Dr. Kambez H. Benam is an Associate Professor of Medicine and Bioengineering at the University of Pittsburgh, where he leads the Translational and Multidisciplinary Lung Microengineering Lab. His research focuses on creating innovative technologies, including Organs-on-Chips and Biomimetic Robotic Systems, to model human lung, immune, and vascular systems in the lab. These efforts aim to advance therapeutic discoveries and improve the understanding of complex human disorders. Dr. Benam's lab is also interested in leveraging microphysiological systems (MPS) to study the impact of spaceflight-related stressors on human health, with a focus on modeling tissue degeneration, immune dysregulation, and the effects of microgravity on organ-level physiology to advance space medicine and astronaut health. Dr. Benam completed his D.Phil. at the University of Oxford and trained as a postdoctoral and technology development fellow at Harvard University’s Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering. He has received several honors for his contributions to science, including awards from the American Thoracic Society and the Society of Toxicology. His work has been highlighted in media, and he holds multiple patents, several of which have been licensed.
