Vivek Kumar

Vivek Kumar is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), where he leads research at the intersection of biomolecular engineering, materials science, and synthetic peptide chemistry. His work focuses on developing self-assembling peptide hydrogels for therapeutic applications including drug delivery, tissue regeneration, and disease treatment.

His educational foundation includes:

• B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Northwestern University (2006)
• Ph.D. in Bioengineering from Georgia Institute of Technology (2011)
• Post-doctoral fellowship in Surgery at BIDMC and Wyss Institute, Harvard Medical School (2012)
• NIH-NRSA Post-doctoral fellowship in Supramolecular Chemistry at Rice University (2016)

Dr. Kumar's research specializes in creating tunable peptide-based biomaterials that modulate biological processes like angiogenesis and inflammation. His laboratory develops hierarchically assembled scaffolds for applications ranging from dental pulp regeneration to antiviral therapies and ocular disease treatment. This work bridges fundamental science with translational impact, evidenced by over 50 publications, 70 conference abstracts, and numerous patents.

Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on peptide hydrogel platforms for spatiotemporal drug delivery, with significant contributions in ocular therapeutics, cardiovascular repair, and pandemic response. His work demonstrates consistent innovation in tailoring nano-architectured materials for specific biological challenges, particularly in translating bench discoveries to preclinical applications.

His scientific recognition includes:

• American Heart Association Pre-doctoral Fellowship
• NIDCR NRSA F32 Post-doctoral Fellowship

Dr. Kumar maintains robust funding from NIH (NEI R15, NIDCR R01), NSF (STTR, SBIR, I-Corps), New Jersey Health Foundation, and Rutgers TechAdvance. He mentors 5 current PhD students, 1 post-doc, and over 15 undergraduates through NJIT's URI program. As founder and Chairman of biotech startups NangioTx, Inc. and SAPHTx, Inc., he actively translates technologies toward clinical trials.

His laboratory operates as an integrated translational hub with equipment for peptide synthesis, biomaterial characterization, and in vivo testing across multiple animal models. Through the Center for Science, Medicine, and Engineering Outreach (CSMEO), he extends impact to high school STEM education across half a dozen schools.