Christopher Chen Receives Biomedical Engineering Society 2019 Pritzker Award
Annually, the Biomedical Engineering Society recognizes individuals for their accomplishments, significant contributions and service to the Society and the field of biomedical engineering. Christopher Chen, PhD of Boston University, has received the 2019 Robert A. Pritzker Distinguished Lecture Award.
The Pritzker Distinguished Lecture Award is the premier award of the Society given to an individual to recognize outstanding achievements and leadership in the science and practice of biomedical engineering. Chen is recognized for his seminal contributions to biomedical engineering. He is Professor, a founding director of Biological Design Center, Deputy Director and Co-PI of NSF STC for Engineering Mechanobiology, and Deputy Director, NSF ERC for Cellular Metamaterials, Boston University. He is one of the leading scientists in the field of mechanoiology. His paper in elucidating the key role for cell shape in control of cell fate switching has 4,707 citations. He has made significant contributions to stem cell field. His research in human mesenchymal stem cells revealed the role of RhoA as the critical signaling pathway regulating mechanical force responsive stem cell differentiation. He helped develop a cell patterning platform for characterizing mechanical stress induced cell morphogenesis. His Google Scholar h-index of 92 with nearly 40,000 citations. He will be recognized and will deliver a plenary lecture during the 2019 BMES Annual Meeting next year in Philadelphia.
