Our Story
Duke Biomedical Engineering consistently ranks among the top BME programs in the United States due to its impressive community of pioneering faculty, dedicated staff and active, inspired students.
Innovation is in Our DNA
BME research at Duke began more than a half-century ago with cardiac electrophysiology, biomaterials and medical ultrasound. In fact, real-time 3D ultrasonic scanning was invented right here at Duke.
Today, our faculty leads across a number of vital, emerging areas in the field. Sponsored research at Duke BME has grown more than 60 percent in the last five years.
Leadership in Emerging Areas
- Biophotonics
- Cellular Biomechanics
- Computational Medicine
- Gene Delivery
- Neural engineering
- Synthetic Biology
- Tissue Engineering
Our Location Contributes to Our Success
Duke BME is literally across the street from one of the most highly-regarded clinical enterprises in the world—Duke University Medical Center.
Our hometown of Durham is the vital center of the NC Triangle, a growing East Coast hub of biomedical expertise and entrepreneurial energy. The region is consistently ranked by U.S. News & World Report among the Top 10 places to live in the United States.
School rivalries are restricted to the basketball court. Our proximity to some of the nation’s leading research universities has long led to collaborations of unique collegial excellence and profound societal impact.
Rivals on the Court, Collaborators in Research
- UNC-Chapel Hill
- NC A&T University
- NC State University
A Community of Service
Here in Duke BME, we seek to design solutions to the most pressing medical problems—in our own neighborhood and around the world.
Programs such as BME Design Fellows bring faculty and students into partnership with clinicians. These efforts are further supported by innovative efforts such as the Center for Global Women’s Health Technologies, which is taking on challenges to female health and improving engineering education.
Our public outreach efforts provide authentic, hands-on opportunities to middle and high school students, inspiring the next generation of engineers, scientists and clinicians.
Public Outreach Programming
A Community of Purpose
Here at Duke BME, we’re invested in the success of everyone in our community. From their first year, our students receive a practical and hands-on education, balanced by focus on ethics and an exploration of personal character. We’ve created a tight-knit but open learning environment that fosters intellectual growth and prepares learners for industry, medical school and more.
Our students are mentored by the very best.
Duke BME’s faculty includes multiple members of the National Academy of Inventors and more than two dozen fellows of the American Institute for Medical & Biological Engineering (AIMBE).
Life at Duke Engineering
The Pratt School of Engineering is a highly ranked engineering school in a top 10 research university with a strong liberal arts tradition. That’s a rare and powerful mix. Duke is a beautiful place to learn, teach and work. Here, you’ll find resources to support you, clubs and organizations to inspire you, and teams to cheer to victory.