Sharon Gerecht

Biomedical Engineering

Chair of Biomedical Engineering, Paul M. Gross Distinguished Professor

Sharon Gerecht Profile Photo
Sharon Gerecht Profile Photo

Research Themes

Biomaterials, Tissue Engineering & Regenerative Medicine

Research Interests

stem cells, biomaterials, hypoxia, blood vessels, physics of cancer, regenerative medicine

Bio

Gerecht’s research group studies how the microenvironment regulates cellular responses, with the long-term goal of developing countermeasures and therapeutics. We develop biomaterials and culture systems to emulate mechanical and physical stressors toward understanding tissue function, reliance, and homeostasis. We also use that information to uncover pathways in injury and disease development to guide tissue healing and regeneration. We focus on blood vessels and their multifaceted roles in tissue performance, aging, and disease. 

Education

  • Ph.D. Israel Institute of Technology (Israel), 2004

Positions

  • Paul M. Gross Distinguished Professor
  • Professor of Biomedical Engineering
  • Chair of the Department of Biomedical Engineering
  • Member of the Duke Cancer Institute

Awards, Honors, and Distinctions

  • Fellow. American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). 2020
  • Member. National Academy of Inventors. 2020
  • Member. National Academy of Medicine. 2019
  • Invitee. Inaugural 2019 NAM Emerging Leaders Forum. 2019
  • Recipient. Patrick C. Walsh Prostate Cancer Research Fund. 2017
  • Fellow. American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIBME). 2016
  • Scholar. Inaugural Kent Gordon Croft Investment Management Faculty Scholar. 2015
  • Inaugural President's Frontier Award. Johns Hopkins University. 2015
  • National Established Investigator Award. American Heart Association. 2015
  • Heart Award. W.W. Smith Charitable Trust. 2014
  • CAREER Award. National Science Foundation (NSF). 2011
  • Basil Ou2019Connor Starter Scholar Research Award. March of Dimes Foundation. 2009
  • Junior Investigator Award. North American Vascular Biology Organization (NAVBO). 2009
  • National Scientist Development Award. American Heart Association. 2008
  • Allan C. Davis Medal, Outstanding Young Engineering Award. Maryland Academy of Sciences. 2008

Courses Taught

  • BME 890: Advanced topics for PhD students
  • BME 792: Continuation of Graduate Independent Study
  • BME 791: Graduate Independent Study
  • BME 644: Physiology for Engineers
  • BME 494: Projects in Biomedical Engineering (GE)
  • BME 493: Projects in Biomedical Engineering (GE)
  • BME 394: Projects in Biomedical Engineering (GE)