Researcher • Mentor • STEM Advocate

Lourdes Cabrera is a highly respected clinical research professional affiliated with the University of Michigan’s cardiac surgery and heart research community, where she contributes to advancing cardiovascular care through rigorous scientific investigation. She has played a key role as a co-author and collaborator on numerous peer-reviewed studies aimed at improving outcomes for patients undergoing complex heart procedures, including efforts to reduce postoperative complications and improve care coordination for advanced heart failure therapies.

Her cardiovascular research includes influential work on coronary artery bypass grafting outcomes, postoperative pneumonia reduction, and durable left ventricular assist device (LVAD) care, including mixed-methods studies that informed the development of infection-prevention toolkits and best practices now used to improve patient safety and quality of life.

Earlier in her career, Lourdes contributed to innovative research at the intersection of biomedical engineering and reproductive biology. She co-authored seminal papers on microfluidic “embryo-on-a-chip” technologies, demonstrating how dynamic culture systems and real-time metabolic monitoring could improve embryo development and assessment. These studies helped lay groundwork for more physiologic, non-invasive approaches in assisted reproductive technologies and remain widely cited in the field.

In her current role, Lourdes is deeply committed to education and mentorship. She mentors bioscience and clinical research students, guiding them through study design, data integrity, and the ethical conduct of research while modeling the collaborative spirit essential to translational science.

Beyond academia and medicine, Lourdes extends her dedication to service into the community. She volunteers weekly with Meals on Wheels, delivering meals and companionship to homebound individuals — a reflection of her belief that compassion and science go hand in hand.

As an advisor to initiatives encouraging young girls to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, Lourdes brings both professional excellence and lived experience to her mentorship. Her career demonstrates that curiosity, perseverance, and interdisciplinary thinking can open doors — and that representation and guidance can help the next generation walk through them with confidence.

Dr. Luis G. Villa-Díaz is a researcher and professor at Oakland University in Michigan whose career reflects excellence in scientific discovery, education, and mentorship. Widely recognized for his work in stem cell biology, Dr. Villa-Díaz has made significant contributions to understanding how human pluripotent stem cells self-renew and differentiate in response to their physical and molecular environments. His research bridges fundamental biology and translational science, advancing knowledge with implications for regenerative medicine, tissue engineering, and space biology.

Dr. Villa-Díaz has authored and co-authored numerous peer-reviewed scientific publications in leading journals, including Stem Cells, Stem Cells Translational Medicine, Nanoscale, Biomaterials, ACS Nano, and npj Microgravity. His work has explored how integrin signaling, focal adhesion pathways, extracellular matrix interactions, nanotopography, and microgravity influence stem cell fate and function. These studies have helped define how physical forces and engineered environments can be leveraged to guide cell behavior, positioning his research at the forefront of modern stem cell science.

Dr. Villa-Díaz’s excellence has been recognized with competitive grant awards from the National Science Foundation and honors for his outstanding research contributions.

Beyond his impressive publication record, Dr. Villa-Díaz is deeply committed to education and mentorship. As a professor, he is known for his engaging teaching style, high expectations, and genuine investment in student success. In his laboratory, he mentors undergraduate students, graduate students, and trainees from diverse backgrounds, emphasizing critical thinking, scientific rigor, and confidence. He is a strong advocate for creating inclusive research spaces where young scientists are encouraged to pursue ambitious goals, ask bold questions, and envision themselves as leaders in science.