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Joel Collier

Theodore Kennedy Professor of Biomedical Engineering
Biomedical Engineering

Research Interests


The design of biomaterials for a range of biomedical applications, with a focus on understanding and controlling adaptive immune responses. Most materials investigated are created from molecular assemblies- proteins, peptides or bioconjugates that self-organize into useful structures such as nanofibers, gels, and particles.

Selected Grants


University Training Program in Biomolecular and Tissue Engineering

Inst. Training Prgm or CMEMentor · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 1994 - 2027

Supramolecular biomaterials for tuning the inflammatory properties of the complement system

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases · 2022 - 2027

Sublingual Supramolecular Vaccines and Immunotherapies

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2021 - 2026

Duke Center for Advancement of Child Health (CAtCH).

Inst. Training Prgm or CMEMentor · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2021 - 2026

Engineered immunotherapies neutralizing interleukin-22 binding protein

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2022 - 2025

Pharmacological Sciences Training Grant

Inst. Training Prgm or CMEPreceptor · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2020 - 2025

Basic Immunology Training Program

Inst. Training Prgm or CMEMentor · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2020 - 2025

Supramolecular pediatric HIV vaccine design

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2019 - 2025

Engineering Adaptive Immune Responses from Hydrogel Scaffolds to Promote Tissue Regeneration

ResearchCo-Principal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2020 - 2025

Effects of storage method on intestinal allograft immune profile and viability

ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by Department of Defense · 2019 - 2024

Supramolecular peptide immunotherapies for peanut allergy

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2021 - 2024

CIVICs A - Option 23C

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2021 - 2023

Creating the next generation peptide vaccine directed at cytomegalovirus antigens in malignant brain

ResearchInvestigator · Awarded by National Pediatric Cancer Foundation, Inc. · 2022 - 2023

Immunomodulatory Biomaterials via Peptide and Protein Self-Assembly

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2009 - 2023

Acquisition of a Biacore T200 Surface Plasmon Resonance Instrument for Shared Use

EquipmentMajor User · Awarded by North Carolina Biotechnology Center · 2022 - 2023

Novel Adjuvants and Carriers for Opiod Vaccines

ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2014 - 2020

Pharmacological Sciences Training Program

Inst. Training Prgm or CMEParticipating Faculty Member · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 1975 - 2020

Supramolecular nanofiber vaccines

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2015 - 2019

4th Bioengineering & Translational Medicine Conference

ConferencePrincipal Investigator · Awarded by North Carolina Biotechnology Center · 2019 - 2019

Supramolecular matrix materials for prostate cancer cell biology

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by University of Illinois at Chicago · 2018 - 2019

Supramolecular matrix materials for prostate cancer cell biology

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by University of Chicago · 2016 - 2018

Acquisition of a MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometer System at Duke University

EquipmentMajor User · Awarded by North Carolina Biotechnology Center · 2017 - 2018

Modular Biomaterials for Targeted Anti-Cytokine Immunotherapies

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2016 - 2017

External Relationships


  • Johns Hopkins University
  • University of Chicago

This faculty member (or a member of their immediate family) has reported outside activities with the companies, institutions, or organizations listed above. This information is available to institutional leadership and, when appropriate, management plans are in place to address potential conflicts of interest.