Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation announces 2024 Paul Terasaki Award recipient

(LOS ANGELES) – February 29, 2024 – The Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation (TIBI) is pleased to announce their selection of Professor Nicholas A. Peppas of The University of Texas at Austin as the recipient of the 2024 Paul Terasaki Distinguished Scientist Innovation Award. The award will be presented at TIBI’s 2^nd annual Terasaki Innovation Summit, to be held March 27-29, 2024, at the UCLA Meyer & Renee Luskin Conference Center.

The award was created in memory of Dr. Paul I. Terasaki, a pioneer in organ transplant research and innovation. It recognizes outstanding achievement in the field of biomedical innovation through research, education, industry, translation, or clinical practice. It also recognizes individuals who have demonstrated exemplary leadership skills and have successfully translated high-impact innovations to real-world solutions.

For over 40 years, Dr. Nicholas A. Peppas has made pioneering contributions to the various interdisciplinary fields of biomedical engineering. He was the first to introduce a theoretical framework and equations for analysis which could be applied to drug delivery systems, biomaterial transport, ionic hydrogels, and gel-tissue interactions. In so doing, he provided definitive and fundamental designs for polymer-based drug delivery, as well as a unified model for all drug delivery systems. This resulted in his being one of the world’s most highly cited scientists, with over 196,000 citations.

Dr. Peppas has applied his principles in several groundbreaking biomedical therapeutic innovations, including a novel freeze-thawing technique to produce non-toxic gels for cartilage regeneration and replacement of vocal cords, oxygen-permeable hard contact lenses for astigmatism and treating oxygen deficiencies in eye tissues, and temperature and bio-responsive devices that can be used for disease treatment. His laboratories have also created first-of-its-kind effective oral delivery systems for diabetics (eliminating the need for daily insulin injections), which also can be used to treat osteoporosis, multiple sclerosis, and cancer. These efforts have led to the formation of three multibillion-dollar medical product companies.   

Dr. Peppas’ leadership skills have supported his sincere commitment to education, and he has trained a highly diverse pool of over 5,600 graduate and undergraduate students. He has even established a National Science Foundation-sponsored K-12 program for underrepresented high school students. He has also exhibited great leadership qualities in his roles as either president or chair of several bioengineering societies.

Said Ali Khademhosseini, Ph.D., TIBI’s Director and CEO, “We are very proud to honor Dr. Peppas for his many profound and far-reaching scientific contributions during a long and distinguished career. He is a true pioneer, from which all of us in the field of biomedical engineering have benefited.”

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About the Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation

The Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation is accelerating the pace of translational research by supporting the world’s leading scientists with an open, entrepreneurial environment for bioengineering new materials, biological models, and advanced technologies to address critical challenges to the health of the planet and its people. The Institute’s worldwide collaborations with academic, clinical, and entrepreneurial partners provide a rich foundation for translating innovations to the real world.

Contact:
Stewart Han
President
Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation
[email protected]