Joseph DeSimone (inventor)
Encyclopedia
Joseph M. DeSimone is an American chemical engineer, and the 2008 recipient of the $500,000 Lemelson–MIT Prize.
He is the Chancellor's Eminent Professor of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
, and William R. Kenan, Jr. Distinguished Professor of Chemical Engineering, North Carolina State University
. DeSimone is also an adjunct member at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.
DeSimone has published over 270 scientific articles and has over 120 issued patents in his name with over 120 patents pending.
In 2005 DeSimone was elected into the U.S. National Academy of Engineering and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
. DeSimone has received 40 major awards and recognitions. In addition to the Lemelson–MIT Prize, his honors include the 2009 NIH Director's Pioneer Award; the 2009 North Carolina Award
, the highest honor the State of North Carolina can bestow to recognize notable achievements of North Carolinians in the fields of Literature, Science, the Fine Arts and Public Service; the 2008 Tar Heel of the Year by the Raleigh News & Observer; the 2007 Collaboration Success Award from the Council for Chemical Research
; the 2005 American Chemical Society Award for Creative Invention; the 2002 John Scott Award
presented by the Board of Directors of City Trusts, Philadelphia, given to "the most deserving" men and women whose inventions have contributed in some outstanding way to the "comfort, welfare and happiness" of mankind; the 2002 Engineering Excellence Award by DuPont; the 2002 Wallace H. Carothers Award from the Delaware Section of the American Chemical Society
; and the 2000 Oliver Max Gardner Award from the University of North Carolina.
Among DeSimone’s notable inventions is an environmentally friendly manufacturing process that relies on supercritical carbon dioxide
instead of water and bio-persistent surfactants (detergents) for the creation of fluoropolymers or high-performance plastics, such as Teflon. In 2002, DeSimone, along with Dr. Richard Stack, a cardiologist at Duke
, co-founded Bioabsorbable Vascular Solutions (BVS) to commercialize a fully bioabsorbable, drug-eluting stent
. BVS was acquired by Guidant Corporation in 2003 and these stents are now being evaluated in a series of international clinical trials for the treatment of coronary artery disease.
DeSimone’s research group is now heavily focused on learning how to bring the precision, uniformity and mass production techniques associated with the fabrication of nanoscale features
found in the microelectronics industry to the nanomedicine
field for the fabrication and delivery of vaccines and therapeutics for the treatment and prevention of diseases. Developed in the DeSimone Lab, PRINT technology (Particle Replication in Non-Wetting Templates) is central to the group's work.
DeSimone also founded Liquidia Technologies in 2004.
DeSimone’s laboratory and the PRINT technology recently became a foundation for the new Carolina Center for Cancer Nanotechnology Excellence funded by the National Cancer Institute
.
DeSimone received his BS in Chemistry in 1986 from Ursinus College
in Collegeville, PA and his Ph.D. in Chemistry in 1990 from Virginia Tech.
He is the Chancellor's Eminent Professor of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
, and William R. Kenan, Jr. Distinguished Professor of Chemical Engineering, North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public, coeducational, extensive research university located in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Commonly known as NC State, the university is part of the University of North Carolina system and is a land, sea, and space grant institution...
. DeSimone is also an adjunct member at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.
DeSimone has published over 270 scientific articles and has over 120 issued patents in his name with over 120 patents pending.
In 2005 DeSimone was elected into the U.S. National Academy of Engineering and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
American Academy of Arts and Sciences
The American Academy of Arts and Sciences is an independent policy research center that conducts multidisciplinary studies of complex and emerging problems. The Academy’s elected members are leaders in the academic disciplines, the arts, business, and public affairs.James Bowdoin, John Adams, and...
. DeSimone has received 40 major awards and recognitions. In addition to the Lemelson–MIT Prize, his honors include the 2009 NIH Director's Pioneer Award; the 2009 North Carolina Award
North Carolina Award
The North Carolina Award is the highest civilian award bestowed by the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is awarded in the four fields of science, literature, the fine arts, and public service....
, the highest honor the State of North Carolina can bestow to recognize notable achievements of North Carolinians in the fields of Literature, Science, the Fine Arts and Public Service; the 2008 Tar Heel of the Year by the Raleigh News & Observer; the 2007 Collaboration Success Award from the Council for Chemical Research
Council for Chemical Research
Council for Chemical Research is an organization based in Washington, DC, whose membership represents the U.S. chemical research enterprise. CCR was formed in 1979 to promote cooperation in basic research and encourage high quality education in the chemical sciences and chemical engineering...
; the 2005 American Chemical Society Award for Creative Invention; the 2002 John Scott Award
John Scott Award
The John Scott Legacy Medal and Premium, created in 1816, is a medal presented to men and women whose inventions improved the "comfort, welfare, and happiness of human kind" in a significant way...
presented by the Board of Directors of City Trusts, Philadelphia, given to "the most deserving" men and women whose inventions have contributed in some outstanding way to the "comfort, welfare and happiness" of mankind; the 2002 Engineering Excellence Award by DuPont; the 2002 Wallace H. Carothers Award from the Delaware Section of the American Chemical Society
American Chemical Society
The American Chemical Society is a scientific society based in the United States that supports scientific inquiry in the field of chemistry. Founded in 1876 at New York University, the ACS currently has more than 161,000 members at all degree-levels and in all fields of chemistry, chemical...
; and the 2000 Oliver Max Gardner Award from the University of North Carolina.
Among DeSimone’s notable inventions is an environmentally friendly manufacturing process that relies on supercritical carbon dioxide
Supercritical carbon dioxide
Supercritical carbon dioxide is a fluid state of carbon dioxide where it is held at or above its critical temperature and critical pressure.Carbon dioxide usually behaves as a gas in air at STP or as a solid called dry ice when frozen...
instead of water and bio-persistent surfactants (detergents) for the creation of fluoropolymers or high-performance plastics, such as Teflon. In 2002, DeSimone, along with Dr. Richard Stack, a cardiologist at Duke
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
, co-founded Bioabsorbable Vascular Solutions (BVS) to commercialize a fully bioabsorbable, drug-eluting stent
Stent
In the technical vocabulary of medicine, a stent is an artificial 'tube' inserted into a natural passage/conduit in the body to prevent, or counteract, a disease-induced, localized flow constriction. The term may also refer to a tube used to temporarily hold such a natural conduit open to allow...
. BVS was acquired by Guidant Corporation in 2003 and these stents are now being evaluated in a series of international clinical trials for the treatment of coronary artery disease.
DeSimone’s research group is now heavily focused on learning how to bring the precision, uniformity and mass production techniques associated with the fabrication of nanoscale features
Nanotechnology
Nanotechnology is the study of manipulating matter on an atomic and molecular scale. Generally, nanotechnology deals with developing materials, devices, or other structures possessing at least one dimension sized from 1 to 100 nanometres...
found in the microelectronics industry to the nanomedicine
Nanomedicine
Nanomedicine is the medical application of nanotechnology. Nanomedicine ranges from the medical applications of nanomaterials, to nanoelectronic biosensors, and even possible future applications of molecular nanotechnology. Current problems for nanomedicine involve understanding the issues related...
field for the fabrication and delivery of vaccines and therapeutics for the treatment and prevention of diseases. Developed in the DeSimone Lab, PRINT technology (Particle Replication in Non-Wetting Templates) is central to the group's work.
DeSimone also founded Liquidia Technologies in 2004.
DeSimone’s laboratory and the PRINT technology recently became a foundation for the new Carolina Center for Cancer Nanotechnology Excellence funded by the National Cancer Institute
National Cancer Institute
The National Cancer Institute is part of the National Institutes of Health , which is one of 11 agencies that are part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The NCI coordinates the U.S...
.
DeSimone received his BS in Chemistry in 1986 from Ursinus College
Ursinus College
Ursinus College is a liberal arts college in Collegeville, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.-History:1867Members of the German Reformed Church begin plans to establish a college where "young men could be liberally educated under the benign influence of Christianity." These founders were hoping to...
in Collegeville, PA and his Ph.D. in Chemistry in 1990 from Virginia Tech.