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Professor Michael Sefton (ChemE, IBBME) the 2016 recipient of the International Award from the European Society for Biomaterials. The award recognizes his scientific profile, major contributions to the field of biomaterials and longstanding active collaboration with the European scientific community. (Photo: Calvin Thomas)

University of Toronto biomedical engineering Professor Michael Sefton has been named the 2016 recipient of the International Award from the European Society for Biomaterials. The award recognizes his scientific profile, major contributions to the field of biomaterials and longstanding active collaboration with the European scientific community.

Sefton joins an elite list of internationally renowned recipients, including drug delivery and protein transport pioneer Nicholas Peppas and Case Western Reserve University pathology Professor James Anderson.

Sefton has made significant contributions to biomaterials, biomedical engineering and regenerative medicine. He was one of the first to combine living cells with polymers, effectively launching what is now called tissue engineering. Recently, his lab has created biomaterials that actively promote the growth of blood vessels. Such materials accelerate wound healing and support the development of lab-grown tissues.

Among his numerous awards and accolades, Sefton received the Terumo Global Science Prize in January and was named last year to the United States National Academy of Medicine. He is a University Professor, the highest academic rank at the University of Toronto, reserved for less than two per cent of tenured faculty.

A leader in his professional community, he served as president of the U.S. Society for Biomaterials in 2005 and has spearheaded several programs to advance the field. From 1999 to 2005, Sefton was director of the Institute of Biomaterials & Biomedical Engineering leading its development into one of the top institutes of its kind in North America.

“Professor Sefton’s research contributions and leadership in biomedical engineering are truly outstanding,” said Cristina Amon, Dean of the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering. “On behalf of the Faculty, I extend heartiest congratulations on this richly deserved honour.”

Sefton will be delivering a lecture at the upcoming World Biomaterials Congress this May in Montreal as part of this recognition.

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