All Faculty

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Department Chair:
  • Craig S Henriquez, Professor
    Henriquez's research interests include large scale computing, heart modeling, and brain modeling.

Primary Faculty:
  • Roger C Barr, Anderson-Rupp Professor
    PhD, Duke University

    Dr. Barr's research interests include bioelectricity and biomedical computing.

  • Nenad Bursac, Associate Professor
    PhD, Boston University
    Bursac's research interests include embryonic and adult stem cell therapies for heart and muscle disease. Cardiac and skeletal muscle tissue engineering. Cardiac electrophysiology and arrhythmias. Genetic modifications of stem and somatic cells. Micropatterning of proteins and hydrogels.

  • Ashutosh Chilkoti, Theo Pilkington Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Director of Graduate Studies
    PhD, University of Washington
    Chilkoti's research focuses on biomolecular materials and surface science and emphasizes the development of applications that span the range from bioseparations, biosensors, patterned biomaterials, and targeted drug delivery.

  • Charles A Gersbach, Assistant Professor
    Dr. Gersbach’s research interests are in gene therapy, biomolecular and cellular engineering, regenerative medicine, and synthetic biology.

  • Warren M Grill, Addy Professor
    PhD, Case Western Reserve University
    Dr. Grill’s research interests and in neural engineering and neural prostheses and include design and testing of electrodes and stimulation techniques, the electrical properties of tissues and cells, and computational neuroscience with applications in restoration of bladder function, treatment of movement disorders with deep brain stimulation, and multi-joint limb movement.

  • Brenton D. Hoffman, Assistant Professor
    Dr. Hoffman’s research focuses on understanding, on a molecular level, how mechanical and chemical cues from the environment are detected, integrated, and manipulated by cells to dictate physiological and patho-physiological responses important in vascular biology.

  • Joseph A Izatt, Professor
    PhD, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Professor Izatt's research interests are in the area of biophotonics and include coherence-based biomedical imaging and microscopy, novel technologies for ophthalmic imaging, and nanoscale studies of cellular morphology and dynamics.

  • David F Katz, Nello L. Teer Professor
    Dr. Katz's research interest include methods for prophylaxis against STD's, emphasizing topical microbicides and contraception; biofluid mechanics; rheology and transport phenomena; biophysical aspects of mammalian sperm motility, sperm transport, and fertilization; and biomechanical functioning of the vitreous of the eye.

  • Kam W Leong, James B. Duke Professor
    Leong's research interest focuses on biomaterials design, particularly on synthesis of nanoparticles for DNA-based therapeutics, and nanostructured biomaterials for regenerative medicine.

  • Gabriel P Lopez, Professor (joint with Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science)
    Prof. Lopez' professional interests lie in research and education in biomaterials science and engineering, bioanalytical chemistry and biointerfacial phenomena.

  • Barry S Myers, M.D., Ph.D., M.B.A., Professor of Biomedical Engineering, with appointments in Surgery, Business, and Anatomy and Director of the Center for Entrepreneurship and Research Commercialization

  • Wanda K. Neu, Professor and Director of Undergraduate Studies
    Research Interests: Electroporation-mediated drug delivery and gene therapy; Control of cardiac arrhythmias using nonlinear dynamics

  • Kathryn R Nightingale, James L. Vincent Associate Professor
    Nightingale's research interests include: ultrasonic and elasticity imaging, specifically nonlinear propagation, acoustic streaming and radiation force; the intentional generation of these phenomena for the purpose of tissue characterization; finite element modeling of normal and diseased tissue when exposed to ultrasound, and performing both phantom and clinical experiments investigating these phenomena. Other areas of interest include prostate imaging, abdmoninal imaging, image-guided therapies, and the bioeffects of ultrasound.

  • Nimmi Ramanujam, Professor

  • William M Reichert, Professor and Associate Dean for Diversity and Ph.D. Education
    Reichert's research interests include biosensors, protein mediated cell adhesion, and wound healing.

  • Lori A Setton, Mary Milius Yoh and Harold L. Yoh, Jr. Bass Professor and Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery
    Research in Setton's laboratory is focused on the role of mechanical factors in the degeneration and repair of soft tissues of the musculoskeletal system, including the intervertebral disc, articular cartilage and meniscus.

  • Stephen W Smith, Professor
    Current research interests are the development and evaluation of improved medical ultrasound image quality for applications in cardiology, radiology and obstetrics. Advances in image quality result from improvements in the spatial resolution and signal-to-noise ratio of diagnostic ultrasound scanners through novel signal processing techniques and improved design of ultrasound transducers.

  • Marc A Sommer, Associate Professor
    PhD, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Dr. Marc Sommer studies neuronal circuits of the brain. Research in his laboratory involves recording from single neurons and studying the effects of inactivating or stimulating well-defined brain areas. His goals are to understand how individual areas process signals and how multiple areas interact to cause cognition and behavior. Results from the work are guiding the design of vision-based models and robots.

  • Jingdong Tian, Assistant Professor

  • Gregg E Trahey, Professor
    Trahey's research interests include medical ultrasound, image guided surgery, adaptive imaging, imaging of tissue's mechanical properties, and radiation force imaging.

  • George A Truskey, R. Eugene and Susie E. Goodson Professor and Senior Associate Dean for Research
    Dr. Truskey's research interests include cardiovascular tissue engineering, mechanisms of atherogenesis, cell adhesion, and cell biomechanics.

  • Tuan Vo-Dinh, R. Eugene and Susie E. Goodson Professor and Director of Fitzpatrick Institute for Photonics
    PhD, Biophysical Chemistry, ETH (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology), Zurich, Switzerland
    Vo-Dinh’s research activities and interests involve biophotonics, laser-excited luminescence spectroscopy, room temperature phosphorimetry, synchronous luminescence spectroscopy, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy, field environmental instrumentation, fiberoptics sensors, nanosensors, biosensors and biochips for the protection of the environment and the improvement of human health. See details in Vo-Dinh Research Group Webpage: http://www.vodinh.pratt.duke.edu

  • Olaf T. Von Ramm, Thomas Lord Professor
    Dr. von Ramm's research interests include diagnostic ultrasound imaging systems, IR imaging, medical instrumentation and their new applications.

  • Adam P Wax, Theodore Kennedy Associate Professor and Director of Master's Studies
    Dr. Wax's research interests include optical spectroscopy for early cancer detection, novel microscopy and interferometry techniques.

  • Patrick D Wolf, Associate Professor
    PhD, Duke University
    Wolf's research is primarily in the area of advanced instrumentation for diagnosis and treatment of electrophysiological problems. This research covers two primary organ systems: the heart and the brain. In the heart, Dr. Wolf is developing an image guided ablation system for treatment of arrhythmias. In the brain, he is developing a fully implantable Brain-Machine interface.

  • Lingchong You, Assistant Professor
    Dr. You's research interest focus on computational systems biology & synthetic biology, including mathematical modeling of cellular networks; mechanisms of information processing by gene networks; design, modeling and construction of robust gene networks for applications in engineering and medicine.

  • Fan Yuan, Professor

    Dr. Yuan's research interests include drug and gene delivery, mechanisms of molecular transport in cells and tissues, and tumor pathophysiology.



Professor of Practice:
  • J. Aura Gimm, Assistant Professor of the Practice
    PhD, University of California, Berkeley

  • Robert A. Malkin, Professor of the Practice and Director of Engineering World Health

    Professor Malkin's work on medical instrumentation in the developing world has been supported by Engineering World Health, The National Institutes of Health, The American Heart Association, The Whitaker Foundation, the National Science Foundation and other organizations. The DHT-Lab runs educational programs such as the EWH Summer Institute and formal classes and provides research and product development opportunities for undergraduates interested in developing world healthcare technology.

    Engineering World Health. is a unique study abroad program that allows undergraduates to study and work in developing world hospitals. Dr. Malkin and his associates have helped hospitals in Sudan, Nigeria, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Haiti, Liberia, Sierra Leone and many other places. If you came to this site looking for high school programs, consider visiting the Global Public Service Academies a non-Duke program run by Dr. Malkin.

Secondary Faculty:
  • April S. Brown, John Cocke Professor of Electrical & Computer Engineering and Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Sr. Associate Dean for Research

  • Mark W Dewhirst, Professor (primary appt: Radiation Oncology)
    Ph.D., Colorado State University At Fort Collins

  • James T Dobbins III, Associate Professor (primary appt: Radiology, Medical Physics Graduate Program)
    Ph.D., University Of Wisconsin At Madison
    There are several research projects underway in my laboratory, focusing on the improvement of diagnostic accuracy in digital chest radiography and digital mammography. The first project uses a dual-energy digital radiography technique that forms images which have either the bones or soft-tissues canceled. By eliminating the ribs in the soft-tissue image, better accuracy in detecting nodules has been demonstrated in early clinical evaluations of the technique. The bone image is also useful in that it demonstrates whether a detected nodule is calcified, at a fraction of the cost and radiation exposure of sending the patient to CT. We have received six years of NIH grant funding to develop a practical screening method for nodular disease using the dual-energy technique. A second major area of research is digital tomosynthesis. This technique allows longitudinal slice images of a patient to be generated from a series of projection images taken at different angles. We are evaluating this technique for its potential to improve detection of pulmonary nodules. We have received seven years of NIH funding to develop and evaluate this technique. Preliminary evaluation in a pilot study using human subjects revealed that the detection rate for pulmonary nodules increased from about 22% to 70% in tomosynthesis slice images compared with conventional PA chest radiographs. Thus, the tomosynthesis technique would appear to hold promise as a method of improving both sensitivity and specificity of pulmonary nodule detection in vivo. We are also expanding this tomosynthesis work to evaluate its potential for improving detection of masses and calcifications in digital mammograms. Other projects include theoretical analysis of digital imaging performance and the measurement of image quality (DQE) in computed radiography and flat-panel systems.

  • Harold P Erickson, Professor (primary appt: Cell Biology)
    Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University

  • Sina Farsiu, Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology and Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering
    PhD, University of California at Santa Cruz
    Ph.D., University Of California At Los Angeles

  • Farshid Guilak, Professor (primary appt: Orthopaedic Surgery)
    Ph.D., Columbia University

  • Salim F Idriss, Associate Professor (primary appt: Pediatrics - Cardiology)
    M.D., Duke University

  • G. Allan Johnson, Professor (primary appt: Radiology, Diagnostic Physics)
    PhD, Duke University
    Ph.D., Duke University
    I have spent the last thirty one years engaged in building and applying advanced imaging technologies ranging from work on the first CT scanner installed at Duke (1974) to installation of the world's first high filed (1.5 T) clinical MRI system (1983). I continue to serve the medical center in commissioning new imaging technologies. Since 1983 my research has focused on extending the resolution of magnetic resonance imaging from the clinical domain, typically with voxels of 1 x 1 x 1 mm to the microscopic domain required for basic research in small animal models with voxels 125,000X smaller. The Center for In Vivo Microscopy was founded in 1985 and continues today with generous support from the National Center for Research Resources (P41 RR005959). The Center currently supports 6 state-of-the-art imaging systems for small animal imaging: 3 MRI systems (2, 7, and 9.4 T), a micro x-ray system, a micro- CT system, and a microPET system. The Center has embarked on an aggressive program to expand these modalities into molecular imaging with support from NCI (R24 CA092656)

  • Bruce M Klitzman, Assistant Research Professor (primary appt: Surgery-Plastic Max & Oral Surgery)
    PhD, University of Virginia
    Ph.D., University Of Virginia
    The primary basic science research interests of our laboratory are in the area of physiological mechanisms of maintaining substrate transport from blood to tissue. This broad topic covers studies on whole animals, such as rats and mice, as well as studies on whole organ, hemorheological, microvascular, cellular, ultrastructural, and molecular levels. The current projects include: 1) control of blood flow and flow distribution in the microcirculation; 2) the effects of synthetic and biologic implants on substrate transport to tissues; 3) the physiological adaptation of the microcirculation and mitochondria to chronic hypoxia, hyperoxia, or cold, and the subsequent alteration in oxygen transport; 4) mathematical modeling of tissue oxygen tension distribution and angiogenesis. 5) tissue engineering; combining isolated cells with biomaterials to form specialized composite structures for implantation, with particular emphasis on endothelial cell physiology and its alteration by isolation and seeding on biomaterials; 6) decreasing the thrombogenicity of synthetic blood vessels and improving their overall performance and biocompatibility; 7) the investigation of tissue damage resulting from abnormal perfusion (e.g., relative ischemia, anoxia, etc.) and therapies which minimize ischemic damage; 8) the abnormal development of tumor microcirculation and its effect on tumor oxygenation; 9) measurement of tissue blood flow and oxygenation as an indicator of tissue viability and functional potential; 10) development of biocompatible materials for soft tissue reconstruction or augmentation; 11) molecular and cellular effects of ultraviolet light on skin which can lead to cancer, and therapies which may minimize damage; 12) wound healing in bone and soft tissues, with special emphasis on the detection and treatment of infection and its effects on healing. 13) improving the outflow facility of ophthalmologic devices implanted to reduce elevated intraocular pressures found in patients with glaucoma. Future studies will continue to focus on improving the biocompatibility of biosynthetic implants. Additional new emphasis may be placed on investigating the effects of radiation on wound healing and methods of minimizing the consequences of radiation exposure. Specific collaborations with faculty in Biomedical Engineering include improving the biocompatibility of biosensors, surface modification of implanted devices, and transplanting endothelial cells onto small diameter synthetic vascular grafts.

  • Joseph Y Lo, Associate Research Professor (primary appt: Medical Physics Grad Program, Radiology)
    Ph.D., Duke University
    The lab focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of cancer using advanced imaging techniques. There are 3 main projects: breast tomosynthesis, computer aided diagnosis, and improved treatment planning for radiation therapy. First, Dr. Lo leads a team from the Ravin Advanced Imaging Laboratories (see website above) in collaboration with Siemens Healthcare to develop breast tomosynthesis. Tomosynthesis is a form of limited-angle tomography using a modified digital mammography system and can acquire a 3D image quickly, easily, and at the same dose as a conventional mammogram. Tomosynthesis will improve sensitivity of breast cancer diagnosis by helping radiologists to detect subtle lesions which would otherwise be obscured. In addition, tomosynthesis will also improve specificity since radiologists can better characterize benign cases and thus avoid unnecessary follow-up imaging studies and surgical procedures. For these reasons, tomosynthesis is the most exciting recent development in breast imaging, and the only technology that can actually replace mammography in the near future. Duke is now conducting clinical trials using the first ever Siemens breast tomosynthesis prototype. Second, for over a decade, we have been a leader in computer aided diagnosis (CAD), which is an interdisciplinary field combining elements of medical physics, engineering, statistics, and bioinformatics. We have developed automated detection algorithms which use computer vision techniques to localize suspicious mammographic lesions. We have also designed predictive models which use machine learning and statistical analysis in order to classify mammograms or sonograms as benign versus malignant. During these studies, we compiled one of the largest multi-institution breast cancer databases with approximately 5000 cases. Finally, we are extending CAD techniques from radiology toward the problem of intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), specifically to improve treatment planning for prostate cancer. Our goal is to improve the efficiency and safety of treatment plans.

  • David F Lobach, Assoicate Consulting Professor (primary appt: Community & Family Medicine)
    M.D., Duke University

  • James R MacFall, Associate Professor (primary appt: Radiology, Medical Physics Program)
    Ph.D., University Of Maryland, College Park

  • Miguel A Nicolelis, Professor (primary appt: Neurobiology, Center for Neuroengineering)
    M.D., University Of Sao Paulo (Brazil)

  • Angel V Peterchev, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering
    Ph.D., University Of California At Berkeley
    I direct the Brain Stimulation Engineering Lab (BSEL) which focuses on the development and modeling of devices and application paradigms for transcranial brain stimulation. Transcranial brain stimulation involves non-invasive delivery of fields (e.g., electric and magnetic) to the brain that modulate neural activity. Transcranial brain stimulation is increasingly used as a tool for brain research and a therapeutic intervention in neurology and psychiatry. My lab works closely with neuroscientists and clinicians to translate novel brain stimulation technology and optimize existing techniques. For example, we have developed a device for transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) that allows extensive control over the magnetic pulse parameters. We are currently deploying this device to optimize the magnetic stimulus in neuromodulatory TMS paradigms. We are also developing efficient algorithms for response estimation and individualization of brain stimulation. Another line of work is finite element computational modeling of the fields induced in the brain by electric and magnetic stimulation. My lab is involved in the integration of transcranial brain stimulation with imaging modalities such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and electroencephalography (EEG), as well as the evaluation of the safety of device–device interactions, for example between transcranial stimulators and implants like deep-brain stimulation (DBS) systems. I also collaborate on projects related to circuit design and control of electrical energy converters.

  • Ehsan Samei, Professor (primary appt: Radiology, Medical Physics Graduate Progra)
    Ph.D., University Of Michigan At Ann Arbor

  • Allen W Song, Professor & Director (primary appt: Center for Brain Imaging & Analysis)
    Ph.D., University Of Wisconsin At Madison

  • Martin P Tornai, Associate Professor (primary appt: Radiology, Medical Physics Program (Primary Appt.))
    PhD, UCLA School of Medcine
    Ph.D., University Of California At Los Angeles

  • Cynthia A Toth, Professor (primary appt: Ophthalmology)
    MD, The Medical College of Pennsylvania
    M.D., Drexel University

  • Warren S. Warren, James B. Duke Professor of Chemistry and Radiology and Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Director, Center for Molecular and Biomolecular Imaging
    PhD, University of California, Berkeley
    Our work focuses on the design and application of what might best be called novel pulsed techniques, using controlled radiation fields to alter dynamics. The heart of the work is chemical physics, and most of what we do is ultrafast laser spectroscopy or nuclear magnetic resonance. It generally involves an intimate mixture of theory and experiment: recent publications are roughly an equal mix of pencil- and-paper theory, computer calculations with our workstations, and experiments. Collaborations also play an important role, particularly for medical applications.

  • Michael R Zalutsky, Professor (primary appt: Department of Radiology, Medical Physics Program)
    Ph.D., Washington University

  • Stefan Zauscher, Alfred M. Hunt Faculty Scholar and Associate Professor (primary appt: Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science) and Director of Graduate Studies
    PhD, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Adjunct Faculty:
  • Lawrence M Boyd, Adjunct Assistant Professor
    PhD, Duke University

  • Richard L Goldberg, Adjunct Assistant Professor, UNC-Chapel Hill
    PhD, Duke University

  • Srinivasan Mukundan, Associate Professor and Professor, Harvard Medical School
    M.D., Emory University School of Medicine

  • John C Neu, Adjunct Professor, Univ. of California-Berkeley

  • Allan B. Shang, Adjunct Assistant Professor
    M.D., University Of Vermont
    My current research interests include the investigation into current and experimental biosensors, including the use of lasers and photonic techniques to create the next generation of miniaturized biosensors and analytical devices. I am interested in biomedical devices of all types, including the standardization and refinement of pulse oximeters, and the in-vivo measurement of a multitude of different substances in the peripheral circulation using novel applications of nanotechnology. Bioterrorism and countermeasures are a general interest of mine, along with biomaterials and their applications in my other research interests. Lastly, I am interested in the development and commercialization process for biomedical products, and hope to facilitate the flow of ideas between the academic and commercial worlds.

Research Faculty:
  • Cameron R. 'Dale' Bass, Associate Research Professor
    PhD, University of Virginia
    Dr. Bass's research interests include the biomechanics of blast, blunt and ballistic trauma and pediatric trauma. His research focuses on injury risk from microscale to macroscale for the head, neck, thorax and extremities.

  • J. Quincy Brown, Assistant Research Professor
    PhD, Louisiana Tech University

  • Jeremy J Dahl, Assistant Research Professor

  • Wenge Liu, Associate Research Professor
    The area of anticancer drug delivery. Current anticancer therapies, such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy, are a double-edge sword as they kill both tumor cells and normal cells. It is essential to develop an ideal drug delivery carrier for maximizing delivery of therapeutically active drug to a tumor and limiting systemic exposure. His research aim is to innovate and optimize such type of carriers. Particularly, he is using a thermally responsive Elastin-like polypeptide (ELPs) to develop anticancer drug carrier applicable to intravenous or intratumoral administration. His research projects have covered every essential aspect in the development of a new drug carrier, such as biosynthesis of biopolymer, radiolabeling of drug carriers, and establishment of animal models, studies of pharmacokinetics and biodistribution, and eventually evaluation of antitumor activities of the drugs delivery by the carrier. Biocompatibility evaluation for biomaterials: acute and chronic toxicity, immunogenicity, blood compatibilities, tissue reaction and Pyrogenicity testing. To provide graduate and Post-Doctoral fellows with training in animal models design and supervise them in their in vivo studies.

  • Roger W Nightingale, Associate Research Professor
    Dr. Nightingale's current research interests include: crash test dummies, pediatric head and neck injury, the biomechanics of trauma, modeling of the human head and cervical spine, and the mechanical characterization of head and neck tissues.

  • Mark L Palmeri, Assistant Research Professor
    Dr. Palmeri's research interests include ultrasonic imaging, specifically using acoustic radiation force to characterize the mechanical properties of tissue, and finite element analysis of soft tissue response to impulsive radiation force excitation. Other research interests include ultrasonic bioeffects and mechanical testing of soft tissues.

  • Bing Yu, Assistant Research Professor
    PhD, Virginia Tech
    Dr. Yu's research interests include optical spectroscopy for cancer diagnostics, diffuse reflectance imaging for tumor margin detection, near-infrared spectroscopy for study of tumor hypoxia and angiogenesis, and specialized fiber optic sensors and photonics devices for medical applications.

Instructors:Emeritus Faculty:
  • Howard G. Clark, Professor Emeritus

  • Morton H Friedman, Emeritus Professor
    Dr. Friedman's research interests focus on the role of mechanical forces in the localization and evolution of vascular disease, particularly atherosclerosis. Specific areas of research are the influence of adaptation on vascular biology and physiology, the influence of shear stress gradients and harmonic content on the vascular endothelium, and the influence of coronary artery geometry and dynamics on plaque formation and rupture.

  • James H McElhaney, Hudson Professor and Professor of Orthopaedics

  • Robert Plonsey, Pfizer-Pratt Professorf Emeritus