Nimmi Ramanujam

Robert W. Carr, Jr., Distinguished Professor of Biomedical Engineering

Nirmala (“Nimmi”) Ramanujam is the Robert W. Carr Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Professor of Cancer Pharmacology, Cancer Biology, and Global Health and founder of the Center for Global Women’s Health Technologies (GWHT) at Duke University. Her work addresses access gaps across the cancer care continuum both locally and globally. Her group develops low-cost imaging, artificial intelligence, and digital health platforms to decentralize the early detection of cervical cancer, and immune-based injectables and metabolic biomarkers for breast cancer treatment. Across both programs, she addresses access in different ways—expanding prevention where healthcare infrastructure is limited and improving access to treatment where therapies are available, yet lengthy and prohibitively expensive. She founded Calla Health to translate women’s health technologies into practice and co-developed The (In)visible Organ, a documentary that raises awareness and addresses stigma as barriers to care. She also leads experiential STEM initiatives that train students in systems-based, equity-centered technology development and she has authored a textbook, Biomedical Engineering and Global Health. She is a Fellow of the National Academy of Engineering and the National Academy of Inventors, a Fulbright Scholar, and recipient of a number of awards, notably of the Department of Defense Breast Cancer Innovator Award, the IEEE Biomedical Engineering Technical Field Award and the Anita B social impact award.

Appointments and Affiliations

  • Robert W. Carr, Jr., Distinguished Professor of Biomedical Engineering
  • Professor of Biomedical Engineering
  • Research Professor of Global Health
  • Professor of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology
  • Member of the Duke Cancer Institute
  • Affiliate of the Duke Initiative for Science & Society
  • Core Faculty Member, Duke-Margolis Institute for Health Policy

Contact Information

Education

  • B.S. University of Texas, Austin, 1989
  • M.S. University of Texas, Austin, 1992
  • Ph.D. University of Texas, Austin, 1995

Research Interests

Biomedical engineering, biophotonics, women's cancers, global health, engineering design, point of care technologies, metabolic imaging, deep learning, immune modulating therapies.

 

Awards, Honors, and Distinctions

  • Membership (NAE). National Academy of Engineering. 2026
  • Breast Cancer Research Program Innovator Award. US Department of Defense. 2024
  • IEEE Biomedical Engineering Award. IEEE. 2023
  • Michael S. Feld Biophotonics . OSA. 2020
  • The WomC Global Impact Award. Duke University Women’s Center. 2020
  • Women In Molecular Imaging Network (WIMIN) Leadership Committee. WIMIN. 2020
  • Associate Editor. Inaugural Editorial Board of IEEE OJEMB. 2020
  • Program co-leader for Radiation Oncology and Imaging Program. Duke Cancer Institute. 2019
  • Biophotonics Technology Innovator Award. International Society for Optics and Photonics. 2019
  • Social Impact Abie Award. AnitaB.org . 2019
  • Women in Molecular Imaging Network Outstanding Leadership in Molecular Imaging Award. World Molecular Imaging Society. 2019
  • Associate Editor. Scientific Reports. 2019
  • CUGH Emerging Leader in Global Health Innovation Faculty Award. Consortium of Universities for Global Health. 2018
  • Fellow (NAI). National Academy of Inventors. 2017
  • Fellow. International Society for Optics and Photonics. 2013
  • Fellow. American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering. 2012
  • Fellow. Optical Society of America. 2010

Courses Taught

  • ISS 796T: Bass Connections Information, Society & Culture Research Team
  • ISS 396T: Bass Connections Information, Society & Culture Research Team
  • BME 792: Continuation of Graduate Independent Study
  • BME 791: Graduate Independent Study
  • BME 494: Projects in Biomedical Engineering (GE)
  • BME 493: Projects in Biomedical Engineering (GE)
  • BME 462L: Design for the Developing World (DR)
  • BME 290L: Intermediate Topics with Lab (GE)
  • BME 290: Intermediate Topics (GE)

In the News

Representative Publications

  • Adrianzen Alvarez, Daniel R., Eva S Landeta Orozco, Nimmi Ramanujam, Jenna L. Mueller, and David F. Katz. “Mechanistic model of phase-transitioning therapeutics injected into poroelastic tissue for improved targeting of superficial tumors.” Scientific Reports 16, no. 1 (February 2026): 10403. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-40299-8.
  • Lee, Taya, Vené Richardson-Powell, Gatha Adhikari, Brian Crouch, Nimmi Ramanujam, and Jenna L. Mueller. “Optimization of injections with speculum-compatible devices to deliver ethyl cellulose-ethanol into the cervix to treat cervical dysplasia.” Scientific Reports 16, no. 1 (December 2025): 2834. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-32627-1.
  • Lee, Taya, Vené Richardson-Powell, Jason Chen, David Garvey, Venkata Sarojasamhita, Kevin Aroom, Martha O. Wang, et al. “Usability of Speculum-Compatible Injection Devices for Administering Ethyl Cellulose-Ethanol Ablation to Treat Cervical Neoplasia in Low- and Middle-Income Countries.” Annals of Biomedical Engineering 53, no. 10 (October 2025): 2658–68. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10439-025-03799-8.
  • Ekem, Lillian, Erica Skerrett, Megan J. Huchko, and Nimmi Ramanujam. “Automated Image Clarity Detection for the Improvement of Colposcopy Imaging with Multiple Devices.” Biomed Signal Process Control 100, no. Pt B (February 2025). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bspc.2024.106948.
  • Mekha, S., E. Sunassee, M. Salgado, M. Madonna, B. Crouch, S. Nair, and N. Ramanujam. “Multi-probe Metabolic Fluorescence Microscopy Captures Poor Tumor Immunogenicity.” In Optical Molecular Probes Imaging and Drug Delivery Omp 2025 in Proceedings Optica Biophotonics Congress 2025 Part of Optica Biophotonics Congress Optics in the Life Sciences, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1364/OMP.2025.OM1E.3.