Linda Griffith
Encyclopedia
Linda G. Griffith is an American biological engineer, and Professor of Biological Engineering and Mechanical Engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology
, where she also directs the Center for Gynepathology Research.. She is a 2006 recipient of a MacArthur Fellowship, commonly referred to as the "MacArthur genius award."
She graduated with a B.ChE in 1982 from the Georgia Institute of Technology
, where she was a writer and editor on the undergraduate newspaper, the Technique, in 1982, and was named a distinguished alumna of her alma mater’s School of Engineering in 2006. She received a PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of California at Berkeley in 1988. She joined the MIT faculty in 1991, was promoted to Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering in 1996, and to tenure in Chemical Engineering in 1998, the same year she joined the newly-formed Division of Biological Engineering and Environmental Health at MIT. As an assistant professor, she joined a collaboration with Dr. Charles Vacanti and Dr. Joseph Upton to create tissue engineered cartilage in the shape of a human ear (published under the surname used in her first marriage), known as the Vacanti mouse
. The Griffith Lab at MIT currently focuses on molecular biomaterials and tissue engineering approaches for regenerative medicine, drug development and understanding disease pathophysiology.
In 1994, together with colleagues Roger Kamm and Alan Grodzinsky, she led development of MIT’s first interdepartmental minor degree, in biomedical engineering, which was launched in 1995 and soon became MIT’s most popular minor degree. The interdepartmental bioengineering curriculum committee she chaired grew into the Undergraduate Programs Committee for the Department of Biological Engineering, and as chair of this committee she led development of the undergraduate major in Biological Engineering, launched in 2005 as MIT’s first new undergraduate major in 39 years. She stepped down as chair of this committee in 2009 to spend a fellowship year at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study,, sponsored by the Harvard Stem Cell Institute. She currently holds the School of Engineering Teaching Innovation Chair in recognition of her contributions to curriculum development at MIT. She is married to Doug Lauffenburger. During her undergraduate years, she once got an A on a term paper on the Canterbury Tales, where, on a bet, she worked in the title of her favorite John Cale
song, Fear Is a Man's Best Friend. She currently lives in Cambridge, where she keeps honeybees and cultivates plants unusual for the Boston environment, including Magnolia Grandiflora and Theobroma cacao.
, who suffered for over a decade with endometriosis before being diagnosed. Lakshmi co-founded the Endometriosis Foundation of America (EFA) to raise awareness of the disease, especially among college students. Lakshmi’s experience underscored that of Griffith’s own 16-year-old niece, who was diagnosed with endometriosis after suffering years of debilitating pain, which had been attributed to “stress” instead of to a treatable disease. The average delay between onset of symptoms and diagnosis of endometriosis is about ten years; Griffith’s niece was diagnosed with less delay only because a family member with the disease insisted she see a gynecological surgeon who specializes in treating endometriosis. The CGR now has over 10 participating faculty at MIT and collaborates with surgeons and scientists in Brazil, Singapore, and across the US. Griffith was honored at the EFA’s annual Blossom Ball in NYC in 2010 for her efforts to raise awareness about endometriosis among scientists and engineers.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
, where she also directs the Center for Gynepathology Research.. She is a 2006 recipient of a MacArthur Fellowship, commonly referred to as the "MacArthur genius award."
She graduated with a B.ChE in 1982 from the Georgia Institute of Technology
Georgia Institute of Technology
The Georgia Institute of Technology is a public research university in Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States...
, where she was a writer and editor on the undergraduate newspaper, the Technique, in 1982, and was named a distinguished alumna of her alma mater’s School of Engineering in 2006. She received a PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of California at Berkeley in 1988. She joined the MIT faculty in 1991, was promoted to Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering in 1996, and to tenure in Chemical Engineering in 1998, the same year she joined the newly-formed Division of Biological Engineering and Environmental Health at MIT. As an assistant professor, she joined a collaboration with Dr. Charles Vacanti and Dr. Joseph Upton to create tissue engineered cartilage in the shape of a human ear (published under the surname used in her first marriage), known as the Vacanti mouse
Vacanti mouse
The Vacanti mouse was a laboratory mouse that had what looked like a human ear grown on its back. The "ear" was actually an ear-shaped cartilage structure grown by seeding human cartilage cells into a biodegradable ear-shaped mold.-The earmouse:...
. The Griffith Lab at MIT currently focuses on molecular biomaterials and tissue engineering approaches for regenerative medicine, drug development and understanding disease pathophysiology.
In 1994, together with colleagues Roger Kamm and Alan Grodzinsky, she led development of MIT’s first interdepartmental minor degree, in biomedical engineering, which was launched in 1995 and soon became MIT’s most popular minor degree. The interdepartmental bioengineering curriculum committee she chaired grew into the Undergraduate Programs Committee for the Department of Biological Engineering, and as chair of this committee she led development of the undergraduate major in Biological Engineering, launched in 2005 as MIT’s first new undergraduate major in 39 years. She stepped down as chair of this committee in 2009 to spend a fellowship year at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study,, sponsored by the Harvard Stem Cell Institute. She currently holds the School of Engineering Teaching Innovation Chair in recognition of her contributions to curriculum development at MIT. She is married to Doug Lauffenburger. During her undergraduate years, she once got an A on a term paper on the Canterbury Tales, where, on a bet, she worked in the title of her favorite John Cale
John Cale
John Davies Cale, OBE is a Welsh musician, composer, singer-songwriter and record producer who was a founding member of the experimental rock band The Velvet Underground....
song, Fear Is a Man's Best Friend. She currently lives in Cambridge, where she keeps honeybees and cultivates plants unusual for the Boston environment, including Magnolia Grandiflora and Theobroma cacao.
Women’s Health Research
Griffith currently directs the Center for Gynepathology Research (CGR) at MIT, which she launched in 2009 together with Dr. Keith Isaacson, Director of the Newton-Wellesley Hospital Center for Minimally Invasive Gynecology Surgery. The public launch featured a passionate talk by the celebrity host of Bravo's Top Chef, Padma LakshmiPadma Lakshmi
Padma Parvati Lakshmi also Padma, Lady Rushdie is an American cookbook author, actress, model and television host. She has been the host of the US reality television program Top Chef since season two in 2006, for which she received a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Host for...
, who suffered for over a decade with endometriosis before being diagnosed. Lakshmi co-founded the Endometriosis Foundation of America (EFA) to raise awareness of the disease, especially among college students. Lakshmi’s experience underscored that of Griffith’s own 16-year-old niece, who was diagnosed with endometriosis after suffering years of debilitating pain, which had been attributed to “stress” instead of to a treatable disease. The average delay between onset of symptoms and diagnosis of endometriosis is about ten years; Griffith’s niece was diagnosed with less delay only because a family member with the disease insisted she see a gynecological surgeon who specializes in treating endometriosis. The CGR now has over 10 participating faculty at MIT and collaborates with surgeons and scientists in Brazil, Singapore, and across the US. Griffith was honored at the EFA’s annual Blossom Ball in NYC in 2010 for her efforts to raise awareness about endometriosis among scientists and engineers.
Selected Awards
- 1977 Georgia Governor's Honors ProgramGeorgia Governor's Honors ProgramThe Georgia Governor's Honors Program is a summer educational program in the state of Georgia, in the United States. It is a four-week summer instructional program designed to provide the intellectually gifted and artistically talented high school students of Georgia challenging and enriching...
(English) - 1991 National Science FoundationNational Science FoundationThe National Science Foundation is a United States government agency that supports fundamental research and education in all the non-medical fields of science and engineering. Its medical counterpart is the National Institutes of Health...
Presidential Young Investigator Award - 1998 Fellow, American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineers
- 1999 MIT Class of 1960 Innovation in Education Award
- 2002 Popular Science Brilliant 10
- 2006 MacArthur Fellows ProgramMacArthur Fellows ProgramThe MacArthur Fellows Program or MacArthur Fellowship is an award given by the John D. and Catherine T...
- 2009 Clemson Award for Basic Research, Society of Biomaterials
- 2010 1st Ruth Kirschstein Memorial Lecture, NIH Office of Research on Women’s Health
- 2010 Fellow, Biomedical Engineering Society
- 2011 Member, National Academy of Engineering