Research Experiences for Undergraduates

The 2007 start-up of Healionics Corporation represents a major leap forward in extending the impact of research carried out at the University of Washington Engineered Biomaterials (UWEB) Engineering Research Center. Healionics is a biomaterials company whose mission is to partner with medical device manufacturers to enhance the biocompatibility and performance of implanted medical devices. The company, based in Redmond, Washington, has licensed the use of STAR (Sphere Templated Angiogenic Regenerative) material invented by UWEB researchers. STAR material inserted into the body during surgery encourages the growth of new blood vessels and tissues to promote healing.

Healionics was named the “most promising new biotech firm” by the  Seattle Business Monthly , and was awarded first place for best technology investment by the 2007 Zino Zillionaire Investment Forum. The company, headed by Robert Brown as president and CEO, is the first spin-off of the Ratner Biomedical Group (RBG), founded in 2006 as an incubator of companies. RBG deploys its licensed intellectual properties that are focused on medical devices, biocompatible materials, tissue engineering, and drug delivery. RBG provides early-stage funding for startups in its portfolio and helps them to develop the management teams and the corporate partnerships that are necessary for sustained growthand capitalization.

Dr. Buddy D. Ratner, Director of the NSF-funded UWEB, serves as chair of the Science Advisory Board for both Ratner Biomedical Group and Healionics. Many of RBG’s technologies, like those applied by Helionics, are derived from UWEB research.  UWEB itself focuses on exploiting specific biological recognition mechanisms in order to develop a new generation of biomaterials for medical implants that will heal in the body in a facile, physiologically normal manner. Through companies such as Helionics, UWEB’s basic research and inventions will be further developed and applied to medical implants that enhance healing.

Primary Strategic Outcome Goal:
Engineering Research Centers

Secondary Strategic Outcome Goals:
Graduate Education and Graduate Student Research

How does this highlight address the strategic outcome goal(s) as described in the  NSF Strategic Plan 2006-2011 ?
An important part of the mission of all ERCs is to transfer their technologies to industry. This is an excellent example. The research underlying the technology being deployed by Healionics is highly innovative, cross-disciplinary, and requires a complex systems approach.


Does this highlight represent transformative or potentially transformative research?  If so, please explain why. For more information, see  Report to Congress: Transformative Research at the National Science Foundation, April 16, 2008
No


Does this highlight represent Broadening Participation?  If so, please explain why.
For more information, see  Broadening Participation at the National Science Foundation: A Framework for Action
No


Are there existing or potential societal benefits of this research? It is important for NSF to be able to provide examples of NSF-supported research that have societal benefits, including benefits to the U.S. economy.
For more information, see  Excerpt from Merit Review Broader Impacts Criterion: Representative Activities, July 2007
Yes
As a promising new biotech firm, Healionics is poised to enter the emerging and potentially very large international market for biomaterials that enhance the biocompatibility and performance of implanted medical devices.

ENG/EEC 2008