Glenn Gaudette, PhD, professor of biomedical engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), has been inducted into the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) College of Fellows. Gaudette was recognized for outstanding accomplishments in developing tissue engineering scaffolds for cardiovascular therapy and innovative technology training methods.
Election to the College of Fellows, which is composed of the top 2 percent of medical and biological engineers, is among the highest professional distinctions accorded to members of these professions. Membership is conferred upon those who have made outstanding contributions to engineering and medical research, practice, or education and for “the pioneering of new and developing fields of technology, making major advancements in traditional fields of medical and biological engineering, or developing/implementing innovative approaches to bioengineering education.”
“It is exciting to be recognized by my colleagues in medical and biological engineering,” Gaudette said. “This honor also recognizes the great work so many students have done and the support of numerous colleagues. I am fortunate that WPI provides a great environment that allows me to collaborate and think outside the box to embark on groundbreaking research.”
As director of WPI’s Myocardial Regeneration Laboratory, Gaudette has published over 75 peer-reviewed articles, co-edited a book on cardiovascular regeneration, been issued four patents, and founded a company based on technology developed in his laboratory. His work, supported by the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation, aims to develop treatment for the millions of Americans who suffer from myocardial infarction and other cardiovascular diseases.
Gaudette has pioneered the use of plants as scaffolds for heart tissue regeneration. Research in which he and his team have used spinach leaves as scaffolds for growing human heart cells has been featured by media outlets throughout the world, including the BBC, the Washington Post, and Time.com. The work was named one of the top medical breakthroughs of the year by Boston Magazine and was the 7th most popular story of 2017 in National Geographic.
Gaudette was formally inducted into the College of Fellows on April 9 during the AIMBE Annual Meeting at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, D.C. He was among the 156 colleagues in the AIMBE College of Fellows Class of 2018.
About AIMBE
AIMBE is the authoritative voice and advocate for the value of medical and biological engineering to society. AIMBE’s mission is to recognize excellence, advance the public understanding, and accelerate medical and biological innovation. No other organization can bring together academic, industry, government, and scientific societies to form a highly influential community advancing medical and biological engineering. AIMBE’s mission drives advocacy initiatives into action on Capitol Hill and beyond.
