Daniel Lu

Daniel C. Lu is a Professor at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Medicine, with dual appointments in the Departments of Neurosurgery and Orthopaedic Surgery. His research focuses on spinal cord injury, neuromodulation, and biomedical engineering, aiming to restore motor and respiratory functions through innovative technologies.

• Principal Investigator, NIH UH3NS119772 (2021-2026): Stimulation of novel spinal respiratory circuits for ventilator-dependent SCI patients.
• Co-Principal Investigator, NIH T32NS115753 (2020-2025): Training in Neurotechnology Translation.

Dr. Lu's work combines machine learning, sensor development, and clinical outcomes research to address spinal disorders. Recent studies include metabolic sensors for in vivo monitoring, epidural stimulation for respiratory recovery, and smart-shoe technology for gait analysis.

He has published extensively on spinal cord injury, degenerative spinal conditions, and rehabilitation strategies, with a focus on translating computational models and bioelectronic devices into clinical practice. His 2025 PNAS study highlights advancements in real-time metabolomics for disease tracking, while 2024 PLoS Comp Biol and J Neurosurg Spine papers explore stimulation therapies for micturition and spinal disorder outcomes.

Dr. Lu's 2023-2022 articles span minimally invasive surgical techniques, hand function recovery, and pediatric neurosurgery. He also investigates biomedical device development (e.g., soft strain-insensitive bioelectronics) and machine learning applications in predicting rehabilitation efficacy.