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EntoCellular: Redefining Sustainable Pet Nutrition

EntoCellular is taking significant strides in its mission to provide sustainable and ethical protein for the pet food industry. Co-founders Sophie Letcher and Michael Saad, both recent PhD graduates from the Kaplan Lab, are leveraging over a decade of research into insect cell culture to create “entoprotein.” This real animal protein is produced without the environmental or ethical drawbacks of traditional factory farming. In recent talks at the Tufts Cellular Agriculture Innovation Day and IdeaCon, Sophie shared her entrepreneurial journey and highlighted how insect cells offer a more resilient and cost-effective pathway to scaling cultivated meat. The team has already… Read More »EntoCellular: Redefining Sustainable Pet Nutrition

Shifting Gears: David Kaplan on the Future of Cellular Agriculture

At the 2026 Tufts Future Food Innovation Day, David Kaplan joined Bruce Friedrich to discuss how cellular agriculture is moving beyond the initial startup phase and into a more mature era of public-sector and institutional support. David shared his insights on the “second wave” of specialized companies entering the field and emphasized the need for better communication regarding the safety, control, and food security benefits of cultivated products. See below for a full playlist of all of the talks during the 2026 Tufts Future Food Innovation Day: Citation: Cellular ag moves beyond the startup phase

Dr. Camilo Riquelme-Guzmán Receives the “Dr. Humberto Maturana Romesín” Prize

The Kaplan Lab is incredibly proud to celebrate postdoctoral researcher Dr. Camilo Riquelme-Guzmán for receiving the prestigious “Dr. Humberto Maturana Romesín” prize for early career researchers. Awarded by the Chilean Society for Biology at their annual meeting in Valparaíso, this honor recognizes Camilo’s outstanding contributions to biological research. During the event, Camilo joined fellow awardees Diyanira Castillo Novales, Simón P. Castillo, and Korina Ocampo-Zuleta to present their work and discuss the future of the field with distinguished leaders like Dr. Michael Seeger and Dr. Rosa Devés. Camilo expressed deep gratitude for the mentors and colleagues who have supported his scientific… Read More »Dr. Camilo Riquelme-Guzmán Receives the “Dr. Humberto Maturana Romesín” Prize

TUCCA and the Kaplan Lab are Open-Sourcing the Future of Food

We are so proud of our team at the Tufts University Center for Cellular Agriculture (TUCCA) for partnering with the Good Food Institute to launch a first-of-its-kind open-access cell bank. Led by Assistant Professor and lab alum Andrew Stout, this initiative “composts” cutting-edge technology from closed startups (like the scalable beef cell lines from SCiFi Foods) to make them available to researchers worldwide. It’s a major step toward ensuring that vital progress in cultivated meat stays in the hands of the scientific community to help the entire field move forward. Citation: Open-Sourcing the Future of Food

David Kaplan Explores the Potential of Cellular Agriculture for a Sustainable Future

In this presentation for the Tufts Senior Connection, David Kaplan details the lab’s pioneering work in cellular agriculture, a field dedicated to producing high-quality meat and dairy products directly from animal cells without the need for traditional factory farming. By leveraging tissue engineering and plant-based scaffolding, the Kaplan Lab is addressing global challenges such as resource scarcity and food security while simultaneously enhancing the nutritional profile and safety of the foods we consume. Professor Kaplan highlights the dramatic reduction in production costs and the exciting future where personalized, sustainable food options can be tailored to meet individual health needs.

Ying Chen Awarded USDA NIFA Grant

The Kaplan Lab is excited to celebrate Research Faculty member Dr. Ying Chen on her recent grant from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Dr. Chen will be utilizing our lab’s human intestinal models to investigate the safety and nutritional profile of cultivated meat, providing essential data for this growing industry. This award is a wonderful recognition of her expertise and the impactful research being done here to advance the future of food. Citation: Chen awarded USDA NIFA grant

Natalie Rubio on the Journey of Cellular Agriculture

In this TEDxTufts talk, Dr. Natalie Rubio, a former PhD student in the Kaplan Lab, shares her decade long passion for cellular agriculture and the quest to produce meat from cells rather than animals. She recounts her unique research into growing meat from insect cells, which led to a NASA grant to study “space food,” and discusses the evolution of the field from theoretical idealism to the practical realities of industrial scaling. Dr. Rubio highlights the current challenges facing the industry, including high production costs and the technical difficulty of creating structured products like steaks. Despite these hurdles, she remains… Read More »Natalie Rubio on the Journey of Cellular Agriculture

Nature reviews materials issue cover image. The image is of a burger with a petri dish with muscle cells in it as the patty.

Kaplan Lab Research Featured on the Cover of Nature Reviews Materials

The Kaplan Lab is excited to share a recent review paper, “Biomaterial-driven solutions for the future of food,” published in Nature Reviews Materials was selected as the cover art for the July 2025 issue of the journal. The paper, which explores how biomaterials can help create a more sustainable food system, was led by Research Technician, and incoming PhD student, Edward B. Gordon. To learn more check out the articles and paper below! Citations: Maintaining a healthy planet with future foods (Tufts Now) Biomaterials in cellular agriculture and plant-based foods for the future (Nature Reviews Materials) Nature Reviews Materials, Volume… Read More »Kaplan Lab Research Featured on the Cover of Nature Reviews Materials

Kaplan Lab Alumni Joins the Tufts Department of Biomedical Engineering as an Assistant Professor

The Kaplan Lab is thrilled to welcome back Dr. Andrew Stout, a former PhD student, who will be joining the Tufts faculty as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering. Dr. Stout, who also co-founded Deco Labs with fellow Kaplan Lab alumni, brings extensive experience in cellular agriculture and a deep commitment to advancing the future of food. We are excited to see him inspire the next generation of researchers in this field. To learn more check out Dr. Stout’s appointment, check out the article below! Citation: Stout Joins the Department of Biomedical Engineering (Tufts University School of… Read More »Kaplan Lab Alumni Joins the Tufts Department of Biomedical Engineering as an Assistant Professor

Huge Wins for Kaplan Lab Students and Their Venture, EntoCellular!

A massive congratulations to our PhD students, Sophie Lecter and Michael Saad! Their new venture, EntoCellular, recently took home first place in the Life Science track of the 2025 Tufts New Ventures Competition. On top of that incredible win, they have also been accepted into the highly competitive MassChallenge Switzerland 2025 accelerator program. We are so proud of the work they are doing and can’t wait to see what’s next for them and EntoCellular! To learn more check out EntoCellular, check out the articles below. Citations: Winners Announced in 2025 Tufts New Ventures Competition Finals (Gordon Institute News) TUCCA Announcement… Read More »Huge Wins for Kaplan Lab Students and Their Venture, EntoCellular!

The Kaplan Lab’s Innovative Research Contributes to Tufts’ Recognition as a Top University for Patents

The Kaplan Lab is proud to contribute to Tufts University’s ranking as one of the top 100 U.S. universities for utility patents in 2024 by the National Academy of Inventors. This achievement reflects the lab’s commitment to translating groundbreaking research into real-world applications that have the potential to improve lives. The innovative spirit of the entire Kaplan Lab team is a driving force behind this success, and we are honored to be part of such a distinguished community of inventors at Tufts. To learn more, check out the article below! Citation: Faculty Patents Land Tufts in National Academy of Inventors’… Read More »The Kaplan Lab’s Innovative Research Contributes to Tufts’ Recognition as a Top University for Patents

2025 Fireside Chat: Insights from David Kaplan and Bruce Friedrich

At the 2025 Tufts University Cellular Agriculture Innovation Day, David Kaplan and Bruce Friedrich, president of the Good Food Institute, discuss the evolving state of cellular agriculture. They reflect on a year of significant progress, highlighted by major funding initiatives like the Bezos Earth Fund and deepening government support globally. Professor Kaplan emphasizes the importance of a collaborative scientific ecosystem and mentions the upcoming first Gordon Research Conference dedicated to future foods in 2026. The conversation addresses critical challenges such as the need for innovative scale up solutions beyond traditional pharmaceutical methods. David Kaplan calls for new paradigms in bioreactor… Read More »2025 Fireside Chat: Insights from David Kaplan and Bruce Friedrich

The Connection Between Concussions, Viruses, and Alzheimer’s

New research from the Kaplan Lab at Tufts University, in collaboration with the University of Oxford, suggests a link between head trauma and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s. The study found that physical injury to the brain can reactivate dormant viruses, such as herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1), leading to inflammation and the formation of amyloid plaques and other markers of Alzheimer’s. This groundbreaking research, conducted using a 3D bioengineered human brain tissue model, opens the door for potential preventative treatments, such as antiviral drugs, following a head injury. To learn more, check out the articles below! Citations: Head Trauma May… Read More »The Connection Between Concussions, Viruses, and Alzheimer’s

The Kaplan Lab Recognized for Highly Cited Research

The Kaplan Lab is honored to be included in Clarivate’s 2024 list of the world’s most highly cited researchers. This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the entire lab, whose research in biopolymer engineering, tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and cellular agriculture continues to have a significant impact on the scientific community. We are grateful for the acknowledgment and inspired to continue our pursuit of innovative solutions to global challenges. To learn more, check out the article below! Citation: Four Tufts Faculty Are Named Top Researchers in the World (Tufts Now)

David Kaplan and Nicole Tichenor Blackstone chat with WBUR’s Radio Boston

David Kaplan and Nicole Tichenor Blackstone recently joined WBUR’s Radio Boston to discuss the transformative potential of cellular agriculture in reducing the environmental footprint of our food system. With a significant new grant from the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, Tufts is establishing the Foodtech Engineering for Alternative Sustainable Technologies (FEAST) center to advance research in cultivated meat. This initiative aims to address the environmental challenges of traditional animal agriculture by developing more sustainable and resource efficient protein sources. The conversation highlights the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration between engineering and environmental science to tackle the technical hurdles of scaling production. By… Read More »David Kaplan and Nicole Tichenor Blackstone chat with WBUR’s Radio Boston

Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards More Than $2.1 Million to Cellular Agriculture Innovation Center at Tufts University

The Healey-Driscoll administration and the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MassTech) have awarded a grant of over $2.1 million to Tufts University to create a new center for cellular agriculture. The Foodtech Engineering for Alternative Sustainable Technologies (FEAST) center will focus on advancing research, development, and commercialization of cultivated meats and other cell-based food products. This investment aims to solidify Massachusetts’ role as a leader in the bio-manufacturing sector, create jobs, and provide a resource for both academic and commercial partners. To learn more, check out the articles below! Citations: Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards More Than $2.1 Million for Cellular Agriculture Innovation Center… Read More »Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards More Than $2.1 Million to Cellular Agriculture Innovation Center at Tufts University

David Kaplan Named a Provost’s Catalyst Leader

David Kaplan has been selected as one of the inaugural Provost’s Catalyst Leaders, a new university-wide program designed to support faculty in generating novel scholarship and pathbreaking research. This initiative will provide Professor Kaplan with funding and other resources to expand his lab’s work and increase its impact. The program aims to strengthen Tufts’ competitiveness for large, multi-disciplinary funding opportunities and foster collaboration across the university. To learn more, check out the article below! Citation: Provost’s Catalyst Program Launches (Tufts Now)

Cultivated Meats: Pioneering Safety in Next-Gen Proteins

In a presentation at the ILSI AM2024, David Kaplan introduces the core concepts and future of cellular agriculture, focusing on the production of meat and dairy products directly from animal cells. He outlines the basic paradigm of isolating cells, multiplying them in bioreactors, and using edible scaffolding to create familiar food products without the need for traditional animal husbandry. Professor Kaplan also discusses the significant challenges facing the industry, such as scaling manufacturing, reducing costs, and ensuring safety, while highlighting the unique opportunities for “therapeutic foods” engineered for specific nutritional needs.

Kaplan Lab Expertise Inspires Innovation in 3D Printing

Students in the “3D Printing the Human Body” course, taught by Kaplan Lab Research Faculty member Vincent Fitzpatrick, are developing groundbreaking solutions for medical challenges. Leveraging the lab’s expertise in biomaterials, students are creating everything from customized cartilage to resilient tendons, showcasing the power of 3D printing in healthcare. This hands-on course is shaping the next generation of biomedical engineers. To learn more, check out the article below! Citation: Cartilage, Tendons, and More—in the Palm of Your Hand (Tufts Now)

Reflections on the Ninth Anniversary of Cellular Agriculture

At a special event celebrating the ninth anniversary of the term “cellular agriculture,” a panel of industry pioneers gathered at Tufts University to reflect on the field’s history and future. Meera Zassenhaus, head of communications for the Tufts University Center for Cellular Agriculture (TUCCA), moderates a discussion featuring New Harvest executive director Isha Datar, Perfect Day founder Ryan Pandya, and Kaplan Lab alum Natalie Rubio. The panel revisits the 2015 Facebook thread where the term was first coined and discusses how the industry has transitioned from an idealistic r&d phase to a more complex period of commercialization and institutional support.… Read More »Reflections on the Ninth Anniversary of Cellular Agriculture