Umut Gurkan
Education
Research Interests
Umut A. Gurkan is leading the CASE Biomanufacturing and Microfabrication Laboratory (CASE-BML). Dr. Gurkan’s research is focused on microcirculation, vascular biology, red blood cells, hemoglobin, cell/gene therapies, and the design, development, and translation of microfluidic systems, point-of-care diagnostics for blood disorders, infectious diseases, and cancer. His research program aims to achieve global equitable access to diagnostics and personalized medicine for all.
Dr. Gurkan’s research and inventions have led to founding of new biotechnology companies with products in global markets. Dr. Gurkan has industry roles in start-up companies as the Director of Technology at BioChip Labs Inc. and Senior Scientist at Hemex Health Inc. BioChip Labs Inc. offers commercial clinical microfluidic biomarker assays for blood disorders and cell/gene therapies. Hemex Health Inc. offers affordable point-of-care diagnostics for hemoglobin disorders, anemia, and infectious diseases. Professor Gurkan has led international clinical studies on technology translation in the United States, Africa, Southeast Asia, Middle East, and India. His group invented the Gazelle Hb Variant technology, an affordable point-of-care screening test for sickle cell anemia, thalassemia, and other common hemoglobin disorders.
Teaching Interests
EMAE 370 Design of Mechanical Elements
EMAE 456 / EBME 456 Biomanufacturing and Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (BioMEMS)
Other Affiliations
Professor (Secondary Appointment), Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University
Chief Scientist in Microfabrication, Hemex Health Inc.
Director of Technology, BioChip Labs Inc.
Co-Director, Translational Fellows Program
Clinical and Translational Science (CTS) Annual Pilot Award Program Lead at Clinical and Translational Science Collaborative of Northern Ohio
Professional Memberships
American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), Member
IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (EMBS), Member
Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES), Member
American Society of Hematology (ASH), Member
American Electrophoresis Society (AES), Member
National Academy of Inventors (NAI), Senior Member
American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE), Fellow
Selected Awards
Professor Gurkan’s national and international honors include the National Science Foundation CAREER Award, the American Society for Engineering Education Curtis W. McGraw Research Award Finalist, Translational Research Featured New Investigator Award, the Biomedical Engineering Society Rising Star Award, MIT Technology Review Innovator under 35 Award, the Doris Duke Innovations in Clinical Research Award, NHLBI feature in Today’s Faces of Sickle Cell Disease, NHLBI Hope for Sickle Cell Disease Challenge Award, NIH Technology Accelerator Challenge Award, the Wiederhielm Award from the Microcirculatory Society, National Academies US-Africa Frontiers Symposium invited attendee, National Academies Arab-American Frontiers Symposium co-chair, USPTO Patents for Humanity recognition, and USFDA Breakthrough Device Designation. Professor Gurkan’s institutional honors at Case Western Reserve University include the Faculty Distinguished Research Award, Research Innovator of the Year Award, Faculty Innovator Award, Excellence in Device Innovation Award, Ingenuity Award, International Activity Award, Case School of Engineering Research Award, and Belcher-Weir Family Pediatric Innovation Award.
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