Date/Time
Date(s) - 10/14/2013
4:00 pm

Martine LaBerge, Ph.D., F.B.S.E., Professor & Chair of Bioengineering, Clemson University

Abstract:

Over the past two decades, the field of biomedical engineering has assumed a leadership position in technology innovation and has been a driver for knowledge based economic development.  This is largely due to the impact of academic institutions nationwide that have provided an ideal environment to stimulate innovation, discovery, dissemination, and entrepreneurship. In fact, faculty driven research programs are often the catalyst for such initiatives.  This presentation will focus on the impact of total knee replacement research as a platform for education, training, discovery, and entrepreneurship.  Even though total knee arthroplasty is a routine orthopaedic procedure that significantly impacts the quality of life of millions of patients through design optimization, these implants fail as they are compromised by overuse and harsh environmental and mechanical conditions.  At Clemson University, addressing the failure of these implants from a biomaterials perspective has led to the discovery of new knee joint simulator lubricants and phospholipid-based viscosupplementation devices, the design of tribological testing and measuring equipment and methods including dynamic contact pressure sensors, the synthesis of new bearing materials and drug delivery systems, and outcome-drive implantation method.  This presentation will illustrate these technologies and how such research programs can serve as a platform for the training of graduate students, state legislation advocacy, and major program development.

Short Bio:

Martine LaBerge is Professor and Chair of Bioengineering at Clemson University which she joined in 1990 as Assistant Professor of Bioengineering, following MS and PhD degrees in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Montreal, and post-doctorate in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Waterloo.  She has published on the evaluation and characterization of natural and artificial surfaces used in the design of orthopaedic and vascular implants and is an inventor on several licensed patents.  She received the South Carolina Governor’s Award for Scientific Awareness for the development of major programs in the state.  She is a Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering and Fellow, Biomaterials Science and Engineering of the International Union of Societies for Biomaterials Science and Engineering. She is a board member of the Biomedical Engineering Society and the Associate Editor for orthopaedics of the Journal of Biomedical Materials Research. She is a past-President of the Society For Biomaterials and is the recipient of its inaugural Service Award. She is the executive director of CUBEInC, the Clemson University Biomedical Engineering Innovation Campus bridging engineering and clinical sciences for economic development.