Biomechanics and Mechanobiology

Revolutionizing our understanding of fibrotic, orthopedic, and cardiovascular diseases.

Brian Helmke speaks with students in the BME teaching lab

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

Assistant Professor
Dan Abebayehu, PhD, studies fibrosis and how different types of fibroblasts could promote tissue regeneration, instead of scar formation. Dr. Abebayehu's research has been supported by an NIH Mosaic Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00) which provides promising postdoctoral scientists support to…

Thomas H. Barker

Professor, Biomedical Engineering

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

Professor, Biomedical Engineering

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

Associate Dean for Undergraduate Affairs, School of Engineering and Applied Science Associate Professor, Biomedical Engineering

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

Associate Professor, Biomedical Engineering

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

Nancy and Neal Wade Professor of Engineering & Applied Science Department of 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.

Joint Faculty in Biomechanics and Mechanobiology

Bradley D. Gelfand, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

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

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.

Shawn Russell

Assistant Professor

Russell's research interests lie in the increased understanding of the mechanisms of human movement

Distinctive Features

Center for Applied Biomechanics

Improving the quality of life through the mitigation and prevention of injury made possible by better understanding the mechanical response of the human body.