Phil Campbell

Phil Campbell is a Research Professor in the Biomedical Engineering Department at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), with courtesy appointments in Biological Sciences and Mechanical Engineering. He is affiliated with the Engineering Research Accelerator and the Bioengineered Organs Initiative. His research focuses on biomaterials, tissue engineering, and extracellular vesicle-based therapies, with over 25 years of multidisciplinary collaboration between engineers and clinicians. Campbell holds a Ph.D. in Physiology from Pennsylvania State University (1988) and earlier degrees in Animal Science from Auburn University.

Research interests include biomaterials development, cell engineering, and immunomodulation strategies for regenerative medicine. Notable projects include ARPA-H-funded bioelectric medicine implants for diabetes treatment, NIH-backed exosome research with the University of Pittsburgh, and soy protein-based wound dressings via collaboration with OmegaSkin. His work emphasizes spatial control of cellular behavior using biopatterned microenvironments and biomimetic scaffolds.

Recent grants include a $42M ARPA-H award for implantable bioelectric devices and a $34.9M grant for obesity/diabetes therapies. Key innovations include dissolvable microneedle drug delivery systems, exosome-functionalized polymers, and 3D-printed ice for biomedical applications. Campbell’s lab also explores exosome-mediated horizontal gene transfer in Streptococcus pneumoniae and epigenetic targeting in bone marrow microenvironments.

Collaborative projects span academic and industry partnerships, including Coya Therapeutics for exosome engineering platforms. His team’s work has been highlighted in media for advancements in curcumin delivery, 3D-printed cartilage, and bioelectric medicine. Students under his guidance, such as Nader Rezazadeh, focus on bioactive scaffold development and entrepreneurial applications.