Translating biomedical research into product: a personal journey

Abstract:

Polymers have been explored extensively in the formulation of hydrogels for the delivery of bioactives including small molecules, biologics, and therapeutic cells for basic and applied research. A robust and versatile interpenetrating network platform consists of cysteine-conjugated gelatin and PEG-diacrylate has been developed as a research platform to better understand the fundamental biology and to address clinical needs. The discovery and development of this technology offers a case study on the processes, challenges, and opportunities in translating life sciences technologies from the university to the public. 

Short Bio

Professor W John Kao is the Chair Professor of Translational Medical Engineering at the University of Hong Kong (HKU). Before joining HKU, he was Vilas Distinguished Achievement Professor of Pharmacy, Surgery, and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Professor Kao studied biomedical engineering at the Johns Hopkins University (BS), Case Western Reserve University (MS) and macromolecular science and engineering (PhD) also at Case Western. He subsequently worked at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (ETH, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zürich) prior to joining the faculty at UW-Madison for 18 years. He also holds an adjunct professorship at Zhejiang University.

Professor Kao’s research focuses on developing therapeutics for cancer and wound healing. He is an elected fellow of the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering, the International Union of Societies for Biomaterials Science and Engineering, where he also has served as the Secretary for the College of Fellows. He is on several editorial boards and his extensive involvement with industry, regulatory and policy bureaus has enabled him to build a successful record in translating enabling technologies to the market. His research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, and other federal and private agencies. He has published extensively in top journals and more than 170 other publications including abstracts, book chapters, and patents. He has mentored more than 60 undergraduate, graduate, post-graduate students, and clinician scientists from around the world.