Engineering Foundation Professor | Mechanical & Nuclear Engineering
Dr. Golshahi specializes in aerosol science and in vitro-in vivo correlations for respiratory support, diagnosis and inhalation therapy.
Email: lgolshahi@vcu.edu
Areas of Expertise
Aerosol Science and Medicine, In Vitro and In Vivo Models Of Respiratory Deposition, Health-Related Aerosols Exposure Control, Targeted Respiratory Drug Delivery, Aerosol filtration, Biotherapeutics, Gas and aerosol transport in biological systems
Dr. Laleh Golshahi is an Associate Professor and Engineering Foundation Professor of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), where she founded and directs the Respiratory Aerosol Research and Education (RARE) Laboratory. Dr. Golshahi's research program, spanning nearly two decades, examines how anatomical variability in the human airway shapes respiratory drug deposition — work that has produced over 50 peer-reviewed publications and informs targeted inhaled drug delivery, nose-to-brain pharmaceutical transport, electronic nicotine delivery systems, and respiratory exposure protection.
Her research also supports modeling and New Approach Methodology bioequivalence frameworks. Dr. Golshahi is also Founder and CEO of 3DInhale LLC, a VCU spin-off commercializing an anatomically informed nasal airway platform for intranasal and nose-to-brain drug delivery. Combining expertise in fluid dynamics, 3D anatomical airway modeling, and in vitro–in vivo testing, she pairs device development with active postdoctoral and student mentorship and leadership in aerosol science and technology.
Accomplishments
The International Society for Aerosols in Medicine Young Investigator Award
University of Alberta Dissertation Fellowship, Canada (2011-2012)
Recipient of the University of Alberta Dissertation Fellowship, Canada (2011-2012)
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), PGS National Doctoral Award, Canada (2009-2011)
Recipient of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), PGS National Doctoral Award, Canada (2009-2011)
Alberta Innovates Graduate Scholarship, Canada (2008-2011)
Recipient of the Alberta Innovates Graduate Scholarship, Canada (2008-2011)
President’s Doctoral Prize of Distinction (2009)
2009-01-01
Recipient of the President’s Doctoral Prize of Distinction, University of Alberta, Canada (2009-2011).
Saddler Doctoral Award, Canada (2008)
Recipient of the Saddler Doctoral Award, Canada (2008)
Provost Doctoral Recruitment Scholarship, University of Alberta, Canada (2007-2009)
Recipient of the Provost Doctoral Recruitment Scholarship, University of Alberta, Canada (2007-2009)
Education
Virginia Commonwealth University
Post-Doctoral Fellow
Pharmaceutics
2014
University of Alberta
Ph.D.
Mechanical Engineering
2012
University of Calgary
M.S
Mechanical Engineering
2007
Tehran Polytechnique
B.S.
Mechanical Engineering
2002
Affiliations
The International Society for Aerosols in Medicine (ISAM)
The American Association for Aerosol Research (AAAR)
American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS)
The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE)
The Air & Waste Management Association (A&WMA)
The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
Research Focus
Nasal Drug Delivery
Understand and improve nasal drug delivery by developing methods that can predict local deposition pattern of administered nasal drug delivery devices for various applications e.g. allergic rhinitis, nose-to-brain, etc.
Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS)
Understand respiratory effects of vapor and aerosol emitted from ENDS using bio-similar models of airways
Applications of Aerosol Technology and Fluid Dynamics in Advancing the Performance and Safety of Aerosol Therapy and Respiratory Support
Understand and improve respiratory support and inhalation therapy for various applications including high flow nasal cannula therapy using bio-relevant in vitro platforms
Courses
EGMN 201: Dynamics and Kinematics
Dynamics addresses the accelerated motion of a body. The principles of kinematics and kinetics of particles and rigid bodies in two dimensions are covered in this course. Kinematics only considers the geometric aspects of the motion, and kinetics is the part where the forces causing the motion are analyzed.
EGMN 591: ST: Turbomachinery
This is also a technical elective course. The course is designed with the aim of a balanced coverage of theory and application of fluid mechanics and thermodynamics of turbomachinery. Starting with background principles in fluid mechanics and thermodynamics, the course progresses to discuss axial flow turbines and compressors, centrifugal pumps, fans, and compressors, and radial flow gas turbines, hydraulic turbines, and wind turbines. The course is beneficial for senior undergraduate and graduate students, who are interested in the aerospace, global power, oil & gas and other industries who are involved in the design and operation of turbomachines.
EGMN 591: ST: Introduction to Particle Science and Technology
EGMN 591: ST: Introduction to Particle Science and Technology is a technical elective course. Particles are ubiquitous in the environment in many different forms such as dusts, pollens, smoke, fume and smog, so the knowledge of their behavior is essential for their control. Understanding the behavior of particles is also the focus of respiratory drug delivery specialists. The course covers the basics of properties of gases, particle motion, size statistics, adhesion of particles, coagulation, condensation and evaporation, electrical and optical properties of particles in carrier gases, filtration and brief discussion of respiratory deposition. The course is beneficial for advanced undergraduates, graduate students and professionals with interests in environmental science, air pollution control, industrial hygiene, radiation protection and pulmonary drug delivery.
Selected Articles
Updated List of Publications in Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Click the Google Scholar link for updated list of publications
