Special Interest Groups

Chairs supervise and control all business of the Special Interest Groups and also serve as members of the Special Interest Group Committee. Group Vice-chairpersons assist the Chairs. Group Secretary-Treasurers are responsible for funds and securities of the group and maintain minutes of group meetings. Program Chairs represent the interest of the group within the programs, publications, and activities of the Society.

Special Interest Group Representative:
Christopher A. Siedlecki, Ph.D.
Pennsylvania State University
Department of Surgery
MC H151
500 University Drive
Hershey, PA 17033
Telephone: (717)531-5716
Fax: (717) 531-4464
Email: csiedlecki@psu.edu


The Society's Special Interest Groups provide a forum for networking and new ideas within a focused environment.

Biomaterials Availability and Policy

This vertically integrated group addresses regulatory, ethical, economic, legislative, litigative, and socio-cultural factors impacting the development, deployment, and performance of biomaterials.

Chair: Carl R. McMillin, PhD
Synthetic Body Parts
6099 Warblers Roost
Brecksville, OH 44141
t: (440) 838-0985
f: (440) 838-4516
e: carl@syntheticbodyparts.com

Vice-Chair: Kathleen White, BS
Polymer Technology Group
2810 7th St
Berkeley, CA 94710-2703
t: (510) 841-8800
f: (510) 841-7800
e: kwhite@polymertech.com

Secretary/Treasurer: James M. Curtis, ME
Dept of Med Device Operations
Life Sci Indus
PO Box 994
MS CO1272
Midland, MI 48686-0994
t: (989) 496-6933
f: (989) 496-8065
e: jim.curtis@dowcorning.com

Program Chair: Sandra M. Hooper
Advanced Neuromodulation Systems Inc
R&D
6901 Preston Rd
Plano, TX 75024
t: (972) 309-8105
f: (972) 309-8255
e: s.hooper@ans-medical.com

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Biomaterials Education

Our mission is to affect quality of teaching and learning through the discussion, generation and implementation of innovative ideas. Through this, we seek to advance the interests and goals of the biomaterials community by attempting to bridge the gap between classroom theory and clinical application. As the field of biomaterials rapidly evolves, so must biomaterials education. The Biomaterials Education Special Interest Group is dedicated to the belief that all members of the biomaterials community should be provided with high quality educational opportunities in a stimulating environment.

Chair: Elizabeth A. Friis
University of Kansas
Dept of Mechanical Engineering
1530 W 15th St
Learned Hall, Room 3138
Lawrence, KS 66045-2234
t: (785) 864-2104
f: (785) 864-5254
e: lfriis@ku.edu

Vice-Chair: Yusuf M. Khan, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
University of Connecticut Health Center
New England Musculoskeletal Institute
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
Department of Chemical, Materials & Biomolecular Engineering
Biomedical Engineering Program
MC3711, Room No: E7052
263 Farmington Avenue
Farmington, CT 06030
t: (860)-679-4097
f: (860) 679-1553
e: ykhan@uchc.edu

Secretary/Treasurer: Nicholas Ziats, PhD
Case Western Research University
Department of Pathology
10900 Euclid Ave
Wolstein Building #5143
Cleveland, OH 44106
t: (216) 368-5176
f: (216) 368-1357
e: npz@case.edu

Program Chair: William “Monty” Reichert, PhD
Duke University
Dept of Biomedical Engineering
Box 90281
Durham, NC 27701
t: (919) 660-5151
f: (919) 660-5362
e: reichert@duke.edu

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Cardiovascular Biomaterials

The Cardiovascular Special Interest Group has the mission to foster the professional interaction and address the common concerns of academic and industrial scientists and engineers, clinicians, and regulatory professionals concerned with the discovery, research, development, and use of biomaterials for cardiovascular devices and implants.

Chair: Peter Edelman, PhD
Boston Scientific
Dept of MTAC
One Scimed Place
Maple Grove, MN 55311
t: (763) 255-0282
f: (763) 322-5048
e: peter.edelman@bsci.com

Vice-Chair: Vipul Dave, Ph.D.
Cordis Corporation
a Johnson & Johnson Company
Therapeutics and Advanced Research
7 Powder Horn Drive
Warren, NJ 07059
Telephone: (732) 805-6075
Fax: (732) 805-6198
Email: vdave1@its.jnj.com

Secretary/Treasurer: Dr. Curtis Herbert
Dardi & Associates, PLLC
220 South 6th Street
Minneapolis, MN 55402
t: (612) 205-7817
f: (720) 533-0147
e: curtis@foldware.com

Program Chair: Elazer Edelman, MD, PhD
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Health Sciences and Technology
E25-438, 77 Massachussetts Ave
Cambridge, MA 02139
t: (617) 253-1569
e: ere@mit.edu

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Cell/Organ Therapies

The Biomaterials-Cell/Organ Therapies Special Interest Group promotes research on biological substitutes that enhance, maintain, or restore the functions of tissues and organs. Special emphasis is placed on the influence of materials on cell and tissue function. General research areas of interest encompass cell and tissue engineering, cell encapsulation, artificial organs, blood substitutes and gene therapy. Specific examples of interest to this group include: extracellular matrix mimics, bioactive and hybrid materials, material-induced cell phenomena, particularly cell responses resulting from cell surface receptor activation and signaling. This SIG provides a forum to discuss recent advances in science and engineering of tissues and artificial organs that consist of cells and next-generation materials. This group organizes workshops, symposia, podium/poster sessions, tutorials and short courses focused on this topic.

Chair: Todd McDevitt, PhD
Georgia Tech/Emory
Dept of Biomedical Engineering
313 Ferst Drive, Suite 2102
Atlanta, GA 30332
t: (404) 385-6647
f: (404) 894-4243
e: todd.mcdevitt@bme.gatech.edu

Vice-Chair: Naren Vyavahare, PhD
Clemson University
Bioengineering
401 Rhodes Hall
Clemson, SC 29634
t: (864) 656-5558
f: (864) 656-4466
e: narenv@clemson.edu

Secretary/Treasurer: Lakshmi Nair, PhD
University of Virginia
Dept of Orthopaedic Surgery
PO Box 800759
Charlottesville, VA 22903
t: (434) 924-1926
f: (434) 982-3870
e: nair@virginia.edu

Program Chair: Thomas Barker, PhD
Georgia Inst. of Technology
Wallace H. Coulter Dept of Bio. Eng.
313 Ferst Drive
Suite 3111
Atlanta, GA 30332
t: (404) 385-5039
f: (404) 385-5044
e: thomas.barker@bme.gatech.edu

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Dental/Craniofacial Materials

The Dental/Craniofacial Biomaterials Special Interest Group focuses on basic, applied, and clinical biomaterials research using approaches ranging from synthetic materials to biological mechanisms of therapy, and including materials/biological constructs and tissue structure-function analyses as biomimetic/design bases. Each of these approaches converge into the larger objective of restoring oral tissue structure and function. Issues related to materials used or having potential for use intra-orally or extra-orally for the restoration, fixation, replacement, or regeneration of hard and soft tissues in and about the oral cavity and craniofacial region are included. New dental biomaterials technologies include advanced inorganic and organic materials, biomimetics, smart materials, tissue engineering, drug delivery strategies and surface modified materials.

Chair: Hyun Joon Kong, PhD
University of Illinois
108 RAL University of Illinois
Urbana, IL 61801
t: (217) 333-1178
e: hjkong06@uiuc.edu

Vice-Chair: Sachin Mamidwar, MS
Orthogen Corporation
505 Morris Ave, Suite 104
Springfield, NJ 07081
t: (973) 467-2404
f: (973) 467-1218
e: smamidwar@orthogencorp.com

Secretary/Treasurer: Spiro Megremis, PhD
American Dental Association
Department of Science
211 E Chicago Ave
Chicago, IL 60611-2678
t: (312) 440-3546
f: (312) 440-2536
e: megremiss@ada.org

Program Chair: Qiang “Charles” Ye
University of Kansas
Bioengineering Research Center
1530 W 15th St
Lawrence, KS 66045
t: (785) 864-1746
f: (785) 864-1742
e: yeq@ku.edu

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Drug Delivery

The Drug Delivery Special Interest Group will deal with the science and technology of controlled release of active agents from delivery systems. Controlled drug release is achieved by the use of diffusion, chemical reactions, dissolutions or osmosis, used either singly or in combination. While the vast majority of such delivery devices are based on polymers, controlled release can also be achieved by the use of mechanical pumps. In a broader sense, controlled release also involves control over the site of action of the active agent, using the active agent using pro-drugs, targetable water soluble polymers or various microparticulate systems. Relevant aspects of toxicology, bioavailability, pharmacokinetics, and biocompatibility are also included.

Chair: Liisa Kuhn, PhD
University of Connecticut Health Center
Center for Biomaterials
263 Farmington Avenue
Farmington, CT 06030-1715
t: (860) 679-3922
f: (860) 679-2910
e: lkuhn@uchc.edu

Vice-Chair: Steven Little, PhD
University of Pittsburgh
Dept. of Chemical Engineering
1237 Benedum Hall
Pittsburgh, PA 15261
t: (412) 624-9614
f: (412) 624-9639
e: slittle@engr.pitt.edu

Secretary/Treasurer: Thomas Dziubla, PhD
University of Kentucky
Dept of Chemical & Materials Engineering
177 F. Paul Anderson Tower
Lexington, KY 40506
t: (859) 257-4063
e: dziubla@engr.uky.edu

Program Chair: Horst Von Recum, PhD
Case Western Reserve University
Dept Of Biomedical Engineering
10900 Euclid Ave
Cleveland, OH 44106
t: (216) 368-5513
f: (216) 368-4969
e: horst.vonrecum@case.edu

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Implant Pathology

The purpose of the Implant Pathology Special Interest Group is to improve the performance of implanted devices through fostering basic and clinical research in implant pathology. All devices, including cardiovascular, hard and soft tissue implants are the focus of attention. Areas of interest include explant analysis, studies of device failure such as wear debris, degradation, thrombosis or calcification, and tissue or cellular interactions with devices. All persons with an interest in the pathology of the host/device relationship are encouraged to participate.

Chair: Janson Emmanuel
W L Gore Associates
Department of Pathology
4100 W Kiltie Ln
Box 900
Flagstaff, AZ 86001
t: (928) 864-3855
f: (928) 864-3860
e: jemmanua@wlgore.com

Vice-Chair: Julia Babensee, PhD
Georgia Institute of Technology
Dept of Biomedical Engineering
Georgia Tech at Emory
315 Ferst Dr, Suite 1119
Atlanta, GA 30332
t: (404) 385-0130
f: (404) 894-4243
e: julia.babensee@bme.gatech.edu

Secretary/Treasurer: Michele Tucci, PhD
University of Mississippi Medical Center
Dept of Orthopedics Surgery
2500 N State St
Jackson, MS 39216
t: (601) 984-5061
f: (601) 984-5062
e: mtucci@orthopedics.umsmed.edu

Program Chair: Howard Winet
University Of California, Los Angeles
Bioengineering Dept
PO Box 951600
Los Angeles, CA 90095
t: (213) 742-1007 x1459
f: (310) 794-5956
e: hwinet@seas.ucla.edu

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Nano Materials

Chair: Thomas Webster, PhD
Brown University
Division of Engineering
Box 224
Barus and Holley
Providence, RI 02912
t: (401) 863-2318
f: (401) 863-9107
e: Thomas_Webster@brown.edu

Vice-Chair: Ketel Popat, PhD
Colorado State University
School of Biomedical Engineering
1374 Campus Delivery
Fort Collins, CO 80523
t: (970) 491-1468
f: (970) 491-3827
e: ketul.popat@colostate.edu

Secretary/Treasurer: Steven Eppel
Case western University
Biomed Engineering
10900 Euclid Ave
Cleveland, OH 44106
t: (216) 368-4067
f: (216) 368-4969
e: sje@case.edu

Program Chair: Jinming Gao, PhD
UT Southwestern Medical Center
Simmon Comprehensive Cancer Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd
Room 44.206
Dallas, TX 75390
t: (214) 648-9278
f: (214) 648-0264
e: jinming.gao@utsouthwestern.edu

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Ophthalmic Biomaterials

The scope of the Ophthalmology Special Interest Group encompasses both the development and biocompatibility testing of materials for the augmentation and replacement of diseased ocular tissues and the development and testing of drug delivery systems to the anterior and posterior segments of the eye. Some specific areas of interest include but are not limited to: wetting of surfaces; surface modification and protein adsorption of polymers used for refractive devices; transport through polymers, drug delivery systems and technologies; vitreous replacement fluids; retinal tamponades, and glaucoma drainage devices for the regulation of intraocular pressure.

Chair: Jinyu Huang, PhD
CIBA Vision
917 Summer Forest Drive
Suwanee, GA 30024
t: (678) 415-5158
e jinyuhuang@hotmail.com

Vice-Chair: Ping-fai "Sidney" Sit, PhD
Louisiana Tech University
Inst for Micromanufacturing & Biomed Eng
911 Hergot Ave
Ruston, LA 71270
t: (318) 257-5237
e: sidney@latech.edu

Secretary/Treasurer: Marcia Orozco
Innovia, LLC
12415 SW 136 Ave
Miami, FL 33186
t: (305) 378-2651 x 333
f: (305) 378-2652
e: marcia@innovia-llc.com

Program Chair: Anand “Andy” Doraiswamy, PhD
Advanced Vision Science, Inc
Research & Development
5743 Thornwood Drive
Goleta, CA 93117
t: (805) 683-3851 x 247
f: (805) 964-3065
e: adoraiswamy@avsiol.com


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Orthopaedic Biomaterials

The Orthopaedic Biomaterials Special Interest Group is focusing on new technologies and materials advances in orthopaedic surgery. The three immediate goals of this emerging Special Interest Group are: 1) solicitation of new members for the Special Interest Group from current Society membership and from non-members actively engaged in research and development of improved materials for orthopaedics, 2) identification of key issues in orthopaedic materials that should be addressed within the Society, and 3) cooperation between Special Interest Group membership and the chairman of the Program Committee for the Annual Meeting to assist in the coordination of the scientific program.

Chair: Lakshmi Nair, PhD
University of Virginia
Dept of Orthopaedic Surgery
PO Box 800759
Charlottesville, VA 22903
t: (434) 924-1926
f: (434) 982-3870
e: nair@virginia.edu

Vice-Chair: Sangamesh Kumbar
University of Connecticut Health Center
New England Musculoskeletal Institute
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
MC 3710, Room # ARB7E7032
263 Farmington Ave
Farmington, CT 06030
t: (860)-679-3955
f: (434)-258-7924
e: kumbar@uchc.edu

Secretary/Treasurer: Syam Prasad Nukavarapu, PhD
University of Connecticut Health Center
Orthopaedic Surgery
263 Farmington Ave
Farmington, CT 06030
t: (860) 679-4183
f: (860) 679-3711
e: nukavarapu@uchc.edu

Program Chair: Yusuf M. Khan, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
University of Connecticut Health Center
New England Musculoskeletal Institute
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
Department of Chemical, Materials & Biomolecular Engineering
Biomedical Engineering Program
MC3711, Room No: E7052
263 Farmington Avenue
Farmington, CT 06030
t: (860)-679-4097
f: (860) 679-1553
e: ykhan@uchc.edu

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Protein and Cells at Interfaces

The Proteins and Cells at Interfaces Special Interest Group seeks to promote a better understanding of cell and protein interactions with biomaterial interfaces. To achieve these goals, the group organizes activities related to the evaluation of existing materials and the design of new materials to produce targeted responses by proteins and cells. Some of the topics related to proteins include: 1) relating surface chemistry to protein adsorption or specific binding and 2) studying the activation or inactivation of protein function at interfaces, including complement activation. Cell topics include: 1) the response of cells to differing chemistries and microstructures (roughness or porosity), 2) the evaluation of multiple cell and tissue response parameters (attachment, growth, migration, differentiation, inflammation, fibrosis), 3) the role of surface receptors in cell responses, and 4) all relevant cell types including bacteria. The group organizes workshops, symposia, and sessions at the Annual Meeting.

Chair: Carl Simon, PhD
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Dept. Of Tissue Engineering
100 Bureau Drive
Gaithersburg, MD 20899
t: (301) 975-8574
f: (301) 975-4977
e: carl.simon@nist.gov

Vice-Chair: Ben Keselowsky, PhD
University Of Florida
Dept Of Biomedical Engineering
130 BME Building
PO Box 116131
Gainesville, FL 32611-6131
t: (352) 273-5878
e: bkeselowsky@bme.ufl.edu

Secretary/Treasurer: Kaushik Chatterjee, PhD
National Institute of Standards and Technology
NIST Polymers Division
M.S. 8543
Gaithersburg, MD 20899
t: (301) 975-4631
f: (301) 975-4977
e: kaushik.chatterjee@nist.gov

Program Chair: SuPing Lyu, PhD
Medtronic Inc.
Dept of Corp Sci & Tech
710 Medtronic Pkwy N
Minneapolis, MN 55432
t: (763) 505-4549
f: (763) 505-4712
e: suping.lyu@medtronic.com

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Surface Characterization and Modification

The Surface Characterization and Modification Special Interest Group emphasizes two major research topics: 1) improving understanding of biomaterial surface structure and its relationship to biological performance, and 2) developing surface modification strategies for biomaterials. Some research areas that fall under these topics include spectroscopic, microscopic, and biochemical surface characterization, thin film deposition; chemical and ion surface modification; lubrication, passivation/corrosion, and biological films; and quality assurance of device surfaces. This Special Interest Group will be active in arranging workshops, symposia, and Annual Meeting sessions for the Society. Through these venues the Special Interest Group will provide a forum for exchange of ideas, methods, and expertise in surface characterization and modification.

Chair: Jeffrey Schwartz
W L Gore & Associates
3250 W Kiltie Ln
PO Box 2400
Flagstaff, AZ 86003-2400
t: (928) 864-3241
f: (928) 864-4226
e: jlschwar1999@yahoo.com

Vice-Chair: Peter Edelman, PhD
Boston Scientific
Dept of MTAC
One Scimed Place
Maple Grove, MN 55311
t: (763) 255-0282
f: (763) 322-5048
e: peter.edelman@bsci.com

Secretary/Treasurer: Khalid Kader, PhD
University of Iowa
Dept of Biomedical Engineering
1402 Seamans Ctr
Iowa City, IA 52242-1527
t: (319) 335-6096
f: (319) 335-5631
e: kkader@engineering.uiowa.edu

Program Chair: Shrojal Desai, PhD
Boston Scientific
4100 Hamline Ave. N. M/S 5-350
Saint Paul, MN 55112
t: (651) 582-5496
f: (651) 582-6201
e: shrojalkumar.desai@guidant.com

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Tissue Engineering

Mission Statement:

TE SIG is a forum to exchange information, further knowledge, and promote greater awareness regarding all aspects of the use of biomaterials to engineering tissue substitutes or to promote tissue regeneration. Of primary interest and relevance to TE SIG is the use of appropriate materials (synthetic and natural) with cells (either native or from a donor source) and/or biological response modifiers (e.g., growth factors, cytokines and other recombinant products) to replace tissue and organ functions. Particular emphasis is placed on the development of materials to better incorporate, protect, and deliver both the cells and biological response modifiers to help promote the healing and regenerative processes. The group is committed to forging interactions among basic scientists, applied scientists, engineers, clinicians, industrial members, professional societies in related fields, and regulatory groups in its efforts to expand and effectively utilize the shared knowledge base in this multidisciplinary field.

Objectives:

  1. Provide forums for presentations and exchange of knowledge at SFB through sponsoring symposia and sessions.
  2. Publicize activities in the Biomaterials Forum
  3. Forging interactions among basic scientists, applied scientists, engineers, clinicians, industrial members, professional societies in related fields, and regulatory groups in its efforts to expand and effectively utilize the shared knowledge base in this multidisciplinary field.
  4. Establish stronger interactions with members in the SIG, other SIGs, and other professional societies.

Chair: Jan Stegeman
University of Michigan
Dept. of Biomedical Engineering
1101 Beal Ave.
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
t: (734) 764-8313
f: (734) 647-4834
e: jpsteg@umich.edu

Vice-Chair: Alirezar Khademhosseini, PhD
Harvard-MIT
Dept of Biological Engineering
65 Landsdowne Street #252
Cambridge, MA 02139
t: (617) 388-9271
f: (617) 258-8827
e: alik@mit.edu

Secretary/Treasurer: Amol Janorkar, PhD
University of Mississippi Medical Center
Biomedical Materials Science
2500 N State Street, Room D528
Jackson, MS 39216
t: (601) 984-6170
e: ajanorkar@sod.umsmed.edu

Program Chair: Mariah Hahn, PhD
Texas A&M University
Dept of Chemical Engineering
3122 TAMU
College Station, TX 77843
t: (979) 739-1343
f: (979) 845-6446
e: mhahn@tamu.edu


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