Overview
Dr. Gerecht is an internationally recognized pioneer in stem cells and vascular biology and engineering. Gerecht’s research group studies how the microenvironment regulates cellular responses, with the long-term goal of developing countermeasures and therapeutics. We emulate mechanical and physical stressors toward understanding tissue function, reliance, and homeostasis. We 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.
Current Duke Appointments & Affiliations
Paul M. Gross Distinguished Professor
·
2022 - Present
Biomedical Engineering,
Pratt School of Engineering
Professor of Biomedical Engineering
·
2022 - Present
Biomedical Engineering,
Pratt School of Engineering
Chair of the Department of Biomedical Engineering
·
2024 - Present
Biomedical Engineering,
Pratt School of Engineering
Member of the Duke Cancer Institute
·
2022 - Present
Duke Cancer Institute,
Institutes and Centers
Recent Scholarly Works
Artery-on-Chip Demonstrates Mechanical and Functional Features of Healthy and Diseased Living Smooth Muscle Tissue
Journal article Advanced Functional Materials · July 23, 2026 Arterial diseases alter blood vessel function through complex mechanisms, requiring microphysiological systems that mimic human arteries. We established an artery-on-chip (ARTOC) using vascular derivatives of human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) cu ... Full text CiteImmunomodulation by collagen VI across fibrotic and tumor microenvironmental contexts.
Journal article Histology and histopathology · July 2026 The extracellular matrix (ECM) plays fundamental roles in modulating tissue structure and function under normal and pathological conditions. ECM composition is an essential consideration for studying cellular microenvironments, as varied composition leads ... Full text CiteMatrix Stiffness Induces Endothelial Network Senescence.
Journal article Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany) · July 2026 Identifying the drivers of cellular senescence that contribute to the decline in vascular function with age and disease is critical for developing restorative interventions. Here, we investigated how increased mechanical stress from extracellular matrix (E ... Full text CiteRecent Grants
Duke Ophthalmology Mentored Physician Scientist Program
Inst. Training Prgm or CMEMentor · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2026 - 2031iPediHeart: Interdisciplinary Research Training Program for Pediatric Heart Disease
Inst. Training Prgm or CMEMentor · Awarded by National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute · 2025 - 2030Microphysiological system to study the effect of rapid hypoxia on inner blood-retina barrier
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Air Force Office of Scientific Research · 2026 - 2030View All Grants
Education
Israel Institute of Technology (Israel) ·
2004
Ph.D.