CBE Seminar (Zoom): Biomaterials and New Technologies to Transform Kidney Dialysis - A Look to the Past and a Vision for the Future

Registration Link: https://forms.gle/skUWevmgZDaBVMFH8

Abstract: Chronic hemodialysis on humans was first used successfully to address end stage kidney disease (ESKD) in 1962 in Seattle. Since that time, we now have over 3 million people worldwide receiving dialysis treatments three times a week – the therapy sustains their lives. However, the complications of kidney dialysis are tragic for ESKD patients, and the costs to society are huge (>$100B/yr). The Center For Dialysis Innovation at the University of Washington is focused on rethinking how we do dialysis. We aim to develop a 24/7 ambulatory dialysis system, the AKTIV (Ambulatory Kidney to Improve Vitality). To retool dialysis, we will need improved blood waste cleansing (next-generation membranes), novel biosensors, excellent blood compatibility, durable blood access, resistance to biofilms and solid device engineering. Many technologies associated with biomaterials will be integrated into the AKTIV including non-fouling surfaces, new blood compatible materials, skin healing and vascular prostheses. A number of these advances and enhancements that may revolutionize how dialysis is performed today will be discussed in this talk.

Bio: Buddy D. Ratner is the director of University of Washington Engineered Biomaterials (UWEB21) Engineering Research Center, co-director of the Center for Dialysis Innovation and the Darland Endowed Chair in Technology Commercialization. He is professor of bioengineering and chemical engineering at the University of Washington. Ratner received his doctorate (1972) in polymer chemistry from the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn.

Ratner is a world-respected leader in biomaterials and biomedical engineering. He is a fellow of the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE), AVS, AAAS, American Chemical Society, ACS-POLY and the International College of Fellows Biomaterials Science and Engineering. In 2002, Ratner was elected to the National Academy of Engineering, USA. He has been involved in the launch of seven companies. He served as president of the Society For Biomaterials in 1998 and president of AIMBE in 2002. He was lead editor of the textbook, "Biomaterials Science: An Introduction to Materials in Medicine" (1st, 2nd and 3rd editions), which has sold over 40,000 copies and is used in most biomaterials education programs, worldwide.