Rebecca Pinals
Assistant Professor
Chemical Engineering
I have always been fascinated by interfaces. How does a boundary region make chemical transformations happen faster and more selectively, like at the interface between a catalyst particle and its support material? Or prevent detrimental outcomes in a biological context, like a nanoparticle’s surface coating deterring unfavorable biofouling? I began my research explorations in heterogeneous catalysis and in applying nanoparticles to probe biology, where these interfacial properties become instrumental. Now, I also find myself captivated by another interface: that between the brain and the rest of the body. I once pictured this so-called blood–brain barrier as a castle surrounded by an impenetrable moat. Yet in reality, it is far more intricate, more like a root system spreading through soil, where every root (or, in our case, capillary vessel) surface serves as a site of exchange. At each vascular interface between the brain and bloodstream, nutrients and gases are delivered, waste is cleared, toxins are blocked. When this delicate system is damaged, dysfunction can emerge, contributing to devastating diseases like Alzheimer’s.
Here at Stanford, I am building my lab at the intersection of my background in nanotechnology and neuroscience: designing nano-sized tools alongside micro-engineered brain models. On the nano side, we aim to zoom in and understand what is happening at the nanoscale interface, and how this translates into different nanoparticle functions and failure points. On the neuro side, we aim to build engineered cellular brain models and integrate our nano-tools that let us act as cellular spies, eavesdropping without interfering. We will leverage these systems to explore questions like: how do brain cells interact in a normal case, and what happens when we pinch and poke and perturb them in disease-relevant ways? What are the molecular and cellular origins of neurodegenerative diseases, which propagate into macroscopic outcomes like Alzheimer’s disease? And where are the nodes at which we can intervene?
In my lab, we embrace both fundamental and applied science, all through the lens of chemical engineering as a powerful framework for tackling big problems. For me, the excitement lies at the interfaces themselves—where nano meets neuro, where curiosity meets impact, and where new perspectives can translate into concrete improvements for human health.
