Kenneth Lutchen

Dr. Kenneth Lutchen is the current Provost ad interim of Boston University (BU), a Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering within the College of Engineering, and Affiliated Faculty at the Institute for Global Sustainability (IGS). He previously served as Dean of the College of Engineering and Chair of the Biomedical Engineering Department, significantly improving departmental rankings and establishing new divisions and centers.

Education:

• PhD, Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University
• MS, Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University
• BS, Engineering Science, University of Virginia

Research Interests: Dr. Lutchen focuses on lung mechanics, asthma, COPD, and pulmonary fibrosis, employing computational models and agent-based systems to study tissue structure-function relationships. His work emphasizes the role of mechanical forces in airway dysfunction and ventilation heterogeneity. He also advocates for interdisciplinary education through initiatives like the 'Societal Engineer' concept, integrating data science, energy technologies, and machine learning into engineering curricula.

Publications Trends: His recent articles (2022–2024) highlight advancements in lung disease modeling, collagen degradation mechanisms, and ventilation heterogeneity. These studies often combine experimental and computational approaches to understand pulmonary pathophysiology, with implications for precision medicine and diagnostic tools. Notable contributions include agent-based models for fibrosis progression and spring network frameworks to predict airway behavior in COPD.

Scientific Awards:

• AIMBE Pierre Galletti Award (AIMBE’s highest honor)
• Fellow, Biomedical Engineering Society
• Fellow, International Academy of Medical and Biological Engineering

Advising & Grants: As a senior academic leader, Dr. Lutchen has driven institutional collaborations with industry through initiatives like the Engineering Product Innovation Center (EPIC) and Bioengineering Technology and Entrepreneurship Center (BTEC). His grants and administrative efforts focus on curricular innovation and technology transfer, with op-eds in Harvard Business Review and Forbes advocating long-term academic-business partnerships.

Labs & Teams: He oversees EPIC and BTEC at BU, fosters interdisciplinary research at the Wyss Institute for Bioinspired Engineering (Harvard), and advises Beta Bionix Inc. These affiliations enable applied research in biomaterials, medical devices, and sustainable engineering solutions.