R. Eugene and Susie E. Goodson Distinguished Professor of Biomedical Engineering

My research interests focus upon the effect of physical forces on the function of vascular cells and skeletal muscle, cell adhesion, and the design of engineered tissues.  Current research projects examine the  effect of endothelial cell senescence upon permeability to macromolecules and the response to fluid shear stress, the development of microphysiological blood vessels and muscles for evaluation of drug toxicity and the design of engineered endothelialized blood vessels and skeletal muscle bundles.

Appointments and Affiliations

  • R. Eugene and Susie E. Goodson Distinguished Professor of Biomedical Engineering
  • Professor of Biomedical Engineering
  • Affiliate of the Duke Regeneration Center
  • Affiliate of the Duke Initiative for Science & Society

Contact Information

Education

  • B.S.E. University of Pennsylvania, 1979
  • Ph.D. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1985

Research Interests

Cardiovascular tissue engineering, mechanisms of atherogenesis, cell adhesion, and cell biomechanics.

Awards, Honors, and Distinctions

  • AAAS Fellow. American Association for the Advancement of Science. 2014
  • BMES Distinguished Service Award. Biomedical Engineering Society. 2012
  • NIH CSR College of Reviewers. NIH. 2010
  • Capers and Marion McDonald Award for Excellence in Mentoring and Advising. Duke University. 2007
  • Fellow. Biomedical Engineering Society. 2006
  • Fellow. American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering. 1999
  • Fellow. Council on Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology, American Heart Association. 1999
  • Excellence in Teaching Award. Tau Beta Pi, North Carolina Gamma Chapter. 1998
  • Outstanding Scientific Paper in the Journal of Parenteral Science and Technology. Parenteral Drug Association. 1987

Courses Taught

  • EGR 393: Research Projects in Engineering
  • BME 792: Continuation of Graduate Independent Study
  • BME 791: Graduate Independent Study
  • BME 590: Special Topics in Biomedical Engineering
  • BME 566: Transport Phenomena in Cells and Organs (GE, MC)
  • BME 494: Projects in Biomedical Engineering (GE)
  • BME 493: Projects in Biomedical Engineering (GE)
  • BME 493-1: Projects in Biomedical Engineering (GE)
  • BME 394: Projects in Biomedical Engineering (GE)

In the News

Representative Publications

  • Covert, Lauren T., Alaa Osman, and George A. Truskey. “Interferon-β-Induced Injury During Pediatric Muscle Differentiation: Insight Into Juvenile Dermatomyositis Pathogenesis.” ACR Open Rheumatol, October 22, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1002/acr2.11760.
  • Vakili, Sahar, Elizabeth K. Izydore, Leonhard Losert, Wayne A. Cabral, Urraca L. Tavarez, Kevin Shores, Huijing Xue, et al. “Angiopoietin-2 reverses endothelial cell dysfunction in progeria vasculature.” Aging Cell, October 2024, e14375. https://doi.org/10.1111/acel.14375.
  • Covert, Lauren T., Joseph A. Prinz, Devjanee Swain-Lenz, Jeffrey Dvergsten, and George A. Truskey. “Genetic changes from type I interferons and JAK inhibitors: clues to drivers of juvenile dermatomyositis.” Rheumatology (Oxford) 63, no. SI2 (September 1, 2024): SI240–48. https://doi.org/10.1093/rheumatology/keae082.
  • Khodabukus, Alastair, Neel K. Prabhu, Taylor Roberts, Meghan Buldo, Amber Detwiler, Zachary D. Fralish, Megan E. Kondash, George A. Truskey, Timothy R. Koves, and Nenad Bursac. “Bioengineered Model of Human LGMD2B Skeletal Muscle Reveals Roles of Intracellular Calcium Overload in Contractile and Metabolic Dysfunction in Dysferlinopathy.” Adv Sci (Weinh) 11, no. 31 (August 2024): e2400188. https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202400188.
  • Lopez, Isabella, and George A. Truskey. “Multi-cellular engineered living systems to assess reproductive toxicology.” Reproductive Toxicology (Elmsford, N.Y.) 127 (August 2024): 108609. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.reprotox.2024.108609.