Overview
Shyni Varghese has a triple appointment in the Duke departments of Biomedical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, and Orthopaedic Surgery. She is the first MEDx Investigator.
A leader in the field of biomaterials and stem cells, Varghese will develop her research at Duke in three major areas:
- Musculoskeletal tissue repair
- Disease biophysics, and
- Organ-on-a-chip technology
A new initiative of the Pratt School of Engineering and Duke School of Medicine, Duke MEDx seeks to enhance and form new collaborations between doctors and engineers.
Current Appointments & Affiliations
Laszlo Ormandy Distinguished Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery
·
2023 - Present
Orthopaedic Surgery,
Clinical Science Departments
Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery
·
2017 - Present
Orthopaedic Surgery,
Clinical Science Departments
Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science
·
2017 - Present
Pratt School of Engineering
Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering
·
2017 - Present
Biomedical Engineering,
Pratt School of Engineering
Affiliate of the Duke Regeneration Center
·
2021 - Present
Duke Regeneration Center,
Basic Science Departments
Recent Publications
Modeling functional responses to pollutant exposure using modular hydrogel supported vascularized alveolosphere-on-a-chip.
Journal Article Biomater Sci · October 21, 2025 Alveolar type 2 (AT2) cells play a pivotal role in maintaining lung homeostasis, and the generation of three-dimensional cultures, such as alveolospheres, provides a valuable model for studying lung development, pathologies, and drug responses. Here, we in ... Full text Link to item CiteA subset of transposable elements as mechano-response enhancer elements in controlling human embryonic stem cell fate.
Journal Article Nat Cell Biol · October 2025 Transposable elements (TEs), constituting half of the human genome, are essential for development and diseases. While the regulation of TE activity by cellular intrinsic mechanisms is well documented, their response to microenvironmental signals, particula ... Full text Link to item CiteExosome injection as a prevention strategy for early postoperative mesh complications in a porcine model of sacrocolpopexy.
Journal Article NPJ Regen Med · September 29, 2025 Exosomes, an acellular regenerative biologic, have demonstrated success in resolving vaginal mesh exposures after pelvic reconstructive surgery; little data exists for their use for prevention of mesh-based complications. This study evaluated the early eff ... Full text Link to item CiteRecent Grants
Boston Children's/UCLA/Duke Next Generation Regeneration for Osteoarthritis (BUD NextGenRegen for OA)
ResearchSite Leader · Awarded by Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health · 2024 - 2029Duke KURe Program
Inst. Training Prgm or CMEMentor · Awarded by National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases · 2013 - 2028Molecular engineering of HA-based lubricants for articular cartilage
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases · 2023 - 2028View All Grants
Education, Training & Certifications
National Chemical Laboratory (India) ·
2002
Ph.D.