Luis Lujan

Luis Lujan is an Associate Professor in the Department of Neurosurgery and the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota. His research bridges engineering, neuroscience, and clinical neurology, focusing on deep brain stimulation (DBS), neuromodulation, and brain-machine interfaces to restore neural function in neurological and psychiatric disorders.

• Academic Rank: Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Neurosurgery
• Institution: Mayo Clinic
• Location: Rochester, MN
• Email: lujan.luis@mayo.edu
• ORCID: 0000-0003-3496-3932

Education:

• Post Doctoral Fellowship - Deep Brain Stimulation, Cleveland Clinic, Lerner Research Institute, Department of Biomedical Engineering
• Ph.D. - Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University
• MS - Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University
• BS - Computer Engineering and Systems Engineering, Autonomous University of Chihuahua

Dr. Lujan's research focuses on characterizing neural pathways modulated by DBS, modeling neurochemical responses during stimulation, developing automated control systems for patient-specific DBS therapy using machine learning, and creating novel brain-machine interfaces to restore function after neural injury. His work has significant translational impact, aiming to optimize DBS for disorders like Parkinson’s disease, depression, and OCD by reducing under- or over-stimulation through real-time biomarker feedback.

The most recent publications (2023–2024) reflect a strong focus on deep brain stimulation mechanisms, spinal cord neuromodulation, behavioral outcomes in Parkinson’s models, and even mental health in graduate education. His research integrates computational modeling, in vivo electrochemical monitoring, and clinical applications, demonstrating a multidisciplinary approach across neurology, engineering, and psychiatry.

Scientific Awards:

• No awards explicitly mentioned in the text.

Dr. Lujan is actively involved in mentoring and training the next generation of scientists. He serves as Principal Investigator (PI) on the long-running Mayo Clinic IMSD program (since 1996), funded by NIGMS, which develops underrepresented students in biomedical research. He also contributes to the Alliance of Scientific Societies project (NSF-funded) aimed at fostering diversity in science. His advising is evident through co-authorship with junior researchers and trainees on multiple publications. He has secured major research grants from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) and the National Science Foundation (NSF), supporting projects on in vivo microscopy of DBS effects and scientific workforce development.

Dr. Lujan leads or co-leads key research projects at Mayo Clinic, including the In Vivo Fluorescent Microscopy Analysis of Motor Cortex Activation by STN DBS and the Mayo Clinic IMSD program. His work is highly collaborative, involving teams across neuroscience, engineering, and clinical departments. He is affiliated with research centers and core facilities at Mayo Clinic focused on neurologic surgery, physiology, and biomedical engineering.