March 2, 2023
By Chloe Arrington

Andrés J. García, Regents’ Professor in the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, has been awarded the Founders Award from the Society for Biomaterials. The award recognizes long-term, landmark contributions from an individual within the area of biomaterials.  

García serves as executive director of the Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering & Bioscience, one of Georgia Tech's 11 interdisciplinary research institutes within the Georgia Tech Research enterprise. His cross-disciplinary research has resulted in new biomaterial platforms that elicit targeted cellular responses and tissue repair in various biomedical applications, innovative technologies to study and exploit cell adhesive interactions, and new mechanistic insights into the interplay of mechanics and cell biology.  

Since he began as an assistant professor at Georgia Tech in 1998, his research has generated intellectual property and licensing agreements with start-up and multi-national companies. He has also co-founded three start-up companies. Having been involved with the Society for Biomaterials since he was a graduate student, García was honored and humbled by the recognition. Upon learning of the award Garcia said, “Receiving this award reflects all my wonderful trainees and collaborators and the highly supportive environment that Georgia Tech provides. As always, I am incredibly proud and appreciative of being a member of Georgia Tech.” 

For the Founders Award, awardees are selected from submitted nominations that include two supporting letters of recommendation. Awardees may then submit a research or review manuscript for consideration for the Journal of Biomedical Materials Research. 

“Andrés has made countless contributions in the field of bioengineering over the course of his career,” said Devesh Ranjan, Eugene C. Gwaltney, Jr. School Chair. “He is well-deserving of this honor from the Society of Biomaterials and the Woodruff School is proud of all his accomplishments.”

This is not the first time the Society for Biomaterials has recognized García’s work. He received the Young Investigator Award in 2004 and Clemson Award for Basic Science in 2012 from the organization and he served as President from 2018-2019. 

Along with the awards he has received over the last two decades, García has been elected to the National Academy of Engineering, elected to the National Academy of Medicine, and named a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors, the highest professional distinctions awarded in those fields. He has also submitted multiple patents and has published routinely in high-profile publications.  

About the Society of Biomaterials 

The Society of Biomaterials is a multidisciplinary collective of academic, healthcare, governmental, and business professionals. They are committed to promoting advancements in all aspects of biomaterial science, education, and professional standards, to enhance people’s health and quality of life. Their award program seeks to recognize significant contributions to the field of biomaterials science from industry, academia, regulatory agencies, and students.