James McGrath

James McGrath is a Professor of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Rochester, holding the William R. Kenan, Jr. Professorship. He leads the Nanomembrane Research Group, pioneering ultrathin silicon nanomembrane technologies for biomedical applications. His work integrates material science, microfluidics, and tissue engineering to address challenges in diagnostics, regenerative medicine, and environmental health. McGrath's interdisciplinary team collaborates across academia and industry, including the Rochester-based SiMPore Inc. (co-founded by him).

Education:

• B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Arizona State University (1991)
• M.S. Mechanical Engineering, MIT (1994)
• Ph.D. Biological Engineering, Harvard/MIT (1998)

Research Interests: McGrath focuses on nanomembrane technologies for:

• Microphysiological systems (organ-on-a-chip)
• Biosensors and diagnostic tools
• Hemodialysis and toxin removal
• Microplastics detection in water and biological systems
• Inflammatory fibrosis modeling (e.g., blood-brain barrier dynamics)
• Extracellular vesicle biomarker platforms

Awards & Recognition:

• Edmund A. Hajim Outstanding Faculty Award (2019)
• AIMBE Fellow (2015)
• William R. Kenan, Jr. Professorship (2023)

Advising & Industry: McGrath has advised students and entrepreneurs through his lab and SiMPore Inc., focusing on translating nanomembrane innovations into clinical and commercial applications. His work bridges basic science and applied engineering, with a focus on scalable manufacturing and global health impact.

Labs & Collaborations: The Nanomembrane Research Group collaborates with UR, RIT, and international partners to advance nanomembrane-based solutions for healthcare and environmental challenges. Key platforms include the MicroSiM barrier tissue system and silicon nanomembrane analysis pipelines.