Alisa Isaac, Ph.D.

Introduction to Biomedical Engineering

Ph.D., Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University
B.S., Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at San Antonio

Engineering tunable immunomodulatory hydrogel-based biomaterials for tissue regeneration, specifically traumatic defects
Discover and utilize inherent tissue-derived associated cues for the development of immunomodulatory biomaterials
Investigate the innate and adaptive immune responses to biomaterials to better leverage in tissue regeneration strategies

Alisa Isaac, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering in the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering. She earned her Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from Texas A&M University and her B.S. from The University of Texas at San Antonio.

Isaac’s research focuses on tissue regeneration and biomaterials, including the development of extracellular matrix–based immunomodulatory materials for bone repair, studying the host response to biomaterials and innovative approaches to modulate inflammation for wound healing.

She has received multiple fellowships and awards, including the NIH SABER IRACDA Postdoctoral Fellowship and the UT System TRC4 Mentored Research Award. In addition to her research, Isaac is dedicated to teaching and mentorship, leading courses in biomechanics, biomaterials and biomedical engineering design, while actively guiding in innovative research.

Trauma Research and Combat Casualty Care Collaborative (TRC4) Mentored Research Award (2024 and 2025).

NIH SABER IRACDA (San Antonio Biomedical Education and Research Institutional Research and Academic Career Development Award) Program Post-Doctoral Fellowship (2022).

Texas A&M University Graduate Teaching Fellowship (2022).

National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program (2017).

Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) Undergraduate Research Fellowship (2015).

Society for Biomaterials Postdoctoral Recognition Award Finalist (2025).

TRC4 Early Career Mentored Research Award (2025).

UT Health SA Postdoctoral Fellow of the Year Honorable Mention (2024).

Cells Tissues Organs Young Investigator Award (2024).

Rising Stars in Engineering in Health ( Boston U; Cornell U; Columbia U; Johns Hopkins U. [2024]).

UTSA Postdoctoral Research Fellow of the Year Runner Up (2024).

Isaac AH, Recalde Phillips SY, Ruben E, Estes M, Rajavel V, Baig T, Paleti C, Landsgaard K, Lee RH, Guda T, Criscitiello MF, Gregory C, Alge D. Impact of PEG sensitization on the efficacy of PEG hydrogel-mediated tissue engineering. Nature Communications. 2024 Apr 18;15(1):3283.

Sanyaolu O, Garza V, Santi A, Romero Uribe G, Guda T, Isaac AH. “Damaged Extracellular Matrix and their Regenerative Capabilities as Immunomodulatory Materials”. Cells Tissues Organs. Accepted [Young Investigator Award].

Malka R, Isaac A, Gonzales G, Miar S, Walters B, Baker A, Guda T, Dion GR. Changes in vocal fold gene expression and histology after injection augmentation in a recurrent laryngeal nerve injury model. The Journal of Laryngology & Otology. 2024 Feb;138(2):196-202.

Malka R, Gonzales G, Detar W, Marinelli L, Lee CM, Isaac A, Miar S, Cook S, Guda T, Dion GR. Effect of continuous local dexamethasone on tissue biomechanics and histology after inhalational burn in a preclinical model. Laryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology. 2023 Aug;8(4):939-45.

Zuniga K, Isaac A, Christy S, Wrice N, Mangum L, Natesan S, Burnett L, Christy R, Kowalczewski C. Characterization of a human platelet lysate-loaded keratin hydrogel for wound healing applications in vitro. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2022 Apr 7;23(8):4100.

Isaac A, Jivan F, Xin S, Hardin J, Luan X, Pandya M, Diekwisch TG, Alge DL. Microporous bio-orthogonally annealed particle hydrogels for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. ACS biomaterials science & engineering. 2019 Oct 25;5(12):6395-404.