{"id":32626,"date":"2019-11-04T08:01:47","date_gmt":"2019-11-04T13:01:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/college.unc.edu\/?p=32626"},"modified":"2024-07-02T17:12:50","modified_gmt":"2024-07-02T17:12:50","slug":"master-of-adaptation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/collegearchive.unc.edu\/?p=32626","title":{"rendered":"Master of adaptation"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ronit Freeman\u2019s research crosses interdisciplinary boundaries and has potential applications in diagnostics, drug delivery and more.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Scientist
Scientist Ronit Freeman holds a 3D model of a protein her lab in mimicking. (photo by Sarah Daniels)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For children and adults with life-threatening respiratory disorders, standard medical protocol often calls for inserting a metal stent into the lungs or airways.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese devices are durable, but cannot change shape \u2014 they are static,\u201d said Ronit Freeman, an associate professor in the department of applied physical sciences.<\/p>\n

The human body, of course, is far from static. From respiration of oxygen to generation of new cells, our bodies are in a state of constant, dynamic change. \u201cWe want to make materials from biological building blocks that can respond to the body as it grows and changes,\u201d\u00a0Freeman said. \u201cAnd if we can use them to deliver cells derived from our own bodies, we\u2019re less likely to reject them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Revolutionizing medical stents is just one application of Freeman\u2019s research. The work she is pioneering also contains great potential for disease diagnostics, drug delivery and tissue regeneration. In the lab, Freeman and her colleagues use malleable sets of molecules, often DNA-peptide hybrids, to build biological structures that can support the repair of injured parts of the human body.<\/p>\n

Freeman, like her molecules, has always been a master of adaptation.<\/p>\n

Born and raised just outside of Tel Aviv, Freeman joined the military when she was 18, a requirement for all Israeli citizens. Always up for a challenge, she decided to pursue additional courses and training to become an army officer \u2014 a pivotal experience that shaped both her confidence and leadership skills.<\/p>\n

\"Freeman
Freeman participates in a ballroom dancing competition. (photo courtesy of Ronit Freeman)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Just a few years later, when she was in her early 20s, Freeman was hit by a car. Her recovery was long and grueling, both physically and mentally. A passionate dancer since the age of 3, Freeman didn\u2019t dance for years after the accident. \u201cAs I was going through college and grad school, I really missed it,\u201d she said. \u201cIt was like a piece of my soul was not satisfied.\u201d<\/p>\n

Although she couldn\u2019t return to ballet, Freeman decided, in the middle of her Ph.D. work, to try ballroom dancing. Within a year she became a semi-professional, attending dance competitions all over the country. She continues to compete (and teach dance) to this day.<\/p>\n

Freeman\u2019s innate resilience has had a profound impact on her career \u2014 as a scientist, a teacher and a communicator. She knows that leading by example is critical for connecting with her students. Outside the lab, she finds creative ways to contextualize her research, ensuring that clinicians understand how her materials can potentially be used in the clinic.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m a huge believer in community and investment in people,\u201d she said. \u201cIf you want to create a culture of innovation, you have to invest in the people first.\u201d Her research partners include an interdisciplinary mix of chemists, engineers, biologists, nanotechnologists, surgeons and others.<\/p>\n

That mentality helped bring Freeman to UNC-Chapel Hill in 2018. After living in big cities all her life (from Tel Aviv to Chicago), she had some hesitation about moving to a small college town in the South. At UNC, however, Freeman has found a strong sense of community and an entrepreneurial environment in the department of applied physical sciences.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe all have excitement and new ideas, but it can fall on deaf ears if people are not receptive to change,\u201d she said. \u201cEspecially when you tell a clinician, \u2018I\u2019m going to revolutionize the way you do medicine!\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Freeman is a fierce advocate for young women who are pursuing careers in science and engineering.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s demanding. It\u2019s long hours. You\u2019re constantly on<\/em> and that\u2019s challenging regardless of gender and race,\u201d she said. \u201cBeing a woman in this field comes with its own challenges, but there are more of us now. Hang in there because it\u2019s worth it.\u201d<\/p>\n

UNC-Chapel Hill celebrates University Research Week Nov. 4-8.<\/em><\/p>\n

By Mary Lide Parker \u201910<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Ronit Freeman\u2019s research crosses interdisciplinary boundaries and has potential applications in diagnostics, drug delivery and 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