Galletti Award

The Pierre Galletti Award was established in 1999 by the AIMBE Board of Directors to honor its Founding Member and Past President. The award is presented to an individual in recognition of his/her contributions to public awareness of medical and biological engineering, and to the promotion of the national interest in science, engineering and education. Nominations are solicited by the IMBE Awards Committee from the membership and all councils and the college of the organization. The award is presented at the Annual Event of AIMBE.

Robert S. Langer, Ph.D.
2000

John T. Watson, Ph.D.
2001

Robert M. Nerem, Ph.D.
2002

Shu Chien, M.D., Ph.D.
2004

Shu Chien's contributions to the field of medical and biological engineering can be divided into four categories: pioneering research; leadership in building bioengineering at the University of California San Diego (UCSD) into one of the very top programs in the country; his leadership at AIMBE; and his significant influence on the formation of the National institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) at the National Institutes of Health.

Shu has spent a majority of his career bridging the worlds of biology and engineering. From his research he has published 400 articles in peer-reviewed journals. In all areas of his research he has been a pioneer.

At UCSD, he has provided the leadership to propel an already good faculty into a leadership position in the country. He has done this through the creation of the Whitaker Institute for Biomedical Engineering, the achievement of the first leadership/development award, and the establishment of UCSD's department of bioengineering.

His leadership of AIMBE has included being Chair of the College of Fellows (1998-99), President (2000-2001) and current co-chair of AIMBE's fundraising campaign. In each of these positions he has demonstrated his leadership and dedication to AIMBE, always being unselfish and giving generously of his time and resources.

He was a key advisor in the formation of NIBIB. Once Congress passed legislation creating the institute, Shu, more than any individual, represented the bioengineering community in creating this successful venture.

Pierre Galletti was a "man for all seasons." Both as a scholar and a gentleman. Shu Chien mirrors these traits and thus we are honored to name him this year's recipient of the Pierre Galletti Award