Lichun Lu

Lichun Lu, Ph.D., is a Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Professor of Orthopedics at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science in Rochester, Minnesota. She holds a primary appointment as a Consultant in the Department of Physiology & Biomedical Engineering and a joint appointment in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery. Dr. Lu directs the Biomaterials and Regenerative Medicine Laboratory, where she leads cutting-edge research in synthetic polymers for tissue engineering and drug delivery.

• Ph.D., Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering, Rice University
• B.S., Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University

Dr. Lu's research focuses on biomaterials for regenerative medicine, particularly in developing biodegradable polymers, 3D scaffolds, and controlled drug delivery systems. Her work spans bone repair, spine fracture prediction, nerve regeneration, and targeted cancer therapy. She employs advanced techniques including 3D bioprinting, finite element modeling, and in vivo evaluation in animal models. Her laboratory investigates how polymer chemistry, mechanical properties, and degradation profiles influence tissue regeneration.

Recent publications (2024–2025) highlight her contributions in enzyme-delivery composites for diabetic bone repair, biomechanical modeling of vertebral failure, nanomaterial-enhanced stem cell therapies, and click chemistry-based bone cements. These works reflect a strong trend toward multifunctional, clinically translatable biomaterials that integrate structural support, drug delivery, and biological signaling.

Scientific awards and honors include:

• Kappa Delta Elizabeth Winston Lanier Award, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (2009)
• Editorial Board Member, Journal of Biomedical Materials Research, Part A (2007–present)
• Editorial Board Member, Journal of Medical and Biological Engineering (2016–present)
• Editorial Board Member, Oncology and Translational Medicine (2016–present)

Dr. Lu has been Principal or Co-Principal Investigator on major NIH-funded projects, including:

• Metastatic Spine Tumors: Minimally Invasive Fracture Risk Analysis and Treatment (NIAMS, 2008–2026)
• Injectable and Preformed Osteoinductive Biodegradable Composites (NIBIB, 2003–2017)

She mentors postdoctoral fellows and collaborates with a multidisciplinary team of clinicians, engineers, and biologists.

Her laboratory, the Biomaterials and Regenerative Medicine Laboratory, is a hub for innovation in polymer-based regenerative therapies, focusing on translational solutions for tissue transplantation challenges in trauma, cancer, and degenerative diseases.