Ellen Roche

Background and Experience

Ellen Roche is currently the Latham family Associate Professor at the Institute for Medical Engineering and Science and the Department of Mechanical Engineering at MIT. She directs the Therapeutic Technology Design and Development Lab.  She completed her PhD at Harvard University School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. Her research focuses on applying innovative technologies to the development of cardiac devices. Her research includes development of novel devices to repair or augment cardiac function using disruptive approaches such as soft robotics, combination of mechanical actuation with delivery of cell therapy, and use of light activated biodegradable adhesives. Dr. Roche was employed in the medical device industry for over five years as a research and development engineer and employs her understanding of the medical device industry and the regulatory pathways to medical device commercialization in her academic research. She holds 5 issued patents, with 8 pending and is the authors of over 60 conference/journal papers. She is the recipient of multiple awards including the Fulbright International Science and Technology Award, the Welcome Trust Seed Award in Science, a National Science Foundation CAREER Award, a Charles H. Hood Award for Excellence in Child Health Research and an NIH Trailblazer Award.