Warren M. Grill

James B. Duke Distinguished Professor of Biomedical Engineering

Our research employs engineering approaches to understand and control neural function. We work on fundamental questions and applied development in electrical stimulation of the nervous system to restore function to individuals with neurological impairment or injury.

Current projects include:
• understanding the mechanisms of and developing advanced approaches to deep brain stimulation to treat movement disorders,
• developing novel approaches to peripheral nerve electrical stimulation for restoration of bladder function, 
• understanding the mechanisms of and developing advanced approaches to spinal cord stimulation to treat chronic pain,
• understanding and controlling the cellular effects of transcranial magnetic stimulation, and
• design of novel electrodes and waveforms for selective stimulation of the nervous system.

Appointments and Affiliations

  • James B. Duke Distinguished Professor of Biomedical Engineering
  • Bass Fellow
  • Professor in Neurobiology
  • Professor in Neurosurgery
  • Faculty Network Member of the Duke Institute for Brain Sciences
  • Associate of the Duke Initiative for Science & Society
  • Professor of Biomedical Engineering

Contact Information

Education

  • B.S. Boston University, 1989
  • M.S. Case Western Reserve University, 1992
  • Ph.D. Case Western Reserve University, 1995

Research Interests

Neural engineering and neural prostheses and include design and testing of electrodes and stimulation techniques, the electrical properties of tissues and cells, and computational neuroscience with applications in restoration of bladder function, treatment of movement disorders with deep brain stimulation, and treatment of chronic pain.

Awards, Honors, and Distinctions

  • Fellow (NAI). National Academy of Inventors. 2022
  • Capers & Marion McDonald Award for Excellence in Teaching and Research. Pratt School of Engineering. 2018
  • Javits Neuroscience Investigator Award. NIH-NINDS . 2015
  • Scholar / Teacher of the Year Award. Duke University. 2014
  • Outstanding Postdoc Mentor. Duke University. 2013
  • Fellow. Biomedical Engineering Society. 2011
  • Fellow. American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering. 2007

Courses Taught

  • NEUROSCI 515: Neural Prosthetic Systems (GE, EL, IM)
  • NEUROSCI 504: Fundamentals of Electrical Stimulation of the Nervous System (EL, GE)
  • NEUROSCI 494: Research Independent Study 2
  • NEUROSCI 301L: Bioelectricity (AC or GE)
  • EGR 393: Research Projects in Engineering
  • BME 792: Continuation of Graduate Independent Study
  • BME 791: Graduate Independent Study
  • BME 601L: Introduction to Neural Engineering
  • BME 515: Neural Prosthetic Systems (GE, EL, IM)
  • BME 504: Fundamentals of Electrical Stimulation of the Nervous System (EL, GE)
  • BME 494: Projects in Biomedical Engineering (GE)
  • BME 493: Projects in Biomedical Engineering (GE)
  • BME 301L: Bioelectricity (AC or GE)

In the News

Representative Publications

  • Dale, Jahrane A., Stephen L. Schmidt, Kyle T. Mitchell, Jennifer J. Peters, Dennis A. Turner, and Warren M. Grill. “Mechanisms mediating dynamic changes in neural responses during deep brain stimulation.” Brain Stimul 19, no. 1 (December 10, 2025): 103002. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brs.2025.103002.
  • Rodriguez Capilla, Rocio, Aislinn M. Hurley, Karthik Kumaravelu, Jennifer J. Peters, Hui-Jie Lee, Dennis A. Turner, Warren M. Grill, and Stephen L. Schmidt. “Effect of frequency on dual target deep brain stimulation.” Clin Neurophysiol 182 (December 1, 2025): 2111467. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinph.2025.2111467.
  • Marshall, Daniel P., Elie S. Farah, Eric D. Musselman, Nicole A. Pelot, and Warren M. Grill. “PyFibers: An open-source NEURON-Python package to simulate responses of model nerve fibers to electrical stimulation.” PLoS Computational Biology 21, no. 12 (December 2025): e1013764. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1013764.
  • Barth, Bradley B., and Warren M. Grill. “Burst-patterned stimulation restores colonic motility in preclinical models.” Science Translational Medicine 17, no. 823 (November 2025): eadu4615. https://doi.org/10.1126/scitranslmed.adu4615.
  • Wei, Xuefeng, Wali Sohail, Nikhil Parab, Allen Hong, and Warren M. Grill. “Simulation of Spatiotemporal Current Density Distribution on Electrode-Electrolyte Interface during Deep Brain Stimulation.” Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. Annual International Conference 2025 (July 2025): 1–5. https://doi.org/10.1109/embc58623.2025.11253017.