Dr. Benam is the founder of Translational and Multidisciplinary Lung Microengineering Lab, which brings together researchers from the engineering, biology, bio-pharmaceutical industry, clinical and business communities with the aim of developing new technologies that recreate complex human organ pathophysiology in vitro, and applying them to discover novel therapeutics and personalized biomarkers. His research focuses on applying disruptive technologies that enable him and his team to elucidate cellular and molecular mechanisms that govern tissue pathology or offer protection during lung injury and host-environment interaction.
- BSc, Newcastle University, United Kingdom, 2007
- DPhil, University of Oxford, United Kingdom, 2012
- Postdoctoral Fellow, Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, 2013
- Senior Research Fellow, Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, 2015
- Technology Development Fellow, Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, 2017
Education & Training
Bogdanoff RF, Kaiser AJ, Benam KH. Protocol for the operation of a breathing and vaping biomimetic robot to delineate real-time inhaled particle profile of electronic cigarettes. STAR Protocols. 2022; 3(4): 101885.
Niemeyer BF, Miller CM, Ledesma-Feliciano C, Morrison JH, Jimenez-Valdes R, Clifton C, Poeschla EM, Benam KH. Broad antiviral and anti-inflammatory efficacy of nafamostat against SARS-CoV-2 and seasonal coronaviruses in primary human bronchiolar epithelia. Nano Select. 2022; 3(2): 437-449.
Kaiser AJ, Salem C, Alvarenga BJ, Pagliaro A, Smith KP, Valerio LG Jr, Benam KH. A robotic system for real-time analysis of inhaled submicron and microparticles. iScience. 2021; 24(10): 103091.
Benam KH, Novak R, Ferrante TC, Choe Y, Ingber DE. A Microfluidically Compatible Modular Smoking Robot for Inhalation Exposure of In Vitro Cultures. Nature Protocols. 2020; 15(2): 183-206.
Jimenez-Valdes RJ, Can UI, Neimeyer BF, Benam KH. Where We Stand: Lung Organotypic Living Systems That Emulate Human-Relevant Host-Environment/Pathogen Interactions. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology. 2020; 8: 989.
Benam KH, Königshoff M, Eickelberg O. Breaking the In Vitro Barrier in Respiratory Medicine. Engineered Microphysiological Systems for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and beyond. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. 2018; 197(7): 869-875.
Cole SL, Dunning J, Kok WL, Benam KH, Benlahrech A, Repapi E, Martinez FO, Drumright L, Powell TJ, Bennett M, Elderfield R, Thomas C, MOSAIC Investigators, Dong T, McCauley J, Liew FY, Taylor S, Sambon M, McMichael AJ, Ho LP. M1-like Monocytes Are a Major Immunological Determinant of Severity in Previously Healthy Adults with Life-Threatening Influenza. JCI Insight. 2017; Apr 6;2(7): e91868.
Benam KH, Ingber DE. Commendation for Exposing Key Advantage of Organ Chip Approach. Cell Systems. 2016; 3(5): 411.
Benam KH, Novak R, Nawroth J, Hiraon-Kobayashi M, Ferrante TC, Choe Y, Prantil-Baun R, Weaver JC, Bahinski A, Parker KK, Ingber DE. Matched-Comparative Modeling of Normal and Diseased Human Airway Responses Using a Microengineered Breathing Lung Chip. Cell Systems. 2016; 3(5): 456-466.e4.
Benam KH, Villenave R, Lucchesi C, Varone A, Hubeau C, Lee HH, Alves SE, Salmon M, Ferrante TC, Weaver JC, Bahinski A, Hamilton GA, Ingber DE. Small Airway-on-a-Chip Enables Analysis of Human Lung Inflammation and Drug Responses In Vitro. Nature Methods. 2015; Feb;13(2): 151-7.
- Baxter Young Investigator Award, 2016
- Lush Young Researcher Award, 2016
- Society of Toxicology Inhalation and Respiratory Specialty Section Young Investigator Award, 2018
- Science-to-Startup Symposium Competition Finalist, 2019
- American Thoracic Society Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology Assembly Recognition of Early Academic Achievement (REAAch) Award, 2019
- American Thoracic Society Respiratory Structure & Function Assembly Science and Innovation Center Rising Star Award, 2019
- Society of Toxicology Biotechnology Specialty Section Best Paper of the Year Award, 2022
