•Most Promising Engineer - Advanced Degree•

Education:
-Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering – Northwestern University
-M.S. in Biomedical Engineering – Northwestern University
-B.S. in Biomechanical Engineering – Stanford University

Dr. Brian Alberto Aguado is an assistant professor in the Shu Chien-Gene Lay Department of Bioengineering at the University of California San Diego (UCSD), where he has quickly distinguished himself as a rising leader in biomedical engineering. His laboratory investigates how sex chromosome-linked genes shape cardiovascular disease, blending biomaterials, tissue engineering, and molecular biology to address critical health disparities.

Cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of death both globally and in the United States, yet most studies rely on male-dominated models. Dr. Aguado has developed precision biomaterials, such as poly(ethylene glycol) hydrogels, to replicate the extracellular matrix and probe sex-specific cellular responses. His research revealed that inflammatory cytokines uniquely activate female valvular interstitial cells through MAPK/ERK signaling, while Y-linked genes modulate calcification in male cells. These findings are reshaping understanding of aortic valve stenosis, a sexually dimorphic disease where women tend toward fibrosis and men toward calcification.

His lab has also leveraged artificial intelligence to identify sex-specific drug combinations that inhibit disease-driving myofibroblast activation, paving the way for targeted therapies where no effective drugs currently exist.

Dr. Aguado has published more than 35 peer-reviewed articles in leading journals, including Cell, Nature Biomedical Engineering, Circulation, and Science Translational Medicine. His 2017 Nature Biomedical Engineering article was a cover feature, and his work has already been cited nearly 3,000 times. Recent studies in Science Advances and The Journal of Biomedical Materials Research continue to highlight his pioneering contributions to sex-specific cardiovascular biology.

In addition, he has secured over $4 million in external funding, including an NIH Director’s New Innovator Award, support from the American Heart Association, the National Science Foundation, and a $1.3 million Chan Zuckerberg Initiative Science Diversity Leadership Award. In addition, he co-founded UCSD’s Center for Women’s Health Innovations through Scientific Discoveries, Engineering, and Medicine (WHISDEM), advancing sex-specific biomedical research.

The son of Colombian immigrants, Dr. Aguado traces his passion for science to childhood moments—labeling organelles in Spanish in a hand-drawn diagram titled La Célula and marveling at anatomy books at home.  His family nurtured a love of discovery, reinforcing the belief that education was the path to opportunity.

As a gay Latino scientist, he has faced discrimination and isolation, experiences that deepened his resolve to create inclusive communities in science. He has led initiatives such as the Oncofertility Science Academy for high school women; CU Café to highlight diverse scholars during his time as President of Post-doctoral studies at the University of Colorado; and, most notably, LatinXinBME, a global community that connects Latinx biomedical engineers through annual symposia and online networks.  His advocacy has extended to the policy arena as well, where he has spoken at state and national levels on behalf of early-career scientists.

Dr. Brian Aguado’s career has been defined by groundbreaking research into sex-specific cardiovascular biology and a deep commitment to inclusion. His scientific achievements are laying the groundwork for equitable therapies, while his personal journey as a first-generation Colombian American and gay Latino leader demonstrates resilience and vision. He is not only advancing bioengineering but also transforming the culture of science itself.