Society For Biomaterials to Announce Award Recipients Ahead of 2017 Annual Meeting & Exposition

The U.S. Society For Biomaterials (SFB), a professional society which promotes advances in biomedical materials research and development, will host its Annual Meeting & Exposition in Minneapolis, Minnesota from April 5-8. Held in the heart of Medical Alley, and centered on the theme “Where Materials Become Medicine,” the meeting will highlight the Society’s dedication to translating research and discoveries in materials science into clinical applications that can improve both human health and quality of life.

SFB is composed of members who have experience in numerous sectors of the biomaterials field, ranging from clinicians and researchers to medical device manufacturers and students studying biomaterials. During the April meeting, SFB will recognize the achievements of twelve of its members who have made a significant contribution to the biomaterials field.

This year, SFB is proud to present the following awards:

• Founders Award—awarded to an individual who has made a long-term, landmark contributions to the biomaterials discipline
• C. William Hall Award—honors an industry and government member of the Society For Biomaterials who has made a significant contribution to the Society and has an outstanding record in establishing, developing, maintaining and promoting the objectives and goals of SFB
• Clemson Award for Applied Research—awarded to an individual whose accomplishments include significant utilization or application of basic knowledge in science to achieve a specific goal in the field of biomaterials
• Clemson Award for Basic Research—awarded to an individual who has made an original contribution to the basic knowledge and understanding of the interaction between materials and tissue
• Clemson Award for Contributions to the Literature—awarded to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the literature on the science or technology of biomaterials
• Society For Biomaterials Award for Service—honors significant service to the Society For Biomaterials in establishing, developing, maintaining and promoting its objectives and goals
• Technology Innovation and Development Award—recognizes an individual’s 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
• Young Investigators Award—recognizes an individual who has demonstrated outstanding achievements in the field of biomaterials research
• Student Awards for Outstanding Research—awarded to undergraduate, graduate and / or PhD students who have shown outstanding achievement in biomaterials research
• Outstanding Research by a Hospital Intern Resident or Clinical Fellow Award—awarded to a hospital intern, resident, clinical fellow, medical student or individual in equivalent positions who have shown outstanding achievements in biomaterials

One of the defining aspects of SFB is its commitment to bridging the gap between academic research and its application within an industry setting to advance the biomaterials field and lead to innovations in research, patient care and policy. This year’s award recipients include tenured professors and industry vice presidents, as well as Ph.D. candidates and undergraduate students.

The following individuals will receive awards during the Annual Meeting & Exposition in April:

• Founders Award, Jeffrey Hubbell, Ph.D.
• C. William Hall Award, Jim Burns, Ph.D.
• Clemson Award for Applied Research, Samir Mitragotri, Ph.D.
• Clemson Award for Basic Research, Shelly Sakiyama-Elbert, Ph.D.
• Clemson Award for Contributions to the Literature, Ali Khademhosseini, Ph.D.
• Society For Biomaterials Award for Service, Joel D. Bumgardner, Ph.D.
• Technology, Innovation & Development Award, Leonard Pinchuk, Ph.D.
• Society For Biomaterials Young Investigator Award, Ankur Singh, Ph.D.
• Student Award for Outstanding Research, Colleen O’Connor, Undergraduate
• Student Award for Outstanding Research, John Clegg, Ph.D. Candidate
• Student Award for Outstanding Research, Ricardo Londono, Ph.D. Candidate
• Outstanding Research—Hospital Intern, Resident, or Clinical Fellow Award Mary Lyvers, MD candidate

“We are excited about this year’s annual meeting and to present these extraordinary members of SFB with their respective awards,” said Liisa Kuhn, president of the U.S. Society For Biomaterials. “Aside from the incredible research they have brought to the field of biomaterials, this year’s award recipients are the reason why SFB a powerful contributor to the sectors of industry, academia and policy.”

In addition to the award presentations, the Annual Meeting & Exposition includes six Thought Leader Symposia on topics including medical device failure and regenerative engineering. Participants will also have the opportunity to participate in a discussion on the place of biomaterials in industry. For more information on the Annual Meeting & Exposition, please contact Dan Lemyre (dlemyre@biomaterials.org) or visit http://2017.biomaterials.org/.

About the Society for Biomaterials:

The Society for Biomaterials is a professional society, which promotes advances in biomedical materials research and development by encouragement of cooperative educational programs, clinical applications, and professional standards in the biomaterials field. Biomaterials scientists and engineers study cells, their components, complex tissues and organs and their interactions with natural and synthetic materials and implanted prosthetic devices, as well as develop and characterize the materials used to measure, restore, and improve physiologic function, and enhance survival and quality of life. For more information, please visit http://biomaterials.org/

###