October 29, 2019
Thomas Webster to present Anatomy and Physiology Seminar today
Thomas J. Webster, the Art Zafiropoulo chair in engineering and professor in the chemical engineering department at Northeastern University, will present "Goodbye Hospitals: Hello Implantable Nanosensors" as part of the Anatomy and Physiology Seminar series. His presentation will start at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 29, in the Mara Conference Center, 407 Trotter Hall.
Webster's primary research focus is the design, synthesis and evaluation of nanomaterials for various medical applications. This includes self-assembled chemistries, nanoparticles, nanotubes, and nanostructured surfaces. Medical applications include inhibiting bacteria growth, inflammation, and promoting tissue growth. Tissues of particular interest are bone, cartilage, skin, nervous system, bladder, cardiovascular and vascular. There is also an interest in anti-cancer applications where nanomaterials can be used to decrease cancer cell functions without the use of pharmaceutical agents. A large interest also exists in developing in situ sensors that can sense biological responses to medical devices and respond in real time to ensure implant success. Lastly, there is an interest in understanding the environmental and human health toxicity of nanomaterials.
Webster currently directs or co-directs several centers in the area of biomaterials: The Center for Natural and Tropical Biomaterials in Medellin, Colombia; The Center for Pico and Nanomedicine in Wenzhou China; and The International Materials Research Center in Soochow, China. He has received numerous honors including, but not limited to, 2012, fellow, American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering, known as AIMBE, representing the top 2% of all medical and biological engineers; 2013, fellow, Biomedical Engineering Society; 2015, Wenzhou 580 Award; 2015, Zheijang 1000 Talent Program; 2016, International Materials Research Chinese Academy of Science Lee-Hsun Lecture Award; 2016, International College of Fellows, Biomaterials Science and Engineering; 2016, Acta Biomaterialia Silver Award; 2018, fellow, National Academy of Inventors; 2019, overseas fellow, Royal Society of Medicine in the U.K.; and 2019, fellow, International Journal of Nanomedicine. He also served as the president of the U.S. Society For Biomaterials
Webster's degrees are in chemical engineering from the University of Pittsburgh, Bachelor of Science, 1995; and in biomedical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Master of Science, 1997; and Doctor of Philosophy, 2000. He is the founding editor-in-chief of the International Journal of Nanomedicine, which is pioneering the open-access format.