DATE: January 31, 2008

CONTACT: Yong Huang, (864) 656-5643
yongh@clemson.edu

WRITER: Susan Polowczuk, (864) 656-2063
spolowc@clemson.edu

Clemson engineer receives National Science Foundation CAREER Award for laser-assisted cell printing research

CLEMSON –– Laser-assisted living cell-printing research at Clemson University has gotten a boost with a $400,000 National Science Foundation CAREER Award to mechanical engineering professor Yong Huang, director of the Clemson Advanced Manufacturing and System Integration Laboratory.

The safe and efficient implementation of cell printing from this study may enable its wide application in both organ printing and rapid prototyping of cell-based products, which may someday assist in production of on-demand human organ manufacturing for organ transplant patients.

“I am honored to be selected for this award,” said Huang. “With my many collaborators, we are extremely excited about exploring and improving cell viability in laser-assisted cell printing using manufacturing sciences and tools. Our long-term goal is to ensure a damage-free living cell and protein-printing process for numerous applications, including organ printing.”

Huang says the study will help bridge research collaboration between manufacturing science and biomedical research. He also says the integration of engineering education with biomedical manufacturing research will attract underrepresented and minority students and promote engineering to a broader population.

The cell printing study of Huang’s group has attracted national attention. A scholar paper on the modeling-cell droplet and hydrogel-coating impact process in cell printing was among those selected for the prestigious 2007 North American Research Institution of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers Outstanding Paper Award.

The Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program offers the National Science Foundation’s most prestigious awards in support of the early career-development activities of teacher-scholars who most effectively integrate research and education within the context of the mission of their organizations. The award description states the activities should build a firm foundation for a lifetime of integrated contributions to research and education.