Brain Disorders

UVA biomedical engineers are pioneering novel visualization methods to better understand brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, traumatic brain injury, and stroke. 

transparent graphic of brain

These methods range from neuronal labeling, to in-vivo microscopic imaging of cerebral hemodynamics and metabolism, to human brain imaging and image analysis. We are taking a leading role in developing new approaches for treating brain cancer, Parkinson’s disease, and essential tremor using focused ultrasound and ultrasound-activated drug and gene delivery.

BME Primary Faculty

Sameer Bajikar, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Departments of Cell Biology and Biomedical Engineering

Sameer Bajikar uses multidisciplinary approaches from human stem cells to computational models to understand how brain function goes awry in neurodevelopmental disorders to engineer new therapies for these diseases.
Google Scholar Bajikar Lab PubMed
Email sbajikar@virginia.edu
Phone (434) 924-1912

Christopher B. Highley, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering and Chemical Engineering

Christopher Highley develops materials and fabrication technologies to enable the design and construction of complex cellular and material systems, with the goal of addressing fundamental and translational problems in biomedicine. 
Google Scholar Highley Lab Webpage
Email highley@virginia.edu
Phone (434) 243-3045

Kelsey Kubelick, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering

Kelsey Kubelick leverages light, sound, nanoconstruct design and cellular engineering strategies to develop advanced theranostic imaging platforms. With a special interest in ultrasound and photoacoustics, her lab creates imaging tools that play a critical role in informing, guiding and enhancing therapies across a range of biomedical applications.
Google Scholar
Email kpkubelick@virginia.edu

Craig H. Meyer, Ph.D.

Professor, Biomedical Engineering Professor, Radiology and Medical Imaging
Craig Meyer develops magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques for rapid acquisition and processing of image data in the setting of cardiovascular disease, neural diseases, and pediatrics, using tools in physics, signal processing, image reconstruction, and machine learning.
Google Scholar ResearchGate Rapid MRI Research Group
Email cmeyer@virginia.edu

Richard J. Price, Ph.D.

Nancy and Neal Wade Professor of Engineering & Applied Science Professor, Biomedical Engineering Co-Director of the UVA Focused Ultrasound Cancer Immunotherapy Center

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.
Price Lab Website UVA Focused Ultrasound Cancer Immunotherapy Center Google Scholar
Email rprice@virginia.edu
Phone (434) 924-0020

Gustavo Kunde Rohde, Ph.D.

Professor, Biomedical Engineering and Electrical and Computer Engineering

Dr. Rohde develops computational predictive models with applications in pathology, radiology, systems biology, and mobile sensing.
Google Scholar Rohde Lab
Email gustavo@virginia.edu
Phone (434) 924-2786

Eli Zunder, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Biomedical Engineering

Eli Zunder analyzes stem cell fate using single cell mass cytometry and high-dimensional modeling of cell lineage trajectories. He received his Ph.D. in Biophysics from UCSF in 2009.
Google Scholar Zunder Lab
Email ezunder@Virginia.edu

BME Joint Faculty in Brain Disorders Research

Christopher Deppmann

Associate Professor of Biology Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering

Christopher Deppman has been interested in the mechanisms underlying long-distance signaling in the context of nervous system development since he was a post-doctoral fellow at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in the laboratory of David Ginty (now at Harvard). 
Google Scholar Deppmann Lab Research Summary
Email deppmann@virginia.edu
Phone (434) 260-1572

Kyle J. Lampe

Associate Professor, Chemical Engineering Associate Professor, Biomedical Engineering and Neuroscience (by courtesy)

Kyle Lampe is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Virginia, and by courtesy, Biomedical Engineering and Neuroscience.
The Lampe Biomaterials Group Center for Brain Immunology and Glia (BIG) Center for Advanced Biomanufacturing (CAd-Bio) Google Scholar Research Gate
Email lampe@virginia.edu
Phone (434) 982-6921

Matthew B. Panzer

Associate Dean for Graduate Education and Post-Doctoral Affairs, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences Professor of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Professor of Biomedical Engineering (Courtesy) Deputy Director, Center for Applied Biomechanics

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.
Google Scholar University of Virginia, Center for Applied Biomechanics
Email panzer@virginia.edu
Phone (434) 297-8062

More about Brain Disorders Research at UVA

Brain Institute Has UVA Well-Positioned in Hot Field of Neuroscience

The University of Virginia’s  multidisciplinary Brain Institute has begun establishing the University as a national and state hub for basic and clinical brain research and education, and as a treatment center for brain diseases and disorders.

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