University of Washington bioengineers have won two awards from the Society for Biomaterials. The National ESCA and Surface Analysis Center for Biomedical Problems (NESAC/Bio) has won the 2020 Technology, Innovation and Development Award. The award recognizes the center’s 35 years of pioneering advances in biomedical surface analysis in the development of novel methods for characterizing the surface of biomaterials and their interactions with the biological environment.
The Society for Biomaterials specifically honors former NESAC/Bio Director Buddy Ratner, joint professor of bioengineering and chemical engineering, and UW NESAC/Bio Co-Directors David Castner, emeritus professor, and Lara Gamble, research associate professor. The Technology Innovation and Development Award formally recognizes successful application of basic and applied biomaterials research in the development of a novel medical product or technology that significantly benefits the health and well-being of medical and surgical patients.
The Society for Biomaterials also is honoring Cole DeForest, joint assistant professor of chemical engineering and bioengineering, with the 2020 Young Investigators Award. The award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated outstanding achievements in the field of biomaterials research. Dr. DeForest’s research focuses on developing user-programmable biomaterials aimed at understanding basic cell function, engineering functional tissue, delivering functional therapeutics, and curing disease.
The awards will be presented during the 11th World Biomaterials Conference in Glasgow, Scotland, held May 19-24, 2020.
Read the Society for Biomaterials announcement about all the 2020 award winners.