Faculty Directory

Duncan, Gregg

Duncan, Gregg

Associate Professor
Fischell Department of Bioengineering
Robert E. Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices
4116 A. James Clark Hall
Website(s):

Education

  • B.S. Chemical Engineering, Florida State University
  • Ph.D. Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University

Professional Memberships

  • American Institute of Chemical Engineers
  • Biomedical Engineering Society
  • Biophysical Society
  • Controlled Release Society
  • American Thoracic Society

Selected Honors and Awards

  • 2022: Cellular and Molecular Bioengineering journal Young Innovator Award
  • 2021: BMES Rita Schaffer Young Investigator Award
  • 2021: BIOE Faculty Teaching Award
  • 2021: NSF CAREER Award
  • 2020: BMES-CMBE Rising Star Award
  • 2019: Langmuir Early Career Advisory Board Member
  • 2018: Oak Ridge Associated Universities Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Award
  • 2017: Burroughs Wellcome Fund Career Award at the Scientific Interface

Complex biological fluids & interfaces, nanoparticle drug delivery, viral gene delivery, respiratory infection, lung diseases


Our research is focused on using nanotechnology and bioengineering as tools to broaden understanding of the lung airway microenvironment in order to develop state-of-the-art diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. These efforts are built on our group’s expertise in designing novel measurement schemes and bioengineered models, capable of shedding new light on previously unstudied aspects of the lung airways. The nature of this work requires an interdisciplinary and collaborative approach where we work closely with basic and clinical scientists in order to successfully work towards our research goals. Specific areas of interest in our laboratory include:

  • Lung airway mucus clearance in health & disease
  • Host-pathogen interactions in respiratory infections (e.g. influenza)
  • Engineering mucin biomaterials for biology & medicine
  • Overcoming biological barriers to drug & gene delivery

BIOE331 - Biofluids

BIOE386 - Bioengineering Design & Teamwork

BIOE489K - Pulmonary Engineering

BIOE689R - Biopolymers

Recent articles:

  • Cahn D, Amosu M, Maisel K, Duncan GA. “Biomaterials for intranasal and inhaled vaccine delivery”. Nature Reviews Bioengineering​. 1-2, 2023.
  • Song D, Iverson E, Kaler L, Boboltz A, Scull MA, Duncan GA. “MUC5B mobilizes and MUC5AC spatially aligns mucociliary transport on human airway epithelium”. Science Advances​. 8, eabq504, 2022.
  • Cahn D, Duncan GA. "High-Density Branched PEGylation for Nanoparticle Drug Delivery". Cellular and Molecular Bioengineering. 15, 355–366, 2022.
  • Kaler L, Joyner K, Duncan GA. "Machine Learning Informed Prediction of Nanoparticle Mobility and Fate in the Mucus Barrier". APL Bioengineering. 6, 026103, 2022.

Full listing of publications available on Google Scholar.

Grand Challenges Team Engineers a Designer Protease to Help Clear Respiratory Infections and Disease

Researchers engineer a protease to break down mucus buildup in diseases like cystic fibrosis and COPD.

Robert E. Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices invests $200K in the future of biomedical devices, cultivating up-and-coming investigators and immersing them in successful multidisciplinary teams

Designed to bolster young, postdoctoral researchers by pairing them with existing, proven research teams, the fellowship aims to propel the careers of awardees, enabling them to apply for additional grants or faculty positions in the future.

BIOE Students Showcase Award-Winning Innovation at Capstone Expo

Bioengineering students presented 20 innovative designs to solve today’s biggest challenges in healthcare.

Duncan and Kuo Receive Clark School Teaching Awards

Two bioengineering faculty members are recognized for their outstanding and impactful teaching practices.

Jenna Mueller Receives NSF CAREER Award

The award will support Mueller’s research to develop affordable, accessible technologies for cervical dysplasia in low-income communities around the world.

Fischell Institute, BIOE Train Researchers To Be Better Mentors Through CIMER

CIMER’s training utilizes the Entering Mentoring curricula, an evidence-based, interactive approach designed to help mentors develop skills for engaging in productive, culturally responsive, research mentoring relationships—relationships that optimize the success of both mentors and mentees.

BIOE Faculty Members Duncan and Huang Promoted

BIOE congratulates faculty Gregg Duncan and Huang Chiao Huang on their promotions to Associate Professors.

Erika Moore Receives NSF CAREER Award

Incoming BIOE faculty member Erika Moore receives prestigious NSF CAREER Award for immune system research.

BIOE Celebrates 2023 Undergraduate Awards

BIOE honored six undergraduate student recipients of the annual BIOE departmental awards.

Maryland Engineers Awarded Grants to Address Humanity's Grand Challenges

Twelve projects led by or involving Maryland Engineering faculty have been awarded funding through the Grand Challenges Grants Program, the largest and most comprehensive program of its kind ever introduced at the University of Maryland.

Clearing the Airways

UMD Bioengineers’ Discoveries Could Point to Precision Therapies for Asthma, Pulmonary Diseases

UMD Bioengineering #1 in CMBE Young Innovator Awards

BIOE's Gregg Duncan & Katharina Maisel were named 2022 Cellular & Molecular Bioengineering Young Innovators. 

BIOE Capstone Competition Highlights 24 Novel Projects

The Bioengineering Senior Capstone Design competition returned to in-person on Monday, May 2.

Duncan Named BMES 2021 Rita Schaffer Young Investigator Award Honoree

Duncan is the second Rita Schaffer Award recipient from the Fischell Department of Bioengineering.

Celebrating 14 Participants of 2021 BIOE REU Program

The BIOE REU program promotes collaboration between UMD and the FDA, making it unlike any other in the country

Duncan Earns NSF Career Award to Advance Gene Therapy

BIOE assistant professor Gregg Duncan was named the recipiento of the NSF's prestigious CAREER Award.

BIOE Capstone Projects Focus on Medical Devices, AI, and More

BIOE seniors present 23 novel Capstone projects live via Gatherly.

Four Clark School Faculty Receive CAREER Awards

Shelby Bensi, Gregg Duncan, Katrina Groth and Katharina Maisel are recipients of NSF CAREER grants.

Stories Beyond DNA

Dr. Gregg Duncan reflects on connecting DNA test results with one’s family history in Science feature.

Joyner Awarded BIOE Postdoctoral Achievement Award

Katherine Joyner recognized for significant achievements in research, funding, and mentoring

BIOE Capstone Class Virtually Presents 24 Novel Projects

BIOE seniors present Capstone projects and celebrate winners virtually.

Duncan Receives UMD Coronavirus Seed Fund Award

This will advance Duncan and his lab's work on bio-inspired hydrogels for detection of aerosolized COVID-19.

Duncan Named 2020 CMBE Rising Star

BIOE assistant professor receives Biomedical Engineering Society recognition.

Duncan, Maisel Recognized by American Lung Association

Bioengineering assistant professors awarded grants to advance lung health research.

BIOE Celebrates Second REU Class

The NSF-supported program provides undergraduate students with hands-on laboratory experience.

Duncan Earns Powe Award for Early Career Research

BIOE Assistant Professor recognized for efforts to advance study of gene therapy applications.

Duncan Awarded Burroughs Wellcome Fund Career Award

Newly appointed BIOE assistant professor recognized for efforts to advance pulmonary health research

BIOE Capstone 2017: Projects Focus on Pediatric Care, Physical Therapy, Pulmonary Tumors, and More

BIOE hosted it's largest-ever Capstone Design competition on May 10th, 2017.