The Raman lab uses tissue engineering to study the neuromuscular system in health and disease. The group developed a simple process for patterning muscle tissue in any shape, including the architecture of an iris.   

The team made a 3D stamp to create microgrooves in a soft material specially designed to grow muscle tissue in the lab. The engineered iris contracts just like real eye muscles.   

Researchers and clinicians could use the engineered tissue to assess muscle health and better understand contractile responses in both healthy and diseased tissue.