Background
Dr. Wade Rich received his Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from The Ohio State University in 2024, after receiving his M.S. from The Ohio State University and B.S. from Purdue University both in Biomedical Engineering as well. Dr. Rich’s research focused on ocular lens aging and lens mechanobiology, with specific study of how lens biomechanics influence lens epithelial cell proliferation.
Prior to joining Rimkus, Dr. Rich became an expert in the field of ocular lens mechanobiology having pioneered novel methodologies utilizing custom-designed experimental tools. These studies provided insight linking prior work in lens biomechanics with lens physiology and genetic research across species and demonstrated how biomechanics and physiologic forces impact tissue growth, aging, and degeneration. Dr. Rich was able to develop an original tissue culture method capable of applying physiologically relevant forces to a murine ocular lens and then utilize this method to demonstrate the effects of force transduction on cell proliferation and differentially expressed genes.
Dr. Rich has a specific interest in medical device design with both previous education and work experience pertaining to medical device design, testing, and analysis. Dr. Rich has worked on and participated in human factors usability studies of multiple medical devices, executed medical device testing projects, and prototyped medical devices. Dr. Rich’s assessment of medical devices has included investigation into various pathways such as mechanobiological, biomechanical, chemical, psychological, genetic, material, and biological interactions which may lead to medical device success or failure and patient or population benefit or harm.
Dr. Rich has published in peer-reviewed journals such as Current Eye Research and Experimental Eye Research. He has also presented his research at both domestic and international conferences including the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology and the Biomedical Engineering Society and co-authored a chapter of the textbook Molecular Basis Oxidative Stress: Chemistry, Toxicology, Disease Pathogenesis, Diagnosis and Therapeutics, 2nd edition on reactive oxygen species in the eye.
Education and Certifications
- Biomedical Engineering, Ph.D.: The Ohio State University (2024)
- Biomedical Engineering, M.S.: The Ohio State University (2022)
- Biomedical Engineering, B.S.: Purdue University (2017)
- Bosch© Crash Data Retrieval (CDR) Tool Technician Training: Institute of Police Technology and Management (IPTM) (2024)
Publications
- Crews M, Rich W, and Reilly MA., (2024). “Influence of zonular tension on molecular transport in the porcine ocular lens”. Frontiers in Ophthalmology.
- Rich, W. W., (2024). “The Mechanobiological Response of the Murine Crystallin Lens”, Doctoral Dissertation.
- Alzoubi D, Rich W, and Reilly MA., (2024). “Automated Compression Testing of the Ocular Lens”. Journal of Visualized Experiments.
- Rich W, Pan M, Liu J, Swindle-Reilly KE, and Reilly MA., (2024). “A method for generating zonular tension in the murine eye by embedding and compressing the globe in a hydrogel”. Experimental Eye Research
- Ryan AK, Rich W, and Reilly MA., (2023). “Oxidative stress in the brain and retina after traumatic injury”. Frontiers in Neuroscience.
- Rich W and Reilly MA., (2023). “A Review of Lens Biomechanical Contributions to Presbyopia”. Current Eye Research.
- Martin JB, Herman K, Houssin NS, Rich W, Reilly MA, and Plageman TF Jr., (2022). “Arvcf Dependent Adherens Junction Stability is Required to Prevent Age-Related Cortical Cataracts”. Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology.
- Maxwell CJ, Soltisz AM, Rich WW, Choi A, Reilly MA, and Swindle-Reilly KE., (2022). “Tunable alginate hydrogels as injectable drug delivery vehicles for optic neuropathy”. Journal of Biomedical Materials Research.
- Ryan AK, Rich WW, Jansen PA, Allyn MM, Swindle-Reilly KE, and Reilly MA., (2025). Oxidative Stress in the Eye. In Molecular Basis Oxidative Stress: Chemistry, Toxicology, Disease Pathogenesis, Diagnosis and Therapeutics, 2nd edition. Villamena FA, ed. Wiley Publishing.
- Induced Murine Lens Stretching Alters Cellular RNA Expression. The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology Annual Conference (2024) Poster.
- Induction of Murine Lens Stretching through Hydrogel Compression. Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES) Annual Meeting (2022) Poster.
- Effects of ascorbic acid on mechanical and optical properties of cultured porcine lenses. The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology Annual Conference (2021) Poster (Presented virtually).
- Effects of Ascorbic Acid on Cataract Formation in in vitro Porcine Lenses. The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology Annual Conference (2020) Abstract.