ABSTRACT: 2014 ELATE Institutional Action Project Poster Symposium
Project Title: A Delaware Consortium: Biomaterials Advances for Children’s Health
Name and Institution: Kristi L. Kiick, Ph.D. College of Engineering, University of Delaware
Collaborators: Robert E. Akins Jr., Ph.D. Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine Laboratory,
Nemours
Background, Challenge or Opportunity: It is well recognized that effective treatment of
disease during childhood dramatically reduces long-term healthcare costs and the burden of
illness on individuals, families, and society. While innovations in biomaterials science have provided
tremendous opportunities for adult health care, there remains untapped potential for children’s
health. Delaware is particularly well-poised to make important contributions in these areas, as
Nemours is among the largest pediatric healthcare systems in the US, treating more than 250,000
children each year. In addition, the University of Delaware (UD) has recently established a
Biomedical Engineering (BME) program with over 50 affiliated faculty, at least 20% of whom are
involved in biomaterials research. With BME ranked again as the most in-demand career in the
US, prospects are bright for continuing advanced research in BME areas, to benefit both the
educational needs of BME students and to create new opportunities in health care. However,
despite robust research activity at UD, there has remained a significant chasm for the translation of
UD biomaterials research into the pre-clinical and clinical arenas.
Purpose/Objectives: We will start a series of interactions between UD BME researchers and
Nemours clinicians that will provide a firm foundation for sustainable collaborations that will
impact children’s health.
Methods/Approach: After consultation with faculty and UD and Nemours administrators, we
have decided to sponsor a research retreat between interested Nemours clinicians and UD
faculty. This research retreat will establish focused clinician-faculty teams aligned to solve
common challenges in pediatric medicine, with an eye toward submission of seed grant and full
proposals and expanded industry collaborations. We will utilize the results of a DHSA (Delaware
Health and Science Alliance)- sponsored clinical immersion educational program for BME
undergraduates, which has placed the students in clinical environments in order to identify specific
engineering needs of regional clinicians. Based on information collected by the Nemours student
and clinician cohort, we will identify clinical needs that could be addressed by the research
expertise of specific UD BME-affiliated faculty. We have submitted a proposal (to an NIH-funded
Clinical and Translational of Research (CTR) program at UD) for funds to hold a retreat in early May
2014. We are also working with UD’s IP office to ensure that appropriate paths are available for
industry participation in these projects in the future.
Outcomes and Evaluation: Multiple outcomes are anticipated with clear evaluation metrics: (i)
at least 3 pilot project proposals to the CTR should result from this research retreat; (ii) the small
groups will regularly convene over the next year in order to further refine their ideas; (iii)
additional funding from Nemours and UD could be identified to support additional pilot projects; (iv)
larger-scale proposals to federal and other agencies will be submitted by the small teams; (iv) a more
formalized consortium of biomaterials/engineering and clinical investigators will evolve from these
activities; and (v) additional small-business and/or industry partners will be identified to participate
in select project areas.
A Delaware Consortium:
Biomaterials Advances for Children’s Health
Kristi L. Kiick, Deputy Dean, College of Engineering
Background: Challenge and opportunity
It is well recognized that effective treatment of disease
during childhood dramatically reduces long-term
healthcare costs and the burden of illness on individuals,
families, and society. While innovations in biomaterials
science have provided tremendous opportunities for
adult health care, there remains untapped potential for
children’s health. Delaware is particularly well-poised to
make important contributions in these areas, as
Nemours is among the largest pediatric healthcare
systems in the US, treating more than 250,000 children
each year. In addition, the University of Delaware (UD)
has recently established a Biomedical Engineering (BME)
program with over 50 affiliated faculty, at least 20% of
whom are involved in biomaterials research. With BME
ranked again as the most in-demand career in the US,
prospects are bright for continuing advanced research in
BME areas, to benefit both the educational needs of
BME students and to create new opportunities in health
care. However, despite robust research activity at UD,
there has remained a significant chasm for the
translation of UD biomaterials research into the preclinical and clinical arenas.
Strategy Map
Clinical and Research Areas of Synergy
Vision: Be an innovative leader in the integration of biomaterials advances into
technologies that improve healthcare outcomes in pediatric medicine
Expansion of core
facilities and
infrastructure
Increased grant
funding
Continually identify
new healthcare
challenges
Consolidated
community and
industry relations
Self-supporting consortium
activities between
faculty and clinicians
Mission Results
Fewer medical
complications for
Nemours patients
Customer Results
Reduced number of
second procedures
Regional/national
visibility and economic
impact
Business Processes
Develop new core
facility expertise
Form dynamic, crossfunctional teams across
region
Outcomes and Evaluation
Multiple outcomes are anticipated with clear evaluation metrics:
(i) At least 3 pilot project proposals should result from this research retreat;
(ii) The small groups will regularly convene over the next year in order to
further refine their ideas;
(iii) Larger-scale proposals to federal and other agencies will be submitted by
the small teams;
(iv) A more formalized consortium of biomaterials/engineering and clinical
investigators will evolve from these activities;
(v) Additional small-business and/or industry partners will be identified to
participate in select project areas.
Serve the needs of
pediatric patients
Identify novel
technologies and
approaches
Communicate activities
and results to regional
stakeholders
Research translation
and protection of IP
Purpose and Objectives
The purpose of this project is to initiate a series of interactions between UD
BME researchers and Nemours clinicians that will provide a firm foundation for
sustainable collaborations that will impact children’s health.
These
interactions will form the basis of a more formal consortium that will be
formally integrated with UD and Nemours activities.
Smart, durable
hydrogels
Increased foundation
funding/participation
Organizational Capabilities
Co-institutional
core facilities and
infrastructure
Research topics
Database access
and analysis
Establish
a strong research
foundation
Methods and Approach
(1) After consultation with faculty and UD and Nemours administrators, we have decided to
sponsor a research retreat between interested Nemours clinicians and UD faculty. This
research retreat will establish the technical basis for
a) focused clinician-faculty teams aligned to solve common challenges in pediatric
medicine,
b) submission of seed grant and full proposals ,and
c) expanded industry collaborations.
(2) We will utilize the results of a DHSA (Delaware Health and Science Alliance)-sponsored
clinical immersion educational program for BME undergraduates. Based on the results of the
immersion experience will identify clinical needs that could be addressed by the research
expertise of specific UD BME-affiliated faculty.
(3) We have obtained funding (from an NIH-funded Clinical and Translational of Research
(CTR) program at UD) to hold a retreat in early May 2014.
(4) We are also working with UD’s Office of Economic and Innovative Partnerships to ensure
that appropriate paths are available for industry participation in these projects in the future.
Catheter coatings
Organ transplant
evaluation
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Strategic partners
• Robert E. Akins Jr., Head,
Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine Research,
Nemours
• Nemours clinicians
• UD BME-affiliated faculty
• UD Center for Translational Research
• Nemours Research Foundation
• Delaware Health Science Alliance
• Office of Economic and Innovative Partnerships
 Nemours Research Foundation
Targeted resources and infrastructure
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Master agreements and industrial partners
Statistical analysis
Biomaterials design
Design and execution of pre-clinical animal experiments
Imaging facilities
Cross-disciplinary laboratory space
Acknowledgments
Financial support and leadership guidance from the Office of the Provost and
the College of Engineering at the University of Delaware is gratefully
acknowledged.