Department of Medicine
Faculty Profiles by Division

Department of Medicine

Faculty Profiles
[Return To Index page]
photo Kambez H. Benam, DPhil

Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine

Associate Professor of Medicine, and Bioengineering

Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Email: kambez.benam@pitt.edu

Phone: 412-383-4766
Contact
Office: 3459 Fifth Avenue
MUH NW628
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
 
Phone: 412-383-4766
Fax: 412-624-1670
E-mail: kambez.benam@pitt.edu
Administrative Assistant:
Stacie Truszkowski
Email: truszkowskisl@upmc.edu
Phone: 412-624-7225
Fax: 412-624-1670
Education and Training
Education
B.Sc., Newcastle University, United Kingdom, 2007
D.Phil., University of Oxford, United Kingdom, 2012
Training
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
Research Interest
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.
Educational Interest
Dr. Benam has a longstanding interest and experience in teaching and mentoring undergraduate and postgraduate students in Medicine, Biomedical Engineering, (Inhalation) Toxicology, and Cell and Molecular Biology.
Publications
For my complete bibliography, Click Here.
Selected Publications:
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.
Notable Achievements
Society of Toxicology Biotechnology Specialty Section Best Paper of the Year Award, 2022
American Thoracic Society Respiratory Structure & Function Assembly Science and Innovation Center Rising Star Award, 2019
American Thoracic Society Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology Assembly Recognition of Early Academic Achievement (REAAch) Award, 2019
Science-to-Startup Symposium Competition Finalist, 2019
Society of Toxicology Inhalation and Respiratory Specialty Section Young Investigator Award, 2018
Lush Young Researcher Award, 2016
Baxter Young Investigator Award, 2016

Division Websites

Cardiology

Endocrinology and Metabolism

Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition

General Internal Medicine

Geriatric Medicine
Hematology/Oncology

Infectious Diseases

Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine

Renal-Electrolyte

Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology

Contact

Department of Medicine
1218 Scaife Hall
3550 Terrace Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15261
Email:  chairoff@pitt.edu
Phone:  412-648-9636
Copyright © 2022 Department of Medicine / University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Site maintained by the Department of Medicine domwebsite@PITT.EDU