Ajit Yoganathan, who helped establish both the Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences and the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology, was front and center at the 11th International Symposium on Biomechanics in Vascular Biology and Cardiovascular Disease held at Emory University (May 2-3). 

First, Yoganathan (the Coulter Department Regents’ Professor) delivered the keynote speech. Then, after his presentation, he was recognized for a lifetime of contributions and advancements in the field of cardiovascular research by Hanjoong Jo, associate chair for the Coulter Department, and Bob Nerem, founding director of the Petit Institute.

The international symposium attracted more than 100 researchers specializing in vascular biology and cardiovascular disease. Some of the countries represented by academic researchers included Canada, Denmark, France, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, United Kingdom, and the United States.

“It was a great honor to celebrate the success and contributions of Dr. Yoganathan for his remarkable research and insights regarding cardiovascular engineering, heart disease, and heart valves at Emory and Georgia Tech,” said Jo. “His collaborations with clinicians to cure various congenital heart diseases has been a tremendous effort.”

Last year, Yoganathan was elected to the National Academy of Engineering. Attaining membership into this elite group is among the highest professional distinctions accorded to an engineer. The Academy honors those who have made outstanding contributions to engineering research, practice, or education, including, where appropriate, significant contributions to the engineering literature, and to the pioneering of new and developing fields of technology, making major advancements in traditional fields of engineering, or developing/implementing innovative approaches to engineering education.

“There is no one who is equally respected by clinicians, industry, academics, and the regulatory agencys, like the FDA (Food and Drug Administration), the way Ajit Yoganathan is,” said Nerem. “He is a very unique person in the industry with recognition unlike any others.”   

Yoganathan runs the cardiovascular fluid mechanics research group at Georgia Tech which is one of the pioneering laboratories in the world studying the function and mechanics of heart valves and other complex cardiac defects. One of the main objectives of his lab is to provide answers to life-saving clinical questions using engineering approaches.

Larry McIntire, former chair of the Coulter Biomedical Engineering Department said, ”Ajit is undoubtedly the world’s expert on micro-valves and the mechanics of heart valves. He is also internationally known for his excellent mentoring of both graduate students and many in industry positions. He is someone they know and respect – we feel lucky to have him here at Georgia Tech and Emory.”

CONTACT:

Walter Rich
Communications Manager
Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering
Georgia Institute of Technology