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Roger D. Kamm, Ph.D.

Cecil and Ida Green Distinguished Professor of Biological and Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Prof. Roger D. Kamm is the Cecil and Ida Green Distinguished Professor of Biological and Mechanical Engineering at MIT and director of the NSF Science and Technology Center on Emergent Behaviors of Integrated Cellular Systems. A primary objective of Kamm’s research has been the application of fundamental concepts in fluid and solid mechanics to better understand essential biological and physiological phenomena. Studies over the last 35 years have addressed issues in the respiratory, ocular and cardiovascular systems. Over time, Kamm has explored the molecular mechanisms of cellular force sensation, cell population dynamics, and the development of new microfluidic platforms for the study of cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions.

Kamm has been a leader in bringing the fields of mechanics together with biology and chemistry by exploring the ways in which single molecules transmit force through macromolecular networks and the resulting change in molecular binding or enzymatic activity, and by developing new cell culture methods that enable simultaneous study of multiple cell types communicating in a realistic microenvironment. Recently, Kamm’s work has focused on creating in vitro models of metastatic cancer and neurological disease. His work in neuroscience includes studies on the molecular mechanisms by which small oligomers of the Alzheimer’s protein form, of axon guidance due to gradients of chemoattractants, and the development of microfluidic platforms to study the formation of synapses between motor neurons and muscle, and the function of neuromuscular junctions. His cumulative work has led to more than 270 refereed publications.

Recognition for his contributions is reflected in Kamm’s election as fellow to the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE), the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), the Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES), the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and the International Federation for Medical and Biological Engineering (IFMBE). He is the 2010 recipient of the ASME Lissner Medal and in 2015 he received the Huiskes Medal from the European Society of Biomechanics, both for lifetime achievements. He was elected a member of the National Academy of Medicine in 2010. He is co-founder of two companies, CardioVascular Technologies Inc. and AIM Biotech.

Related Research:

Identifying Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB) Enhancers and Role of Neutrophils in a 3-D BBB Vascularized Model of Alzheimer’s Disease Roger D. Kamm Se Hoon Choi 2022-01-11 Berg Brain Entry and Exit Consortium: Human 3D Neurovascular Interaction and Meningeal Lymphatics Models with Application to Alzheimer’s Disease Se Hoon Choi Roger D. Kamm 2019-12-17 Evaluation of Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB) Penetration of Alzheimer’s Drug Targets, and Identification of BBB Integrity Enhancers Roger D. Kamm Se Hoon Choi 2018-08-09 Role of Blood-Brain Barrier Function in Alzheimer’s Disease Pathogenesis Investigated Using a 3-D Microfluidic Platform Se Hoon Choi Roger D. Kamm 2015-09-29

Funded Research

These projects were made possible from Cure Alzheimer's Fund support.

Project Description Researchers Funding
Identifying Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB) Enhancers and Role of Neutrophils in a 3-D BBB Vascularized Model of Alzheimer’s Disease 2018

$268,750
Berg Brain Entry and Exit Consortium: Human 3D Neurovascular Interaction and Meningeal Lymphatics Models with Application to Alzheimer’s Disease 2019, 2021

$430,000
Evaluation of Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB) Penetration of Alzheimer’s Drug Targets, and Identification of BBB Integrity Enhancers 2017

$200,000
Role of Blood-Brain Barrier Function in Alzheimer’s Disease Pathogenesis Investigated Using a 3-D Microfluidic Platform 2015, 2016

$584,900

Selected Publications

These published papers resulted from Cure Alzheimer’s Fund support.

Rustenhoven, J., Pavlou, G., Storck, S. E., Dykstra, T., Du, S., Wan, Z., Quintero, D., Scallan, J. P., Smirnov, I., Kamm, R. D., & Kipnis, J. Age-related alterations in meningeal immunity drive impaired CNS lymphatic drainage, Journal of Experimental Medicine, April 7, 2023, Read More

Shin, Y., Choi, S. H., Kim, E., Bylykbashi, E., Kim, J. A., Chung, S., Kim, D. Y., Kamm, R. D., & Tanzi, R. E. Blood Brain Barrier Dysfunction in a 3D in vitro model of Alzheimer’s Disease, Advanced Science, August 12, 2019, Read More

Osaki, T., Shin, Y., Sivathanu, V., Campisi, M., & Kamm, R. D. In vitro microfluidic models for neurodegenerative disorders, Advanced Healthcare Materials, September 7, 2017, Read More

Campisi, M., Shin, Y., Osaki, T., Hajal, C., Chiono, V., & Kamm, R. D. 3D Self-Organized microvasclar model of the human blood-brain barrier with endothelial cells, pericytes, and astrocytes, Biomaterials, July 12, 2018, Read More

Offeddu, G. S., Shin, Y., Kamm, R. D. Microphysiological models of neurological disorders for drug development, Current Opinion in Biomedical Engineering, March 1, 2020, Read More

Campisi, M., Lim, S. H., Chiono, V., & Kamm, R. D. 3D Self-Organized Human Blood-Brain Barrier in a Microfluidic Chip, Methods in Molecular Biology, December 20, 2020, Read More

Hajal, C., Offeddu, G. S., Shin, Y., Zhang, S., Morozova, O., Hickman, D., Knutson, C. G., & Kamm, R. D. Engineered human blood-brain barrier microfluidic model for vascular permeability analyses, Nature Protocols, January 7, 2022, Read More

Hajal, C., Shin, Y., Li, L., Serrano, J. C., Jacks, T., & Kamm, R. D. The CCL2-CCR2 astrocyte-cancer cell axis in tumor extravasation at the brain, Science Advances, June 23, 2021, Read More

Ko, E. C., Spitz, S., Pramotton, F. M., Barr, O. M., Xu, C., Pavlou, G., Zhang, S., Tsai, A., Maaser-Hecker, A., Jorfi, M., Choi, S. H., Tanzi, R. E., & Kamm, R. D. Accelerating the in vitro emulation of Alzheimer’s disease-associated phenotypes using a novel 3D blood-brain barrier neurosphere co-culture model, Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, October 9, 2023, Read More

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