Journal of Bioengineering & Biomedical Science

Thomas J. Webster

Thomas J. Webster
Associate Professor
Brown University, School of Engineering, USA

Biography

Dr. Thomas J. Webster is an associate professor for the School of Engineering and Department of Orthopaedics at Brown University. His degrees are in chemical engineering from the University of Pittsburgh B.S., 1995 and in biomedical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute M.S, 1997; PhD, 2000. Professor Webster’s research explores the use of nanotechnology in numerous applications, from medicine to computationally modeling protein interactions and cell responses to nanomaterials. Professor Webster is the current director of the Nanomedicine Laboratories at Brown currently at 32 members and has completed extensive studies on the use of nanophase materials to limit implant infection and inflammation as well as increase tissue growth. He has graduated over 78 post-doctoral students, and thesis completing B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. students. To date, his lab group has or will by the end of the year generate over 11 textbooks, 55 book chapters, 259 invited presentations, at least 367 peer-reviewed literature articles and/or conference proceedings, at least 533 conference presentations, and 24 provisional or full patents. Some of these patents led to the formation of four companies employing over 35 people. His research on nanomedicine has received attention in recent media publications including MSNBC October 10, 2005, NBC Nightly News May 14, 2007, PBS DragonFly TV covered across the US during the winter, 2008, and ABC Local Nightly News via the Ivanhoe Medical Breakthrough Segment covered across the US during the winter of 2008 and a separate research segment in 2010. His work has been on display at the London and Boston Science Museums and he has raised over 24 million dollars for his research program from the NIH, NSF, DOD, VA, various State agencies, and private industry. He is the founding editor-in-chief of the International Journal of Nanomedicine the first international journal in nanomedicine, has organized 15 conferences emphasizing nanotechnology in medicine, and has organized over 52 symposia at numerous conferences emphasizing biological interactions with nanomaterials. He was also recently selected to chair the 2011 Annual Biomedical Engineering Society Meeting in Hartford. Professor Webster has received numerous honors including, but not limited to: 2002, Biomedical Engineering Society Rita Schaffer Young Investigator Award; 2003, Outstanding Young Investigator Award Purdue University College of Engineering; 2005, American Association of Nanomedicine Young Investigator Award Finalist; 2005, Coulter Foundation Young Investigator Award; 2006, Fellow, American Association of Nanomedicine; and 2010, Distinguished Lecturer in Nanomedicine, University of South Florida. He was recently appointed director of the Indo-U.S. Center for Biomaterials for Healthcare and also currently serves as Director of the Biomedical Engineering Graduate Students at Brown University.

Research Interest

Design, synthesis, and evaluation of nanophase ceramics for orthopaedic/dental applications.