Human Health
Advancements to improve and prolong people’s lives
Science and engineering advancements can drastically improve people’s quality of life—from new imaging techniques for earlier, better diagnostics, to tissue engineering for previously impossible interventions, to devices for the long-term control of chronic conditions.
We’re at the forefront of engineering for human health, from leveraging big data for more personalized cancer treatments, to restoring the sense of touch to amputees, to rewiring the brain to restore movement, to plant viruses repurposed as drug-delivery systems.
Centers and institutes that conduct research in Human Health
Faculty who conduct research in Human Health
Ozan Akkus
Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Director, Center for Applied Raman Spectroscopy
Creates biologically active and mechanically functional tissue repair systems, and develops chemical imaging instrumentation for noninvasive biomedical and hazard diagnostics
Hoda Amani Hamedani
Research Assistant Professor, Materials Science and Engineering
Develops multifunctional materials and flexible nanostructured platforms for electrochemical and biomedical devices, localized drug delivery, neural interfacing, and electrochemical sensing; studies nanomaterials evolution/interactions in controlled (liquid) environments using in-situ characterization techniques
Musa Audu
Research Professor, Biomedical Engineering
Investigates musculoskeletal computer modeling and its applications to human locomotion
Harihara Baskaran
Department Chair, Chemical Engineering
Professor, Chemical Engineering
Understands and solves problems in biology and medicine using transport principles
Niloy Bhadra
Research Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering
Researches nerve blocks, including the SINE electrode, high capacity electrode and high-frequency blocks
Changyong (Chase) Cao
Assistant Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Study the mechanics, designs, and manufacturing of smart multifunctional materials, soft robotics, soft electronics, and self-powered sensing systems.
Jeff Capadona
Associate Department Chair, Biomedical Engineering
Professor, Biomedical Engineering
Engineers biomaterials-based strategies to improve the performance and longevity of central nervous system implanted devices
M. Cenk Cavusoglu
Professor, Department of Electrical, Computer and Systems Engineering
Director, Medical Robotics and Computer Integrated Surgery Laboratory
Develops next-generation medical robotic systems for surgery and image-guided interventions
Vira Chankong
Associate Professor, Department of Electrical, Computer and Systems Engineering
Develops rapid learning and optimization methods for intensity modulated radiation therapy, and develops new paradigm for combinatorial optimization
Zonghe Chua
Assistant Professor, Department of Electrical, Computer and Systems Engineering
I develop intelligent telerobotic systems that sense and reason about their operator to deliver smart multisensory feedback that enhances the human-robot system performance.
Colin Drummond
Assistant Department Chair, Biomedical Engineering
Professor, Biomedical Engineering
Fosters the application of informatics to improve clinical decision-making for patient care
Dominique Durand
Professor, Biomedical Engineering
Director, Neural Engineering Center
Analyses neural systems and designs devices to interface with the nervous system to provide therapies for neurological disorders
Christine Duval
Assistant Professor, Chemical Engineering
Develops separation materials and processes to benefit nuclear medicine, environmental protection, and nuclear waste recycling and remediation.
Steven Eppell
Associate Professor, Biomedical Engineering
Designs, synthesizes and tests orthopedic biomaterials using biomimetic strategies emphasizing nanoscale structures and self-assembly
Stephen D. Fening, PhD
Associate Vice President for Research,
Managing Director, Case-Coulter Translational Research Partnership,
Professor, Biomedical Engineering
Michael Fu
Assistant Professor, Department of Electrical, Computer and Systems Engineering
Develops virtual environments and neural interfaces to improve human health after neurological injury
Emily Graczyk
Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering
Development and clinical assessment of neural interfaces and stimulation approaches to restore and enhance somatosensory function
Lab website: https://www.graczyklab.com/
Miklos Gratzl
Associate Professor, Biomedical Engineering
Researches biomedical sensors and diagnostics, and focuses on translation to clinical applications
Umut Gurkan
Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Improves human health via research in cell mechanics and microtechnology to develop biosensors and point-of-care diagnostic systems
Evren Gurkan Cavusoglu
Associate Dean, Academics
Associate Professor, Department of Electrical, Computer and Systems Engineering
Develops dynamical models of biological systems to help improve treatment of complex diseases
Kenneth Gustafson
Associate Professor, Biomedical Engineering
Develops medical devices to restore human functions
Mohammad Kassemi
Research Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Researches microgravity fluid physics and combustion research, including ZBOT, cryogenic fluid management, propellant tank models and gravity’s impact on systems
Mehmet Koyutürk
Andrew R. Jennings Professor of Computing Sciences
Professor, Computer and Data Sciences Department
Develops algorithms for transforming "big" biological data into systems biology knowledge
John Lewandowski
Professor, Materials Science and Engineering
Director, Nitinol Commercialization Accelerator
Director, Advanced Manufacturing and Mechanical Reliability Center (AMMRC)
Researches material reliability for biomedical and structural applications, advanced materials manufacturing and processing/microstructure/property relationships. Hybrid Autonomous Manufacturing.
Jing Li
Professor, Computer and Data Sciences Department
Develops computational approaches and software tools for genomics, bioinformatics and systems biology, and creates computational solutions for big data analytics
Kenneth Loparo
Professor Emeritus, Department of Electrical, Computer and Systems Engineering
Co-Director, Internet of Things Collaborative (IOTC)
Develop real-time data analytics and control algorithms for industrial, energy and physiological systems
Zheng-Rong Lu
Investigates novel MRI contrast agents, molecular imaging, drug delivery and therapeutics for retinal diseases
Anant Madabhushi
Professor, Biomedical Engineering
Director, Center for Computational Imaging and Personalized Diagnostics
Develops and translates computational imaging, AI and machine learning approaches for precision-medicine diagnosis, prognosis, treatment response and prediction
Steve Majerus
Assistant Professor, Department of Electrical, Computer and Systems Engineering
Focusing on sensor medicine: using bio-sensors to refine treatment and restore lost function.
Heidi Martin
Associate Professor, Chemical Engineering
Develops diamond electrodes for electrochemical and neural device applications
Cameron McIntyre
Professor, Biomedical Engineering
Engineers the next generation of neuromodulation technology
Hunter Peckham
Professor Emeritus, Biomedical Engineering
Develops and clinically deploys implantable electronic stimulators to restore movement for patients with paralysis
Andy Podgurski
Professor, Computer and Data Sciences Department
Develops techniques to assess and improve the reliability and securty of software systems and applications
Clare Rimnac
Professor Emeritus, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Advances the long-term performance of implants and structural bone allografts through material analysis and characterization
Valentin Rodionov
Assistant Professor, Macromolecular Science and Engineering
Investigates catalysis with soft materials: catalytic surfactants and polymers; complex macromolecular architectures for bio-inspired catalysis; and ligand-mediated nanocatalysis
Andrew Rollins
Professor, Biomedical Engineering
Develops biomedical optics technology for applications in biomedical research and health care improvement
Sam Senyo
Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering
Applies tissue engineering to study human biology and improve human health
Pallavi Tiwari
Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering
Develops neuroinformatics techniques for applications in brain tumors and neurological disorders
Ronald Triolo
Professor, Biomedical Engineering
Executive Director, Advanced Platform Technology Center
Creates and evaluates assistive and restorative technologies to improve health and mobility of individuals with paralysis and limb loss
Dustin Tyler
Professor, Biomedical Engineering
Creates advanced prosthetic systems and neurological interfaces to restore and enhance sensation and function in people
Satish Viswanath
Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering
develops novel medical image analysis and machine learning tools for targeting and evaluating interventions
Tina Vrabec
Research Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering
Develops novel waveforms and electrodes for downregulation of the nervous system for clinical applications including peripheral, autonomic and pain
Xinning Wang
Research Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering
Develops cancer therapies and molecular image probes for cancer diagnosis
David Wilson
Professor, Biomedical Engineering
I use image processing and machine/deep learning on biomedical images to advance health.