Nico Macaluso is a PhD candidate in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Johns Hopkins University whose research focuses on understanding the biological mechanisms of aging and developing innovative approaches for precision medicine. He earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees in Chemical Engineering from the University of Florida, where his research interests evolved from photovoltaic materials to CRISPR-based technologies for disease detection and gene editing.

Under the mentorship of Dr. Jude Phillip, a core member of the Institute for NanoBioTechnology and Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Macaluso investigates how aging alters cellular behavior and how these changes can be leveraged to improve disease detection and personalized therapeutic interventions.

His research explores how physical characteristics of cells—such as size, shape, and movement—can serve as indicators of overall health. By treating cells as biological sensors, he aims to identify age-related cellular changes associated with disease and develop strategies to reprogram cells toward healthier, more youthful states. His work particularly focuses on immune function, cancer cell elimination, wound healing, T-cell behavior, and cellular senescence.

One of his notable findings involves profiling fibroblast cells from individuals ranging from their 20s to their 80s, leading to the discovery of distinct senescent cell subtypes with different biological functions. He has also studied T-cell dynamics to identify immune cell subpopulations and explore how modifying the cellular microenvironment can influence immune responses.

Macaluso acknowledges that aging research presents significant challenges due to the complexity and variability of biological systems. To address these obstacles, he advocates for multidisciplinary collaboration and the emerging field of "geroengineering," which integrates molecular biology, immunology, engineering, and multi-omics technologies to better understand and address age-related decline.

His research was featured at the Hopkins on the Hill event, where he presented his work to government officials and science policymakers. The experience highlighted the importance of effective science communication and demonstrated the growing interest in advancing innovative biomedical research.

Looking ahead, Macaluso hopes his work will contribute to the development of next-generation precision medicine approaches and novel therapies for age-related diseases. His long-term vision is to help establish new drug discovery platforms that promote healthier aging and improve quality of life.

Outside the laboratory, he is actively involved in leadership and student organizations, including HopStone Capital, the Graduate Student Liaison Committee, and the Johns Hopkins Graduate Consulting Club. He is also an avid athlete who participates in soccer, volleyball, and flag football, enjoys running and fitness training, and spends his free time surfing and connecting with friends and family.

Source: https://inbt.jhu.edu/studying-cells-to-better-understand-aging/