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

Advanced Platform Technology Center

A Department of Veterans Affairs-run Center of Excellence for Rehabilitation Research and Development, focusing on the practical medical needs of individuals disabled by sensorimotor dysfunction, cognitive deficits or limb loss. 

Cleveland FES Center

Studies and applies neuroprostheses that use functional electrical stimulation to replace damaged neurons.

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

Alexis E. Block

Assistant Professor, Department of Electrical, Computer and Systems Engineering

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

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

Biomanufacturing and Microfabrication Lab

 

Evren Gurkan Cavusoglu

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.