Ashutosh Chilkoti, a distinguished professor of biomedical engineering at Duke University, has been honored with the 2025 Technology Innovation and Development Award by the Society for Biomaterials. This prestigious award acknowledges significant advancements in biomaterials research that contribute to medical and surgical innovation.
Chilkoti received this recognition for his groundbreaking work in developing protein-resistant polymer coatings and protein-based biomaterials. Expressing gratitude, he credited his research team, both past and present, for their contributions to the success of his projects.
In addition to his role as a faculty member, Chilkoti served as the chair of Duke’s Biomedical Engineering Department from 2016 to 2022. Under his leadership, the department saw remarkable growth and increased international recognition.
His research spans biomolecular engineering and biointerface science, leveraging molecular biology, protein engineering, polymer chemistry, and surface science. Chilkoti’s team has developed several innovative biomedical solutions, including an advanced polymer brush coating for highly sensitive diagnostic devices, genetically engineered biomaterials like thermally responsive elastin-like polypeptides, and a novel protein purification method that eliminates the need for chromatography. Recently, his work has shed light on biological condensates within cells as a key mechanism regulating cellular electrochemistry.
Beyond academia, Chilkoti has founded several biotech startups that translate his research into real-world applications. His ventures include PhaseBio Pharmaceutics (2002), Sentilus (2011), Gateway Bio (2017), Isolere Bio (2018), and InSoma Bio (2019). PhaseBio Pharmaceuticals, which went public in 2018, successfully completed a Phase II clinical trial for a peptide-based treatment for type 2 diabetes.
The Society for Biomaterials, dedicated to advancing biomedical materials research and clinical applications, will present the 2025 awards during its annual meeting on April 9 in Chicago, Illinois.
