Deva Chan

Deva Chan is an Assistant Professor in Biomedical Engineering at Purdue University, with a courtesy appointment in Mechanical Engineering. She is affiliated with the Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering and focuses on interdisciplinary research at the intersection of biomechanics, medical imaging, and tissue engineering. Her work emphasizes cartilage mechanics, osteoarthritis progression, and the application of advanced imaging techniques for understanding musculoskeletal disorders.

Research interests span the biomechanical and biochemical mechanisms underlying joint degeneration, including hyaluronic acid metabolism, cellular repair responses, and fibrosis. Methodologically, her lab employs finite element modeling, micro-CT imaging, and live-cell biomechanical systems to study tissue behavior under physiological and pathological conditions.

Recent studies highlight her contributions to understanding how mechanical loading influences synovial biology, the role of hyaluronic acid in cartilage health, and the development of novel imaging modalities for non-invasive tissue characterization. Key projects include modeling knee osteoarthritis progression and developing pneumatically controlled cell-stretching devices for mechanobiology studies.