Brandon J. Tefft

Dr. Brandon J. Tefft serves as an Associate Professor in the Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering at Marquette University and the Medical College of Wisconsin, where he directs the Cardiovascular Regenerative Engineering Laboratory (CaRE Lab). His academic journey includes a BS from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (2005), followed by MS (2008) and PhD (2011) degrees in Biomedical Engineering from Northwestern University, and postdoctoral training at Mayo Clinic (2011-2018). Dr. Tefft holds dual appointments between the two institutions, contributing significantly to both undergraduate and graduate education in biomedical engineering.

Dr. Tefft's research program focuses on cardiovascular regenerative engineering, with particular emphasis on tissue engineered vascular grafts and heart valves, cardiovascular device design, and biomedical nanotechnology applications. His lab pioneers innovative approaches using magnetic cell targeting to enhance endothelialization of cardiovascular implants, addressing critical challenges in small-diameter vascular grafts and heart valve replacements. The CaRE Lab combines principles of tissue engineering, nanotechnology, and cardiovascular physiology to develop next-generation medical devices that promote natural healing processes while minimizing complications like thrombosis and restenosis.

Analysis of Dr. Tefft's recent publications (2023-2025) reveals a strong research trajectory centered on magnetic cell targeting for cardiovascular applications, endothelial cell retention strategies on synthetic materials, tissue engineered vascular grafts, and innovative heart valve designs. His work spans multiple disciplines including biomaterials science, molecular biology, and translational medical device development, with significant focus on applying fundamental engineering principles to solve clinical problems in cardiovascular medicine.

• University Honors, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (2005)
• Royal E. Cabell Fellowship, Northwestern University (2005-2006)
• Graduate Research Fellowship Program Award, National Science Foundation (2006-2009)
• Excellence in Science Award, American Association for the Advancement of Science (2008)
• T32 Award, NIH/NHLBI (2014-2016)
• Smart Cities - Smart Futures competition winner, Foxconn (2019)
• Outstanding Graduate School Educator, MCW Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (2019, 2021, 2023)

Dr. Tefft actively mentors students at all levels, from high school to postdoctoral researchers, with particular emphasis on developing the next generation of biomedical engineers. His substantial grant portfolio includes multiple NIH R01 awards, an NSF CAREER award, and American Heart Association funding totaling over $2.5 million in direct funding. Current projects focus on transcriptomics of endothelial cells, origami-inspired heart valve design, and magnetic cell targeting for rapid healing of cardiovascular implants. The CaRE Lab maintains strong collaborations with clinical partners at Children's Wisconsin and the Zablocki Veterans' Administration Medical Center, ensuring research remains clinically relevant and translationally focused.