David Dean
University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA
David Dean’s research focuses on medical procedures and devices used primarily for musculoskeletal reconstructive surgery. His PhD thesis presented a novel, template-based method for the production of average 3D surface images of organs such as the skull. His postdoctoral research at the Institute of Reconstructive and Plastic Surgery (New York University, New York, NY) used average skull images as targets for surgical simulation and intra-operative guidance.
In July 1994, Dr. Dean joined the faculty at Case Western Reserve University (Cleveland, OH) where he began using average skull images to design and fabricate cranial implants in the Department of Neurological Surgery. Indeed, Dr. Dean was the first person to use 3D CT patient images and an anatomical template to create a Computer Aided Design (CAD) file used to 3D print a patient-specific cranial implant. This procedure is now standard-of-care.
Since the mid-1990’s Dr. Dean’s research has expanded to incorporate techniques from the fields of regenerative medicine, biomaterials, stem cells, and cell-signaling molecules (growth factors) in the search for a bone tissue engineering (i.e., bone substitute) strategy. In 2013 Dr. Dean’s primary appointment moved to the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at The Ohio State University (Columbus, OH).
In 2019 he received an additional faculty appointment in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering. At The Ohio State University Dr. Dean led the Osteo Engineering Lab’s (www.OsteoEngineering.com) work on novel bone and microvasculature tissue engineering research using 3D printed, resorbable, solid-cured polymer scaffolds as well as bioprinted, cell-laden, hydrogels. He is also working on the 3D printing of two biometals, NiTi and a resorbable, patented Mg alloy. Both materials are being used to develop stiffness-matched, skeletal fixation devices. Taken together, these technologies portend significant improvements in musculoskeletal reconstructive surgery outcomes.
Most recently, in fall 2025, Dr. Dean’s primary appointment and the Osteo Engineering Laboratory moved to the Biomedical Engineering Department at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
