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Pei Zhong

Professor in the Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science
Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science
1103 Engineering Annex, Box 90300, Durham, NC 27708-0300
1103 Engineering Annex, Box 90300, Durham, NC 27708

Research Interests


Mechanistic investigation and technology development in shock wave and laser lithotripsy; Ultrasound-elicited mechanotransduction, neuromodulation and sonogenetics; HIFU and immunotherapy for cancer treatment; Acoustic and optical cavitation.

Selected Grants


Duke KURe Program

Inst. Training Prgm or CMEMentor · Awarded by National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases · 2013 - 2028

TRIO NRSA Training Core-Pre Doc Trainee

Inst. Training Prgm or CMEPreceptor · Awarded by University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill · 2023 - 2028

U2C/TL1 NC KUH TRIO Administrative Core

ResearchPreceptor · Awarded by University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill · 2023 - 2028

3D super-resolution cavitation mapping in laser lithotripsy

ResearchCo-Principal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2024 - 2026

Title: NRT-FW-HTF: NSF Traineeship in the Advancement of Surgical Technologies

Inst. Training Prgm or CMEParticipants · Awarded by National Science Foundation · 2021 - 2026

Innovations in Shock Wave Lithotripsy Technology

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases · 1997 - 2026

Collaborative Research: Investigating Crack Nucleation and Growth Under Dynamic Fatigue: Application to Nano-Pulse Lithotripsy

ResearchCo-Principal Investigator · Awarded by National Science Foundation · 2021 - 2025

Enhancing Laser Lithotripsy via Nanoparticle Fine-Tuned NIR absorption

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

Improving Mechanistic Understanding and Treatment Efficiency of Laser Lithotripsy

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2019 - 2022

In Vitro Assessment and Optimization of New Laser Lithotripsy Technologies for Treatment of Kidney Stones

ResearchMentor · Awarded by Urology Care Foundation · 2019 - 2020

Probing the Bioeffects of Cavitation at Single-Cell Level

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2014 - 2017

Novel Strategies to Broaden the Impact of HIFU Therapy in Cancer Management

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2008 - 2011

Innovations in Shock Wave Lithotripsy Technology

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 1997 - 2010

Targeted Gene Delivery and Activation by Ultrasound

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2003 - 2009

A Novel Combination of Thermal Ablation and Heat-Induced Gene Therapy

FellowshipPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by United States Army Medical Research and Materiel Command · 2006 - 2009

Effect of Shockwaves on the Biochemical and Biomechanical Function of Cells (supplement)

ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by Army Research Office · 2007 - 2009

Cavitation and Wound Healing In SWL

ResearchCo-Principal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2000 - 2008

Ultra High-speed Imaging System

EquipmentPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2003 - 2008

A Novel Ultrasound System for Epo Gene Therapy

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2003 - 2007

Innovations in Shock Wave Lithotripsy Technology (Supplement)

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 1997 - 2006

Flexible Catheter for the Delivery of Ionizing Radiation

ResearchCo-Principal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2001 - 2004

Innovations in Shock Wave Lithotripsy Technology

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 1997 - 2001

Shockwave-mediated Gene Transfer and Drug Delivery

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 1997 - 1999

Shockwave Mediated Gene Transfer and Drug Delivery

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 1997 - 1999

Cavitation-Mediated Gene Transfer

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Science Foundation · 1997 - 1998

External Relationships


  • Dornier Medtech

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.