Dean, University of Virginia School of Engineering and Applied Science Nancy and Neal Wade Professor of Engineering and Applied Science Professor, Biomedical Engineering and Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Bio
PhD, University of Texas, Austin, 1996BS, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1992
Dean West’s formidable record of accomplishments spans 25 years as a transformational researcher, award-winning teacher and mentor, inventor and entrepreneur. Her research focuses on the use of biomaterials, nanotechnology and tissue engineering, applying engineering approaches to studying biological problems and solving unmet medical needs, particularly in the fight against cancer. Dean West came to UVA from Duke University’s Pratt School of Engineering, where she was the Fitzpatrick Family University Distinguished Professor of Engineering and Associate Dean for Ph.D. Education, with appointments in biomedical engineering and mechanical engineering and materials science. She is a member of the National Academy of Engineering and the National Academy of Inventors, with 19 patents that have been licensed to eight different companies. One company, Nanospectra Biosciences Inc., co-founded by West, is running human clinical trials of a cancer therapy she invented. Her priorities as Dean of Engineering at UVA include building upon the school’s research trajectory, increasing experiential learning opportunities for students and ensuring a clear pathway to entrepreneurship for faculty and students.
Awards
Member. National Academy of Engineering. 2016
Member, National Academy of Inventors2017
President's Circle Lecturer. National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine2017
Capers and Marion McDonald Teaching and Research Award, Duke University Pratt School of Engineering 2016
Clemson Award, Society for Biomaterials2015
2016 Clemson Award, Society for Biomaterials2015
ACS Editors' Choice Manuscript, ACS Journals2015
Thomson Reuters Highly Cited Researcher in Materials Science, Thomson Reuters2014
Admiral of the Texas Navy, Governor of Texas2012
Best Discovery of 2003, Nanotechnology Now2012
BioHouston's 2009 Women in Science Award2012
CAREER Award, National Science Foundation2012
Duncan Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement, Rice University2012
Excellence in Research Mentorship Award, Rice University2012
Fellow, American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering2021
Fellow, Biomedical Engineering Society2012
Frank Annunzio Award, Christopher Columbus Foundation2012
HSEMB Outstanding Young Scientist Award2012
Hershel M. Rich Invention Award, Rice University2012
Inventor of the Year Award, State Bar of Texas2012
J. M. Chance Prize for Excellence in Teaching, Rice University2012
Most Cited Paper, Annual of Biomedical Engineering2012
Most Highly Cited Papers, NanoLetters2012
Nanotechnology Researchers of the Year, Small Times Magazine2012
O'Donnell Award in Engineering, The Academy of Medicine, Engineering and Science of Texas2012
Election to the National Academy of Engineering is among the top honors with which an engineer may be honored. The academy cited her “developments in photothermal and theranostic therapies and bioabsorbed scaffolds for tissue regeneration” in its induction announcement.
The 2016 Fellows were inducted on April 6, 2017, as part of the Sixth Annual Conference of the National Academy of Inventors at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum in Boston, MA.
3D printing of high-strength, porous, elastomeric structures to promote tissue integration of implants. ABSAbar, B; Alonso-Calleja, A; Kelly, A; Kelly, C; Gall, K; West, JL, Journal of Biomedical Materials Research. Part A, vol 109 no. 1 (2021), pp. 54-63
Modulating functionalized poly(Ethylene glycol) diacrylate hydrogel mechanical properties through competitive crosslinking mechanics for soft tissue applications ABSChapla, R; Abed, MA; West, J, Polymers, vol 12 no. 12 (2020), pp. 1-16
Chemically Orthogonal Protein Ligation Domains for Independent Control of Hydrogel Modification with Adhesive Ligands and Growth Factors ABSHammer, JA; West, JL. Bioconjugate Chemistry, vol 31 no. 11 (2020), pp. 2504-2512
Synthetic ECM: Bioactive Synthetic Hydrogels for 3D Tissue Engineering ABSUnal, AZ; West, JL. Bioconjugate Chemistry, vol 31 no. 10 (2020), pp. 2253-2271
Using Tools from Optogenetics to Create Light-Responsive Biomaterials: LOVTRAP-PEG Hydrogels for Dynamic Peptide Immobilization ABSHammer, JA; Ruta, A; West, JL. Annals of Biomedical Engineering, vol 48 no. 7 (2020), pp. 1885-1894
