262:
need for an intrusive, pelvic exam. She has developed a translational microscope called the CapCell Scope to identify biomarkers of metabolism that reflect tumor behavior, including growth, proliferation, and treatment resistance, aimed at informing drug selection for breast cancer treatment. She has developed an ultra-low-cost injectable liquid-based ablation therapy that disrupts tumors locally as well as elicits an anti-tumor immune response to address an important gap – the lack of access to surgery to the world’s most vulnerable populations.
306:. She is a Fulbright scholar, a member of the National Academy of Inventors, and a fellow of international professional societies in her field. She has also been invited for speaking engagements at the United Nations, as a TEDx speaker, and has been invited to give plenary talks on her work all over the world.
281:
with a similar name was created and has been screened at conferences and by multiple artists and students across the U.S. This film was officially selected for the Women at the Center Film
Festival at the International Papillomavirus Conference in 2020. She also co-led the curation of an art exhibit
269:
The most prominent is a consortium called Women
Inspired Strategies for Health (WISH) to improve cervical cancer prevention in low-resource settings globally. She is working with partners worldwide to ensure that technologies and strategies for addressing cervical cancer are adopted by cancer
261:
She has used her expertise in imaging and human-centered design to develop the Pocket colposcope which is on the WHO list of devices for cervical cancer imaging. A sister device, the
Callascope is a self-use speculum-free imaging device, which allows women to screen themselves privately without the
257:
Ramanujam addresses pressing challenges in women’s cancers, specifically, cervical and breast cancer. Ramanujam creates technologies that transform complex diagnostic instruments and therapies into accessible, affordable, and appropriate solutions. Several of these products are now being used
240:
Ramanujam, who spent most of her formative years in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with brief stays in Mysore and
Bangalore, India, was introduced to the world of music at a young age. Her mother, a veena player, instilled in her a love for the ancient Indian instrument, and Ramanujam dedicated herself to
285:
She has also created a global education program that intersects design thinking, STEM concepts, and the U.N. Sustainable
Development Goals to promote social justice awareness (IGNITE). The participatory learning curricula have been implemented in more than four countries with broad-ranging impact.
258:
in several countries in the U.S., Latin
America, and Africa. She has developed a network of partners including academic institutions and hospitals, non-governmental organizations, ministries of health, and commercial partners to implement these technologies in diverse healthcare settings globally.
203:
is an educator, innovator, and entrepreneur. Ramanujam is recognized for creating globally accessible technologies for women’s health related to cancer screening, diagnosis, and treatment. She is the Robert W. Carr
Professor of Engineering and Professor of Cancer Pharmacology and Global Health at
265:
Ramanujam has also created several global initiatives that strive to achieve enduring impact in health and education. Her innovations have a common wellspring - they are all connected and come from a place of wanting to create and make something that doesn’t exist in this form and can touch many
244:
Ramanujam sees similarities between her approach to music and her engineering work. She compares her purposeful problem-solving in engineering to mastering a musical melody. Although trained musicians have techniques and tools to assist them in tackling a difficult piece, Ramanujam envisions the
253:
Ramanujam obtained her Ph.D. degree at the
University of Texas at Austin. She progressed steadily through the ranks as an academic researcher; the first five years as a research scientist and postdoctoral fellow at the University of Pennsylvania, the next five as an assistant professor at the
270:
control programs in geographically and economically diverse healthcare settings. These partnerships have resulted in see-and-treat cancer control strategies in the least resourced settings that are in clinical deserts. WISH has been recognized by the MacArthur
Foundation as one of the
286:
For example, students living around the contaminated Lake
Atitlan, in Guatemala learned how to design engineering solutions for clean water. Similarly, students in Muhuru Bay, Kenya were able to design renewable energy flashlights for personal use during frequent power outages.
1143:
282:
to bring together a collection of visual arts, medical photography, sculptures, and installations, both a physical exhibit and a digital moving gallery to express the stigma and shame associated with female anatomy.
216:. In 2019, she received the social impact Abie Award for making a positive impact on women, technology, and society. She was elected as a fellow of the National Academy of Inventors in 2017. She founded
245:
solution to engineering problems first and then finds or develops the necessary tools. Her musical background also inspires her to take a more creative and collaborative approach to problem-solving.
254:
University of Wisconsin, Madison, and the following five as an associate professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Duke University. In 2011 she was promoted to full professor.
333:
62:
560:
208:) in 2013 to catalyze impactful research, educational and community outreach activities that promote women’s health. In 2023, she won the IEEE Biomedical Engineering
241:
mastering it from the age of five. Her hard work and talent earned her numerous opportunities to perform on radio broadcasts and at concerts throughout her school years.
1168:
299:
209:
665:
1123:
1163:
1153:
98:
294:
Ramanujam is internationally recognized for her contributions to innovation, education, and entrepreneurship and received numerous awards most notably, the
277:
Ramanujam has also launched an arts and storytelling initiative, The Invisible Organ to raise awareness of sexual and reproductive health inequities. An
692:
WHO technical guidance and specifications of medical devices for screening and treatment of precancerous lesions in the prevention of cervical cancer
1113:
700:
1138:
1001:
614:"From reluctant engineer to leader of audacious projects on behalf of women | National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering"
90:
903:
1158:
1083:
453:
1128:
613:
271:
220:
to commercialize technologies developed at the center. Further she has created a number of initiatives and consortia including
429:
1041:
862:
Dotson, Mary Elizabeth; Alvarez, Valentina; Tackett, Maria; Asturias, Gabriela; Leon, Isabela; Ramanujam, Nirmala (2020).
349:
74:
32:
1059:
864:"Design Thinking-Based STEM Learning: Preliminary Results on Achieving Scale and Sustainability Through the IGNITE Model"
1118:
1025:
232:
to have far reaching impact in cervical cancer, reproductive health and engineering design education, respectively.
584:
929:
716:
1148:
640:
404:
816:
1133:
213:
377:
326:
101:), 2019 WIMIN Leadership Award (World Molecular Imaging Congress), 2019 Social Impact Abie Award (
885:
696:
78:
561:"Top 2023 IEEE Biomedical Engineering Awardee Professor Nimmi Ramanujam Shares Deep Insights"
875:
106:
66:
742:
666:"Cervical Cancer Screening, HPV Vaccinations Improved through Technologies and Initiatives"
152:
94:
977:
295:
506:
1107:
791:
225:
355:
Emerging Global Health Leader, Consortium of the Universities of Global Health, 2017
953:
904:"Duke biomedical engineering professor wins social impact award | WRAL TechWire"
204:
Duke University. She founded the Center for Global Women’s Health Technologies (
534:
167:
359:
303:
278:
102:
889:
880:
863:
690:
1042:"Nirmala Ramanujam: The 2020 SPIE Biophotonics Technology Innovator Award"
430:"Nirmala Ramanujam: The 2020 SPIE Biophotonics Technology Innovator Award"
1144:
Fellows of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering
477:
229:
217:
838:
274:, a testament to its significance in redesigning the health system.
346:
Robert W. Carr Jr., Professor of Engineering, Duke University, 2014
824:
1060:"Ramanujam Receives the 2020 Michael S. Feld Biophotonics Award"
1002:"Duke biomedical engineering professor wins social impact award"
383:
371:
340:
114:
110:
70:
212:, given annually for outstanding contributions to the field of
771:
266:
lives just like a piece of music, which has universal appeal.
221:
86:
82:
368:
WIMIN Leadership Award, World Molecular Imaging Society, 2019
205:
585:"Meet Dr. Nimmi Ramanujam, Social Impact Abie Award Winner"
454:"Nirmala Ramanujam: 2023 IEEE Biomedical Engineering Award"
334:
American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering
63:
American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering
181:
109:), 2020 SPIE Biophotonics Technology Innovator Award (
641:"Arts+ at Duke: Nimmi Ramanujam, Engineering Pianist"
53:
The Invisible Organ arts and storytelling initiative
1026:"Ramanujam Receives Fulbright Global Scholar Award"
930:"Ramanujam Receives Fulbright Global Scholar Award"
717:"Women's Health: It's Personal for Nimmi Ramanujam"
272:
top 100 most transformative and impactful solutions
162:
148:
128:
57:
39:
28:
21:
1046:The International Society for Optics and Photonics
71:Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers
16:Biomedical engineer and women's cancer researcher
43:Inventing the pocket colposcope and callascope
374:Biophotonics Technology Innovator Award, 2020
309:Ramanujam has won numerous awards including:
8:
322:DOD Era of Hope Research Scholar award, 2009
105:), 2020 Michael S. Feld Biophotonics Award (
99:Consortium of Universities for Global Health
113:), 2023 IEEE Biomedical Engineering Award (
18:
1084:"Engineering Solutions to Women's Health"
954:"Nimmi Ramanujam | Scholars@Duke profile"
879:
365:Fulbright Global Scholar Fellowship, 2019
1169:Malaysian emigrants to the United States
380:Michael S. Feld Biophotonics Award, 2020
85:), 2005 Global Indus Technovator Award (
396:
1124:21st-century American women scientists
1030:Duke University Biomedical Engineering
766:
764:
762:
695:. Geneva: World Health Organization.
635:
633:
7:
1164:American academics of Indian descent
1154:University of Texas at Austin alumni
1058:Thompson, Christopher (2020-02-06).
928:Thompson, Christopher (2019-04-22).
608:
606:
604:
529:
527:
501:
499:
497:
319:DOD Era of Hope Scholar award, 2005
89:), 2005 Era of Hope Scholar Award (
721:Duke University School of Medicine
689:World Health Organization (2020).
386:Biomedical Engineering Award, 2023
51:Design-based STEM program, Ignite
14:
741:Martinez, Michaela (2017-11-06).
316:MIT Indus Technovator Award, 2005
93:), 2011 Stansell Research Award (
1064:Duke Pratt School of Engineering
934:Duke Pratt School of Engineering
747:Duke Pratt School of Engineering
670:Duke Health Referring Physicians
97:), 2018 Emerging Leader Award (
1:
1114:American biomedical engineers
743:"Engineering a New Narrative"
350:National Academy of Inventors
75:National Academy of Inventors
33:University of Texas at Austin
45:Cancer screening technology
1139:Fellows of Optica (society)
539:Duke Biomedical Engineering
1185:
327:Optical Society of America
158:
121:
1159:American women academics
881:10.3389/feduc.2020.00014
302:, and the Social Impact
48:WISH Revolution program
1129:Duke University faculty
817:"The (In)visible Organ"
298:Biomedical Engineering
279:educational documentary
868:Frontiers in Education
796:Rubenstein Arts Center
214:Biomedical engineering
132:Biomedical engineering
827:on September 9, 2020.
821:The (In)visible Organ
772:"The WISH Revolution"
511:globalhealth.duke.edu
313:MIT TR100 Award, 2003
300:Technical Field Award
210:Technical Field Award
249:Education and career
81:. 2003 TR100 Award (
978:"Nirmala Ramanujam"
792:"(In)visible Organ"
378:The Optical Society
1119:Cancer researchers
559:Ibaraki, Stephen.
144:Engineering Design
958:scholars.duke.edu
702:978-92-4-000263-0
618:www.nibib.nih.gov
535:"Nimmi Ramanujam"
507:"Nimmi Ramanujam"
362:, AnitaB.org 2019
290:Awards and Honors
226:(In)visible Organ
190:
189:
123:Scientific career
79:Fulbright Program
1176:
1098:
1097:
1095:
1094:
1080:
1074:
1073:
1071:
1070:
1055:
1049:
1039:
1033:
1023:
1017:
1016:
1014:
1013:
998:
992:
991:
989:
988:
974:
968:
967:
965:
964:
950:
944:
943:
941:
940:
925:
919:
918:
916:
915:
908:wraltechwire.com
900:
894:
893:
883:
859:
853:
852:
850:
849:
835:
829:
828:
823:. Archived from
813:
807:
806:
804:
803:
788:
782:
781:
779:
778:
768:
757:
756:
754:
753:
738:
732:
731:
729:
728:
713:
707:
706:
686:
680:
679:
677:
676:
662:
656:
655:
653:
652:
637:
628:
627:
625:
624:
610:
599:
598:
596:
595:
581:
575:
574:
572:
571:
556:
550:
549:
547:
546:
531:
522:
521:
519:
518:
503:
492:
491:
489:
488:
474:
468:
467:
465:
464:
450:
444:
443:
441:
440:
426:
420:
419:
417:
416:
401:
186:
183:
178:
176:/nimmi-ramanujam
175:
173:
171:
169:
19:
1184:
1183:
1179:
1178:
1177:
1175:
1174:
1173:
1149:Fellows of SPIE
1104:
1103:
1102:
1101:
1092:
1090:
1082:
1081:
1077:
1068:
1066:
1057:
1056:
1052:
1040:
1036:
1024:
1020:
1011:
1009:
1000:
999:
995:
986:
984:
976:
975:
971:
962:
960:
952:
951:
947:
938:
936:
927:
926:
922:
913:
911:
902:
901:
897:
861:
860:
856:
847:
845:
837:
836:
832:
815:
814:
810:
801:
799:
790:
789:
785:
776:
774:
770:
769:
760:
751:
749:
740:
739:
735:
726:
724:
715:
714:
710:
703:
688:
687:
683:
674:
672:
664:
663:
659:
650:
648:
639:
638:
631:
622:
620:
612:
611:
602:
593:
591:
583:
582:
578:
569:
567:
558:
557:
553:
544:
542:
533:
532:
525:
516:
514:
505:
504:
495:
486:
484:
476:
475:
471:
462:
460:
452:
451:
447:
438:
436:
428:
427:
423:
414:
412:
405:"2019 Honorees"
403:
402:
398:
393:
292:
251:
238:
180:
179:
166:
153:Duke University
139:
138:Women's cancers
133:
95:Duke University
24:
23:Nimmi Ramanujam
17:
12:
11:
5:
1182:
1180:
1172:
1171:
1166:
1161:
1156:
1151:
1146:
1141:
1136:
1131:
1126:
1121:
1116:
1106:
1105:
1100:
1099:
1075:
1050:
1034:
1018:
993:
969:
945:
920:
895:
854:
830:
808:
783:
758:
733:
708:
701:
681:
657:
629:
600:
576:
551:
523:
493:
469:
445:
421:
395:
394:
392:
389:
388:
387:
381:
375:
369:
366:
363:
358:Social Impact
356:
353:
347:
344:
337:
332:Fellow of the
330:
325:Fellow of the
323:
320:
317:
314:
291:
288:
250:
247:
237:
234:
188:
187:
164:
160:
159:
156:
155:
150:
146:
145:
142:Global health
130:
126:
125:
119:
118:
61:Fellow of the
59:
55:
54:
41:
40:Known for
37:
36:
30:
26:
25:
22:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1181:
1170:
1167:
1165:
1162:
1160:
1157:
1155:
1152:
1150:
1147:
1145:
1142:
1140:
1137:
1135:
1134:Living people
1132:
1130:
1127:
1125:
1122:
1120:
1117:
1115:
1112:
1111:
1109:
1089:
1085:
1079:
1076:
1065:
1061:
1054:
1051:
1047:
1043:
1038:
1035:
1031:
1027:
1022:
1019:
1007:
1006:WRAL TechWire
1003:
997:
994:
983:
979:
973:
970:
959:
955:
949:
946:
935:
931:
924:
921:
909:
905:
899:
896:
891:
887:
882:
877:
873:
869:
865:
858:
855:
844:
840:
834:
831:
826:
822:
818:
812:
809:
797:
793:
787:
784:
773:
767:
765:
763:
759:
748:
744:
737:
734:
722:
718:
712:
709:
704:
698:
694:
693:
685:
682:
671:
667:
661:
658:
646:
642:
636:
634:
630:
619:
615:
609:
607:
605:
601:
590:
586:
580:
577:
566:
562:
555:
552:
540:
536:
530:
528:
524:
512:
508:
502:
500:
498:
494:
483:
479:
473:
470:
459:
455:
449:
446:
435:
431:
425:
422:
410:
406:
400:
397:
390:
385:
382:
379:
376:
373:
370:
367:
364:
361:
357:
354:
351:
348:
345:
342:
338:
336:(AIMBE), 2012
335:
331:
328:
324:
321:
318:
315:
312:
311:
310:
307:
305:
301:
297:
289:
287:
283:
280:
275:
273:
267:
263:
259:
255:
248:
246:
242:
235:
233:
231:
227:
223:
219:
215:
211:
207:
202:
198:
194:
185:
177:
165:
161:
157:
154:
151:
147:
143:
140:
136:
135:Biophotonics
131:
127:
124:
120:
116:
112:
108:
104:
100:
96:
92:
88:
84:
80:
76:
72:
68:
64:
60:
56:
52:
49:
46:
42:
38:
34:
31:
27:
20:
1091:. Retrieved
1087:
1078:
1067:. Retrieved
1063:
1053:
1048:, 2019-11-13
1045:
1037:
1032:, 2019-04-22
1029:
1021:
1010:. Retrieved
1008:. 2019-06-20
1005:
996:
985:. Retrieved
981:
972:
961:. Retrieved
957:
948:
937:. Retrieved
933:
923:
912:. Retrieved
910:. 2019-06-20
907:
898:
871:
867:
857:
846:. Retrieved
842:
833:
825:the original
820:
811:
800:. Retrieved
798:. 2019-01-14
795:
786:
775:. Retrieved
750:. Retrieved
746:
736:
725:. Retrieved
723:. 2020-01-21
720:
711:
691:
684:
673:. Retrieved
669:
660:
649:. Retrieved
647:. 2018-10-01
644:
621:. Retrieved
617:
592:. Retrieved
588:
579:
568:. Retrieved
564:
554:
543:. Retrieved
541:. 2023-11-16
538:
515:. Retrieved
513:. 2019-12-23
510:
485:. Retrieved
481:
472:
461:. Retrieved
457:
448:
437:. Retrieved
433:
424:
413:. Retrieved
411:. 2019-06-12
408:
399:
352:Fellow, 2017
308:
293:
284:
276:
268:
264:
260:
256:
252:
243:
239:
218:Calla Health
200:
196:
192:
191:
149:Institutions
141:
137:
134:
122:
50:
47:
44:
1088:IEEE Awards
1108:Categories
1093:2023-05-31
1069:2023-12-11
1012:2019-09-24
987:2019-09-24
963:2023-12-08
939:2023-12-11
914:2023-12-08
848:2023-12-08
839:"Ventures"
802:2023-12-11
777:2023-12-08
752:2023-12-08
727:2023-12-08
675:2023-12-08
651:2023-11-17
623:2023-11-17
594:2023-11-17
589:AnitaB.org
570:2023-11-17
545:2023-11-17
517:2023-12-08
487:2023-11-17
463:2023-07-17
439:2019-09-24
415:2019-09-24
409:AnitaB.org
391:References
360:Abie Award
339:Fellow of
304:Abie Award
236:Early life
103:AnitaB.org
890:2504-284X
645:Duke Arts
482:orcid.org
201:Ramanujam
29:Education
193:Nirmala
182:dukegwht
174:/faculty
478:"ORCID"
163:Website
888:
699:
565:Forbes
343:, 2013
329:, 2009
230:IGNITE
129:Fields
107:Optica
77:, and
67:Optica
58:Awards
197:Nimmi
170:.duke
35:(PhD)
982:SPIE
886:ISSN
843:GWHT
697:ISBN
458:IEEE
434:SPIE
384:IEEE
372:SPIE
341:SPIE
296:IEEE
228:and
222:WISH
206:GWHT
184:.org
172:.edu
115:IEEE
111:SPIE
876:doi
168:bme
91:DOD
87:MIT
83:MIT
1110::
1086:.
1062:.
1044:,
1028:,
1004:.
980:.
956:.
932:.
906:.
884:.
874:.
870:.
866:.
841:.
819:.
794:.
761:^
745:.
719:.
668:.
643:.
632:^
616:.
603:^
587:.
563:.
537:.
526:^
509:.
496:^
480:.
456:.
432:.
407:.
224:,
73:,
69:,
65:,
1096:.
1072:.
1015:.
990:.
966:.
942:.
917:.
892:.
878::
872:5
851:.
805:.
780:.
755:.
730:.
705:.
678:.
654:.
626:.
597:.
573:.
548:.
520:.
490:.
466:.
442:.
418:.
199:)
195:(
117:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.