Biofluids and Medical Device Research Group
CV


Education

  • M.D., Emory University, 1984
  • Ph.D., Georgia Institute of Technology, 1983
  • M.S., Georgia Institute of Technology, 1982
  • B.A., Harvard University, 1978

Teaching Interests

Professor Ku’s teaching interests encompass core mechanical engineering topics including fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, and energy systems at undergraduate and graduate levels. He emphasizes hands-on learning and fundamental principles, aiming to bridge theoretical concepts with practical applications. His instruction often integrates interdisciplinary perspectives to prepare students for diverse challenges in mechanical engineering. The engineering principles are illustrated in clinical medicine solutions. Graduate mentorship is a key component of his educational approach, fostering critical thinking and research skills. He teaches entrepreneurship using the Socratic method with many real-world examples.

Research Interests

Professor Ku’s research focuses on biomedical engineering related to medical diseases such was heart attacks, strokes, trauma and menstrual bleeding. His work focuses on the way blood can change into a solid, even while flowing in a process called Thrombosis and Hemostasis.  The corollary problem is excessive bleeding called hemorrhage.  His current work has discovered a class of drugs that can be used to stop heart attacks instantly by restoring blood flow by EMTs. He is also active in commercializing the university research into medical devices to help hundreds of thousands of patients through start-up companies and surgical techniques.

Recent Publications

  • Kim DJ, Ku DN. Material strengths of shear-induced platelet aggregation clots and coagulation clots.  Scientific Reports. Sci Rep 14, 11460 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-62165-1
  • Bresette CA, Ashworth KJ, DiPaola J, Ku DN. “N-Acetyl Cysteine Prevents Arterial Thrombosis in a Dose-Dependent Manner In Vitro and in Mice” Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2024;44:00–00. DOI: 10.1161/ATVBAHA.123.319044
  • DN Ku, C BRESETTE, Anti-vwf therapeutic for preventing arterial thrombi, US Patent App. 18/875,512, 2025
  • ELV Machenaud, JW Weisel, RI Litvinov, C Nagaswami, DN Ku, Arterial human blood flow can be stopped by cables of VWF and platelets without coagulation, Blood Advances 9 (23), 6019-6030, 2025
  • Steinberg RS, Chu TC, Shin D, Ha B, Sun HY, Jadhao SJ, Ku DN, Roberts BR, Anderson EJ, Hussaini L, Anderson LJ, Anderson B. Detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA and biomarkers in device-captured droplets from the lung.  CHEST Pulmonary 2025; 2025,100137, ISSN 2949-7892, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chpulm.2025.100137