Dr. Luke Brennan, who joined the lab in 2020 to develop a more accessible cervical cancer screening method in the United States, has achieved another significant milestone in his career.

We are celebrating his graduation from Purdue University after his successful PhD defense.

His time at Purdue and his contributions to HTQL have been remarkable, and we are excited to share some highlights.

A glance AT HIS ACADEMIC JOURNEY

Before coming to Purdue in 2020, Dr. Brennan completed two years of medical school at Indiana University. He holds Bachelor’s degrees in Cell and Molecular Biology and Biomedical Engineering from the University of Michigan.

This spring, he graduated from the MD-PhD program in Biomedical Engineering at Purdue University. While at Purdue, he was awarded the Leslie Bottorff Fellowship, which funded his summer clinical immersion and provided him with invaluable clinical exposure.

Discovering New Research at HTQL

Dr. Brennan’s research focused on developing rapid diagnostic tools for HPV through user-centered design. Under the mentorship of Dr. Natalia Rodriguez, HTQL’s Director, and Dr. Jacqueline Linnes, Director of the Linnes Lab, his work involved close collaboration with HTQL and the Linnes Lab to create a device that would advance this mission.

Some highlighted manuscripts of their hard work can viewed below.

• Leveraging COVID-era innovation for cervical cancer screening: Clinician awareness and attitudes toward self-sampling and rapid testing for HPV detection (Link).
• Clinician practices, knowledge, and attitudes regarding primary human papillomavirus testing for cervical cancer screening: A mixed-methods study in Indiana (Link).

If you are curious about Dr. Brennan’s work, you can check his Google Scholar profile.

New Degree, Same Dream

Dr. Luke Brennan concluded his Purdue’s program with a PhD dissertation on ‘HPV Rapid Diagnostic Test Development through User-Centered Design,’ marking a fitting culmination of his extensive research and dedication.

Pic: Dr. Brennan with his co-advisors Dr. Linnes (right) and Dr. Rodriguez (left).

He will be returning to medical school at IU School of Medicine. After that, he will continue pursuing biomedical engineering research for public health applications.

“I consider myself extremely fortunate to have had the camaraderie and expertise of the HTQL during the PhD process. By challenging ourselves to find the often complex answers to important questions, the HTQL team lifts students to do important public health work. I look forward to returning to public health equipped with the lessons and experiences I got from my work with this lab.” – Dr. Luke Brennan

We look forward to seeing the continued contributions he will make in his future endeavors. Congratulations, Dr. Brennan!