Shyni Varghese

Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science and Orthopaedics

Shyni Varghese has a triple appointment in the Duke departments of Biomedical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, and Orthopaedic Surgery. She is the first MEDx Investigator.

A leader in the field of biomaterials and stem cells, Varghese will develop her research at Duke in three major areas:

  • Musculoskeletal tissue repair
  • Disease biophysics, and
  • Organ-on-a-chip technology


A new initiative of the Pratt School of Engineering and Duke School of Medicine, Duke MEDx seeks to enhance and form new collaborations between doctors and engineers.

Appointments and Affiliations

  • Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery
  • Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science
  • Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering
  • Affiliate of the Duke Regeneration Center

Contact Information

  • Email Address: shyni.varghese@duke.edu
  • Websites:

Education

  • Ph.D. National Chemical Laboratory (India), 2002

Research Interests

Musculoskeletal tissue repair, disease biophysics and organ-on-a-chip technology

Courses Taught

  • BME 394: Projects in Biomedical Engineering (GE)
  • BME 493: Projects in Biomedical Engineering (GE)
  • BME 494: Projects in Biomedical Engineering (GE)
  • BME 590: Special Topics in Biomedical Engineering
  • BME 791: Graduate Independent Study
  • EGR 393: Research Projects in Engineering
  • ME 555: Advanced Topics in Mechanical Engineering
  • ME 591: Research Independent Study in Mechanical Engineering or Material Science
  • ME 592: Research Independent Study in Mechanical Engineering or Material Science
  • NEUROSCI 493: Research Independent Study 1

In the News

Representative Publications

  • Yang, Ting, Ravikanth Velagapudi, Cuicui Kong, Unghyeon Ko, Vardhman Kumar, Paris Brown, Nathan O. Franklin, et al. “Protective effects of omega-3 fatty acids in a blood-brain barrier-on-chip model and on postoperative delirium-like behaviour in mice.” Br J Anaesth 130, no. 2 (February 2023): e370–80. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bja.2022.05.025.
  • Rana, Isha, Sunny Kataria, Tuan Lin Tan, Edries Yousaf Hajam, Deepak Kumar Kashyap, Dyuti Saha, Johan Ajnabi, et al. “Mindin (SPON2) Is Essential for Cutaneous Fibrogenesis in a Mouse Model of Systemic Sclerosis.” The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, December 2022, S0022-202X(22)02695-1. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jid.2022.10.011.
  • Hoque, Jiaul, Yuze Zeng, Hunter Newman, Gavin Gonzales, Cheryl Lee, and Shyni Varghese. “Microgel-Assisted Delivery of Adenosine to Accelerate Fracture Healing.” Acs Biomater Sci Eng 8, no. 11 (November 14, 2022): 4863–72. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsbiomaterials.2c00977.
  • Aung, Aereas, Shruti K. Davey, Jomkuan Theprungsirikul, Vardhman Kumar, and Shyni Varghese. “Deciphering the Mechanics of Cancer Spheroid Growth in 3D Environments through Microfluidics Driven Mechanical Actuation.” Adv Healthc Mater, November 14, 2022, e2201842. https://doi.org/10.1002/adhm.202201842.
  • Chansoria, P., J. Blackwell, E. L. Etter, E. E. Bonacquisti, N. Jasiewicz, T. Neal, S. A. Kamal, et al. “Rationally Designed Anisotropic and Auxetic Hydrogel Patches for Adaptation to Dynamic Organs.” Advanced Functional Materials 32, no. 43 (October 1, 2022). https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202207590.