Umut Atakan Gurkan

Wilbert J. Austin Professor of Engineering · Case Western Reserve University · company speakers →

Umut Gurkan is the Wilbert J. Austin Professor of Engineering and leads the Case Biomanufacturing and Microfabrication Laboratory at Case Western Reserve University (CWRU). He holds appointments in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Orthopedics, the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, and the Clinical and Translational Science Collaborative of Northern Ohio. His work centers on microcirculation, vascular mechanobiology and red blood cell biomechanics, driving the development of innovative microfluidic systems and point-of-care diagnostics for blood disorders, aiming for global diagnostic equity. Gurkan's academic journey includes a Ph.D. from Purdue University and postdoctoral training at Harvard-MIT, leading to over 110 publications, 18 US patents, 100+ international patent applications, and the founding of four biotech firms, with products like Gazelle Hb Variant impacting millions across 40+ countries for sickle cell disease and thalassemia screening. His leadership in international technology translation extends from the US to Africa, Middle East, Asia, and India. Recognized globally, Gurkan has received prestigious awards, including, Distinguished Investigator Award from the Association for Clinical and Translational Science, Wiederhielm Award from the Microcirculatory Society, Faculty Distinguished Research Award from the CWRU, Featured New Investigator Award from the Central Society for Clinical and Translational Research, NSF Faculty Early Career Development Award, Rising Star Award from the BMES Cellular and Molecular Bioengineering Division, MIT Technology Review Innovator under 35 Award, and Doris Duke Innovations in Clinical Research Award. He is a Senior Member of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI) and a Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE).

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