Biomechanics and Mechanobiology
Advances in biomechanics are revolutionizing our understanding of fibrotic, orthopedic, and cardiovascular diseases. At UVA, we're providing new strategies for tissue engineering, improving sports medicine and rehabilitation, advancing the goal of targeted drug delivery, and evolving to include the study and treatment of infectious disease.
BME Primary Faculty in this Area
Daniel Abebayehu
Thomas H. Barker
Thomas Barker explores and therapeutically exploits the fundamental links between fibroblast adaptation to their physical and biochemical microenvironment and their myofibroblastic differentiation during tissue repair, fibrosis and cancer.
Silvia Salinas Blemker
Silvia Blemker uses experimental and computational models to characterize the relationships between muscle structure, biomechanical properties, biology, and function in order to develop new treatments for musculoskeletal disease
William H. Guilford
My lab uses molecular biomechanics and engineering design to better understand movement of single cells and to improve the treatment of human disease. We also study human learning and use that knowledge to improve the delivery of core courses in biomedical engineering.
Brian P. Helmke
Brian Helmke researches the relationship between cell mechanics and cell function using new tools in materials science and molecular biology, with a focus on cardiovascular disease. His laboratory employs a multidisciplinary biomedical engineering approach to understand the relationship between intracellular mechanics and cell function.
Richard J. Price
Dr. Price's research program centers on the development and implementation of image-guided drug and gene delivery systems for treating cancer and neurodegenerative diseases.
Joint Faculty in Biomechanics and Mechanobiology
Bradley D. Gelfand, Ph.D.
Dr. Gelfand graduated with a degree in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Iowa (Iowa City). He next attended the University of Virginia (Charlottesville) where he earned his Ph.D. also in Biomedical Engineering. Brad next joined the Ambati Laboratory at the University of Kentucky in 2010 as a Postdoc and joined the faculty in 2012.
Matthew B. Panzer
Dr. Panzer is the Associate Dean for Graduate Education and Post-Doctoral Affairs for the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, a Professor of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Virginia, and the Deputy Director at the Center for Applied Biomechanics.
Shawn Russell
Russell's research interests lie in the increased understanding of the mechanisms of human movement