent from her research work. Dr. Cooper is not only dedicated to advancing the field of biomechanics but also her community. She serves as an organizing and mentorship committee member of the Black Biomechanists Association and UF’s Historically Black college Alumni Alliance.