Craig A Aspinwall, PhD

Clinical and Translational Oncology Program

Biography

Dr. Aspinwall is a Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry. He received B.S. in Chemistry from Berry College and a Ph.D in Chemistry from the University of Florida.  Prior to joining the University of Arizona, he was a Postdoctoral Fellow in Molecular Medicine at Karolinska Institute and an Alexander Hollaender Distinguished Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Department of Energy Ames Laboratory. He holds joint appointments in Biomedical Engineering, the BIO5 Institute for Collaborative Bioresearch, the Arizona Cancer Center and the Sarver Heart Center. His research focuses on the development of new measurement approaches to better understand biological signaling, with a focus on biofunctionalized nanomaterials, biochemical sensors and chemical separations.

Cancer Focus

Our research focuses on the development of new measurement techniques that can be used to perform analyses of intracellular and extracellular signaling compounds in difficult environments, including single cells and tissues.  To better understand the molecular basis of diseases, including cancer, the chemical composition of complex samples must be deciphered.  Measurement of biological signaling molecules in small sample volumes with sufficient sensitivity and selectivity presents numerous challenges.  We develop and apply new measurement strategies at the interface of biomaterials, nanomaterials and biosensors to create new biomimetic and biocompatible sensor platforms that can provide unprecedented capabilities to understand the molecular foundation of abnormal biological function.