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Charles Gersbach

John W. Strohbehn Distinguished Professor of Biomedical Engineering
Biomedical Engineering
Box 90281, 136 Hudson Hall, Durham, NC 27708
2123 CIEMAS, Durham, NC 27708

Current Appointments & Affiliations


John W. Strohbehn Distinguished Professor of Biomedical Engineering · 2021 - Present Biomedical Engineering, Pratt School of Engineering
Professor of Biomedical Engineering · 2021 - Present Biomedical Engineering, Pratt School of Engineering
Associate Professor of Surgery · 2019 - Present Surgery, Surgical Sciences, Surgery
Associate Professor in Orthopaedic Surgery · 2015 - Present Orthopaedic Surgery, Clinical Science Departments
Associate Professor in Cell Biology · 2020 - Present Cell Biology, Basic Science Departments
Member of the Duke Cancer Institute · 2013 - Present Duke Cancer Institute, Institutes and Centers
Associate of the Duke Initiative for Science & Society · 2017 - Present Duke Science & Society, University Initiatives & Academic Support Units
Core Faculty in Innovation & Entrepreneurship · 2019 - Present Duke Innovation & Entrepreneurship, University Initiatives & Academic Support Units
Affiliate of the Duke Regeneration Center · 2021 - Present Duke Regeneration Center, Basic Science Departments

In the News


Published February 13, 2025
Activating Complex Regions of the Genome to Treat Rare Diseases
Published November 8, 2024
Genomic Medicine, Beyond CRISPR
Published October 2, 2024
Duke 100 Trailblazer: Charles Gersbach

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Recent Publications


Synthetic biomolecular condensates enhance translation from a target mRNA in living cells.

Journal Article Nat Chem · March 2025 Biomolecular condensates composed of proteins and RNA are one approach by which cells regulate post-transcriptional gene expression. Their formation typically involves the phase separation of intrinsically disordered proteins with a target mRNA, sequesteri ... Full text Link to item Cite

Characterization and bioinformatic filtering of ambient gRNAs in single-cell CRISPR screens using CLEANSER.

Journal Article Cell Genom · February 12, 2025 Single-cell RNA sequencing CRISPR (perturb-seq) screens enable high-throughput investigation of the genome, allowing for characterization of thousands of genomic perturbations on gene expression. Ambient gRNAs, which are contaminating gRNAs, are a major so ... Full text Link to item Cite

Activation of the imprinted Prader-Willi syndrome locus by CRISPR-based epigenome editing

Journal Article Cell Genomics · February 12, 2025 Epigenome editing with DNA-targeting technologies such as CRISPR-dCas9 can be used to dissect gene regulatory mechanisms and potentially treat associated disorders. For example, Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) results from loss of paternally expressed imprinte ... Full text Cite
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Recent Grants


Chromatin dysregulation in neurodevelopmental disorders

ResearchCollaborator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2024 - 2029

Epigenetic Programming of T Cells for Enhanced Cellular Immunotherapy

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2024 - 2029

Optimizing Gene Therapy for Respiratory Insufficiency in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2024 - 2028

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Education, Training & Certifications


Georgia Institute of Technology · 2006 Ph.D.
Georgia Institute of Technology · 2001 B.S.