Kenneth A. Barbee

Kenneth A. Barbee is a Professor and Senior Associate Dean for Research at the School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems at Drexel University. His research focuses on cellular biomechanics, particularly the response of neural and vascular tissues to mechanical loading and trauma.

• Education: PhD in Bioengineering from University of Pennsylvania (1991), MS in Bioengineering from University of Pennsylvania (1988), BS in Engineering Science and Mechanics from University of Tennessee (1986)

Barbee's research explores mechanotransduction in the cardiovascular system, including how endothelial cells respond to shear stress and vascular smooth muscle cells adapt to cyclic stretching. He employs advanced techniques such as Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), and fluorescence microscopy in his work. His studies also address cellular injury criteria under traumatic loading conditions to aid protective equipment design and therapeutic evaluation.

Publications highlight his contributions to understanding shear stress gradients in atherogenesis, calcium signaling in endothelial cells, and deformation models for vascular smooth muscle. These works span disciplines including biomechanics, cell biology, and bioengineering.