UM (Nisha) Jahan

Bio

Nisha is a Ph.D. student in Dr. King’s Biomedical Research Lab, developing implantable drug delivery systems for localized and sustained chemotherapy in sarcoma. Her research has two major components: designing biodegradable drug-releasing implants for targeted therapy and building 3D tumor models to study treatment response and drug resistance. This work is part of a collaborative effort with Howard University College of Medicine, in partnership with Dr. Andrea Hayes Dixon. Outside the lab, Nisha enjoys reading, writing, traveling, and wandering forest trails with her Yorkie. She sings in her university choir, is always exploring new teas, and has a well-known habit of keeping her workspace and lab exceptionally clean and neatly organized.

Area(s) of Expertise

Nisha’s research focuses on developing implantable biomaterial systems for localized and sustained chemotherapy in aggressive solid tumors. She designs and fabricates biodegradable implants engineered for controlled release, optimized dosing, and combination therapy strategies aimed at reducing recurrence and addressing drug resistance after surgery. In parallel, she develops advanced 3D tumor models to study treatment response and resistance mechanisms, aiming to better replicate tumor architecture and microenvironmental barriers.

Beyond her primary research, she has contributed to interdisciplinary efforts in nanomedicine for targeted delivery, nanostructured polymer films for tissue engineering, and stem cell-based regenerative models.