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The 23nd Annual Carnegie Science Awards celebration will be held on May 10, 2019, at Carnegie Science Center’s new PPG Science Pavilion during which time McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine faculty member William Federspiel, PhD will be presented with the Life Sciences Award for his tremendous work and its impact on the vitality in the region.

The Carnegie Science Center established the Carnegie Science Awards program in 1997 to recognize and promote outstanding science and technology achievements in western Pennsylvania.

The Carnegie Science Awards have honored the accomplishments of more than 600 individuals and organizations whose contributions in the fields of science, technology, and education have impacted our region’s industrial, academic, and environmental vitality.

The Life Sciences Award recognizes and honors scientific advances in new and innovative biomedical and life sciences endeavors that benefit the economy, health, or societal wellbeing of the region.  Dr. Federspiel is a scientist and an innovator who has significantly advanced the state-of-the-art in several critical areas through the design and demonstration of innovative medical devices for critical care medicine.  Dr. Federspiel’s research interests include the following areas:

  • Design and development of novel artificial lung devices, including respiratory support catheters and paracorporeal assist lungs, for near-term clinical use in the treatment of respiratory failure in patients with acute, acute on chronic, or chronic lung insufficiencies.
  • Design and development of membrane and particle-based blood purification devices for the selective or semi-selective and patterned removal of pathogenic antibodies, inflammatory mediators, and other blood borne solutes for near-term clinical use in critical care settings.
  • Development of oxygen depletion devices for blood storage systems that will extend the shelf life of red cell units and deliver red cells of higher efficacy and lower toxicity for transfusion therapy.
  • Advanced application of fluid mechanics and mass transport principles to model and optimize artificial lungs and other membrane-based medical devices where functional performance depends on underlying transport or separation principles that dictate the device characteristics.
  • Development of mathematical and computer simulation models related to respiratory and cardiovascular fluid mechanics and mass transport.

Dr. Federspiel perhaps has the most “bench to bedside” experience of any scientist in the region, which has been gained from developing and commercializing the Hemolung RAS.  This experience has given him a valuable perspective on the clinical translation of medical devices from the concept stage to clinical implementation, and he is effectively using it to bring new lifesaving technologies to the physicians and patients in need.

Congratulations, Dr. Federspiel!

Also, honorable mentions were awarded in 10 categories. Four of the categories were won by McGowan Institute affiliated faculty/students.  They include:

  • Advanced Manufacturing and Materials – Catalina Pineda-Molina, The Badylak Lab
  • Life Sciences – Dietrich A. Stephan, PhD, LifeX
  • Postsecondary Educator – Bryan Brown, PhD, Assistant Professor in the Department of Bioengineering with secondary appointments in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences and the Clinical and Translational Science Institute at the University of Pittsburgh
  • College/University Student – Alexis Nolfi, The Brown Lab

Congratulations, all!

Read more…

2019 Carnegie Science Center Awards

University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering News Release