Chang Hun Lee, PhD

Chang H. Lee, PhD, is a Professor in the College of Dental Medicine with an affiliated appointment in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Columbia University. In addition to his faculty role, he serves as the Director of Research for the College of Dental Medicine and the Associate Director of the Center for Dental and Craniofacial Research.

Dr. Lee earned his Bachelor of Science (2002) and Master of Engineering (2004) degrees in Biomedical Engineering from Inje University in South Korea. He subsequently completed his Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering at Columbia University in 2010.

Dr. Lee's research centers on regenerative engineering, tissue engineering, and organ-on-a-chip microphysiological systems, focusing on the repair and regeneration of dense connective tissues such as the knee meniscus, tendons, and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) discs. His pioneering work emphasizes in situ tissue regeneration by harnessing endogenous stem and progenitor cells, bioactive small molecules, and advanced 3D-printed bioscaffolds.

He has authored a robust publication record comprising over 70 peer-reviewed articles in high-impact journals, accumulating more than 6,900 citations with an h-index of 36. His flagship translational and scientific contributions include landmark publications in premier journals, including the Lancet, Science Translational Medicine, and Journal of Clinical Investigation.

Deeply dedicated to educational leadership and mentorship, Dr. Lee has trained and mentored a large, highly productive cohort of over 90 trainees, including dozens of pre-doctoral dental and medical students, undergraduate researchers, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows. Mentees under his direction have earned numerous prestigious national and institutional accolades, including multiple Hinman Research Symposium Most Outstanding Presentation Awards, AADR/AADOCR Hatton Awards and Fellowships, and Birnberg Research Awards. Dr. Lee's commitment to cultivating the next generation of academic leaders is reflected in the career trajectories of his former pre-doctoral trainees and postdoctoral fellows, several of whom have advanced to faculty positions at major research universities.