Members of the group celebrating on the occasion of Rebekah Scheuerle (BS'13) being awarded a 2013 Gates Cambridge Scholarship. From left (clockwise) Amey Puranik, Jonathan Peters, Brandon Slaughter, Stephanie Steichen, Mary Caldorera-Moore, Rebekah Scheuerle, William Liechty. February 5, 2013.

Cockrell School of Engineering Faculty Excellence Awards Luncheon. From left Todd Humphreys (Aerospace Engineering), Nicholas Peppas, Dean Greg Fenves, David Bourell (Mechanical Engineering) and Robert Gilbert (Civil Engineering). January 29, 2013.

Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison speaks at the receptions of the 10th annual meeting of the Academy of Medicine, Engineering and Science of Texas (TAMEST) at the Westin Galleria Hotel in Dallas, TX on January 17, 2013. Senator Hutchison has been the major force behind the establishment of TAMEST in 2003. Senator Hutchison, Prof. Michael S. Brown of UT Southwest (1941- , Nobel Prize in physiology and medicine 1985, link) and the late Prof. Richard E. Smalley of Rice University (1943-2005, Nobel Prize in chemistry 1996, link) were the founders of TAMEST. Peter O' Donnell, the great philhanthropist of Texas (link) provided the needed funds for the establishment of this important organization.

TAMEST President Dr. William Bentley of Baylor College of Medicine with new Texas IOM members, Drs. Lynda Chin of MD Anderson, Lydia Kavraki of Rice University and Antonios Mikos of Rice University. 10th annual meeting of the Academy of Medicine, Engineering and Science of Texas (TAMEST) at the Westin Galleria Hotel in Dallas, TX on January 17, 2013.

Newly elected Academy (IOM, NAE, NAS) members of Texas gather for a photograph. Among them from left: Prof. Michael S. Brown of UT Southwest (1941- , Nobel Prize in physiology and medicine 1985, National Medal of Science, NAS and IOM member, TAMEST co-founder), Antonios Mikos of Rice University (IOM and NAE member) and Lydia Kavraki also of Rice University (IOM member).

Mary Caldorera-Moore and Nicholas Peppas in the lab, from an important 2012 School of Engineering video (link).

Nicholas Peppas presents a plenary lecture at the 4th International Conference on Biomolecular Engineering sponsored by the Society of Biological Engineering in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, on January 14, 2013.

Group photo from the Symposium “New Innovations in Polymers and Biomaterials" held in Maui on December 14-17, 2012 to celebrate Prof. Allan Hoffman’s 80th birthday.

Professors Takashi Miyata of Kansai University in Osaka (left) and Ryo Yoshida of the University of Tokyo with Dr. Peppas at the Hoffman meeting on December 17, 2012. They are considered as two of the most imaginative and innovative Japanese polymer gel scientists of this generation. Yoshida's work on oscillations in gels and Miyata's research on responsive gels are exceptionally imaginative and thought provoking.

Peppas’ talk in honor of Allan Hoffman (MIT, BS ‘53, MS ‘55, PhD ‘57), his academic brother. December 16, 2012.

Peppas’ talk. December 16, 2012.

Greetings to Allan Hoffman from our group. December 16, 2012.

Allan Hoffman watches as photo projected on the board during Peppas’ talk. December 16, 2012.

From the Symposium “New Innovations in Polymers and Biomaterials held in Maui on December 14-17, 2012 to celebrate Prof. Allan Hoffman’s 80th birthday. Professors Hoffman and Peppas are academic brothers having done their PhDs (in 1957 and 1973, respectively) under the leadership of Professor Merrill of MIT. Here, Allan Hoffman welcomes the participants with a very warm greeting. The slide on the board show Allan on a donkey visiting Petra, Jordan in 2004.

A whimsical/serious talk was given by Mike Sefton of the University of Toronto at the Symposium “New Innovations in Polymers and Biomaterials held in Maui on December 14-17, 2012 to celebrate Prof. Allan Hoffman’s 80th birthday.. He talked about the “Tales of Hoffman” after the famous opera of Offenbach. He expertly paraphrased the opera (about the poet Hoffmann (who becomes Allan Hoffman here), Antonia and Olympia (two great sopranos). In the first slide he introduces the plot in a masterful way. In the last he concluded about the future. As the French would say genial!

Visit of Kobe Gakuin University in Kobe, Tokyo. With Professors Hideki Ichikawa (upper left) and Mariko Morishita (upper right).

Visit and lecture at Kobe Gakuin University in Kobe, Tokyo.

Fond memories of Kobe, Japan day and night. December 13 and 14, 2012.

Visit of Kobe Gakuin University in Kobe, Tokyo. The central building. December 13, 2012

Visit of Kobe Gakuin University in Kobe, Tokyo. With Prof. Mariko Morishita. Professor Morishita has been a collaborator of Prof. Peppas for the past 20 years, since the days she was an Assistant Professor at Hoshi University. Several of our graduate students visited her lab in the past and conducted experiments. They included Tony Lowman, Kristi Wood, Melissa Kanzelberger and Nikhil Kavimandan, December 13, 2012.

With students of Kobe Gakuin University in Kobe, Tokyo, December 12, 2012.

Kobe by night.

Participants of the 9th International Polymer Conference organized by the Society of Polymer Science Japan in Kobe, Japan. From left: Prof. Kazunori Kataoka of the University of Tokyo, President of the Society of Polymer Science Japan, Prof. Ann-Christine Albertsson of the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Peppas, Prof. Teruo Okano of Tokyo Women's Medical University and Tony Mikos of Rice University, December 11, 2012.

9th International Polymer Conference (IPC2012) "Progress and Future of Polymer Science and Technology", organized by the Society of Polymer Science Japan, Kobe, Japan.

9th International Polymer Conference (IPC2012) "Progress and Future of Polymer Science and Technology", organized by the Society of Polymer Science Japan, Kobe, Japan. Here the spectacular Hotel Portopia on Port Island in Kobe, where the meeting is held December 11-14, 2012.

Professor Peppas with his Pharmacy colleagues at the reception after his last seminar. From Left, Prof. Juljana Kristl, former Dean of Pharmacy and now Vice-Rector of the University who has been great collaborator of the lab for 20+ years, the legendary Professor Emerita Jelena Šmid-Korbar and Prof. Stanko Srčič who has been a good collaborator for 25 or more years. December 5, 2012.

From the awards ceremony and reception at the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Ljubljana on December 5, 2012. Among them (in the middle) Prof. Sasa Baumgartner who worked in our laboratory as a Visiting Scientist in 2000. Dr Baumgartner published three papers, one of which (Pharmaceutical Research, 2002) addressed the molecular structure of cellulose derivatives used in drug delivery and presented the definitive analysis of the entangled structure of HPMC, EV, HPC, CMC and other derivatives widely used in the field.

The three new honorary doctors of the University of Ljubljana: From left to right, the legendary former dissident and now Polish intellectual and publisher of the most influential Polish newspaper Adam Michnik (pronounced Mi-hnik), the renown statistician and professor at Harvard Don Rubin, and Nicholas Peppas. December 4, 2012.

Peppas with the honorary doctorate from the University of Ljubljana, December 4, 2012.

The Rector of the University of Ljubljana, Prof. Dr. Radovan Pejovnik awards the honorary doctorate to Prof. Peppas, December 4, 2012.

Prof. Peppas signs the doctorate book of the University of Ljubljana, December 4, 2012.

Prof. Peppas accepts the honorary doctorate from the University of Ljubljana, and thanks the dignitaries, December 4, 2012.

The President of Slovenia, Dr Danilo Türk, and Nicholas Peppas talking after the awarding of the honorary doctorates at the University of Ljubljana on December 4, 2012.

Visit to Ljubljana, Slovenia for honorary doctorate from the University of Ljubljana. The President of Slovenia, Dr. Danilo Türk (link), speaking before the awarding of the honorary doctorates. December 4, 2012.

An evening at the Slovenian National Opera with Puccini’s La Boheme starring Irma Mihelic as Mimi and the incredible Aljaz Farasin as Rodolfo, Loris Voltolini conducting an exceptional orchestra.

The elegant Slovenian National Opera building. December 4, 2012.

Cathedral of St. Nikola in Ljubljana with small kiosks selling artisan items in front of it. December 4, 2012.

Visit to Ljubljana, Slovenia for honorary doctorate from the University of Ljubljana. On a snowy day in Ljubljana... Looking from the University central administration building to the square in front. December 4, 2012.

Heavy snow in Ljubljana, December 4, 2012.

Looking over the Ljublianicka River while snow is falling in Ljubljana. December 4, 2012.

Snowing in Ljubljana. December 3, 2012.

Visit to the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Ljubljana. Here Prof. Peppas with Prof. Julijana Kristl, Vice Rector of the University and a former collaborator of our lab, and Prof. Borut Bozic, Dean of Pharmacy. December 3, 2012.

Exchange of gifts in the Deans’ office. A plate with the Pharmacy’s insignia (right). And the “Dean’s wine”, a local Cabernet Sauvignon, is always appreciated (left). December 3, 2012.

Peppas presents a seminar for undergraduate students at the University of Ljubljana, December 3, 2012.

The students are amused by a comment. December 3, 2012.

With Prof. Juliajana Kristl, Vice Rector (vice Provost) and other colleagues of the Universities of Ljubljana, Slovenia and Belgrade, Serbia, December 3, 2012.

From a visit of the Lavička collection of rare scientific books, a Slovenian patrimony presently located on the grounds of the Lek pharmaceutical company, now a Novartis subsidiary. Bohuslav Lavička (187-1942) was a pharmacists and collector of rare books.

A 1779 Frankfurt edition of Systema Plantorum by Carl Linneaus.

A 1576 Lugdunum Lyon edition of Hippocrates’ work entitled Magni Hippocratis Coaca Praesagia, Opus Plane Divinum et Verae.

Honorary doctorate from the University of Ljubljana. View of the Ljubljanicka River and the Citadel.

Visit to Ljubljana, Slovenia for honorary doctorate from the University of Ljubljana. Professor Peppas in front of the main building of the University of Ljubljana.

Visit to Ljubljana, Slovenia for honorary doctorate from the University of Ljubljana. Visit of the University Rectorate. Here with University Rector Prof. Radovan Pejovnik.

First day of Advent at the Three Bridges in Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Visit to Ljubljana, Slovenia for honorary doctorate from the University of Ljubljana. Performance by the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra under Yuri Temirkanov (1939-), their conductor since 1988, at the Cankarjev Dom. They played Prokofiev’s Classical Symphony and Schumann’s Piano Concerto. The second part was dedicated to Shostakovich’s 10th Symphony, one of the jewels of classical music in the 20th century. The performance was sublime, an incredible rendition with technical accuracy and incredible understanding of the work. Of course, the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra under Yevgeny Mravinsky (1903-88) was the orchestra that played this work for the first time in 1953. The piece remains solidly theirs! At the end a 10 minutes standing ovation followed by an encore: Nimrod from Elgar’s Enigma Variations. A truly memorable evening. December 2, 2012.

Visit to Ljulbjana, Slovenia for honorary doctorate awarded to Nicholas Peppas by University of Ljubljana. Slovenska cesta, the main street in Ljubljana at night. December 2, 2012.

The research group on November 19, 2012. From left:
First row: Frances Chen (ChE), Yasmine Khairandish (BME), Brenda Carrillo-Conde (Post doc), Grace Fletcher (BME), Courtney Tanwar (ChE), Elizabeth Fischer (BME), Mary Caldorera-Moore (Post doc), Sarena Horava (ChE PhD), Jenny Knipe (ChE PhD), Matilde Duran-Lobato (Pharm PhD).
Second row: Sarah Propst (BME), Amy Bergeron (BME), Rebekah Scheuerle (ChE), Amey Puranik (ChE PhD), Hannah Frizzell (BME), Diane Forbes (ChE PhD), Michael Koetting (ChE PhD), Heidi Culver (BME PhD), Lindsey Sharpe (BME PhD), Tu Pham (ChE senior), Eileen Dawson (BME PhD).
Third row: Nicholas Peppas, Jonathan Peters (ChE PhD), Stanley Verghese (ChE), Adam Daily (BME PhD), Stephanie Steichen (BME PhD), Bill Liechty (ChE PhD). (Absent: Brandon Slaughter, BME PhD).

Visit of Professor Cato Laurencin of University of Connecticut: From left: Brenda Carrillo-Conde, Jenny Knipe, Sarena Horava, Heidi Culver, Bill Liechty, Diane Forbes, Ramiro Palma, Cato Laurencin, Nicholas Peppas, Jonathan Peters, Michael Koetting, Jeff Thompson, Amey Puranik, Brandon Slaughter, Thomas Lewis.

At the UT-Iowa State University game, recognition of Prof. John McKetta’s contributions to the University. From the festivities associated with the naming of the McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin. November 10, 2012

Johnny McKetta speaking at the dedication of the department. From the festivities associated with the naming of the McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin. November 9, 2012

Dedication of the McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin. Roger Bonnecaze (ChE Chair), Johnny McKetta, William Powers (UT President), Greg Fenves (Dean of Engineering), November 9, 2012

Johnny McKetta (Oct 17, 1915-) remembers fondly his early days as a coal miner in Western Pennsylvania (1933-35) and as an undergraduate at Tri-State University, Angola, IN (1935-37).

A celebration of the naming of the John J. McKetta Jr Department of Chemical Engineering with the faculty posing with the legendary John McKetta. From left: Christine Schmidt, Brian Korgel, Keith Johnston, Nicholas Peppas, Michael Baldea, Tom Edgar, Lea Hildebrandt Ruiz, George Georgiou, Lydia Contreras, John Ekerdt, Adam Heller, Hal Alper, Tom Truskett, Don Paul, Roger Bonnecaze, Benny Freeman, John McKetta, David Allen, Gary Rochelle, Grant Willson and Michael Poehl. Indicative of the national recognitions of this faculty is that of those present in this photograph, two have received the National Medal of Technology, seven are members of the National Academy of Engineering (two more are absent), two are members of the Institute of Medicine (one National Academy of Sciences member is absent), three have received the Founders Award of AIChE and 15 (!) have received one or more Institute awards from AIChE. November 8, 2012.

From the November 2, 2012 EAC meeting of the BME department. Dr. William Sage, UT Vice Provost Health of Sciences and IOM member, Dr. Greg Fenves, Dean of Engineering, Dr. Charles Tate, Chair of the BME EAC and Nicholas Peppas.

From the November 2, 2012 EAC meeting of the BME department. Poster presentations by undergraduate and graduate students of the department.

From the November 2, 2012 EAC meeting of the BME department. EAC Board member Professor Kristi Anseth of the University of Colorado (a lab graduate, BS ’92, postdoc ‘94-95, NAE and IOM member), Hannah Frizzell (BS ‘14) and Diane Forbes (PhD candidate and NSF Fellow) in front of Hannah’s poster.

Presentation of 13 Institute Awards by the National Awards Committee Chair, Prof. Nicholas A. Peppas. Annual AIChE Meeting, Pittsburgh, PA, October 28, 2012.

Presentation of the 2012 Industrial Research and Development Award of AIChE to Dr. Donald Miller (PhD ‘83) by the National Awards Committee Chair, Prof. Nicholas A. Peppas. The award recognized Don’s contributions to the development and commercialization of Mylotarg® and other medical products. Annual AIChE Meeting, Pittsburgh, PA, October 28, 2012.

Prof. George Stephanopoulos of MIT receives the 2012 AIChE Founders Award from AIChE President David Rosenthal, a graduate of the University of Texas. Stephanopoulos was one year senior to Peppas at the National Technical University of Athens and is a member of NAE. Thus, the two men have known each other for 46 years, ie, since 1966.

Professor Surya Mallapragada of the Iowa State University (PhD ‘96, now Chair of the Department of Chemical Engineering), Professor Balaji Narasimhan of Iowa State University (PhD '96, now Associate Dean of Engineering) with Professor Ali Khademhosseini of Harvard University at the Annual AIChE Meeting, Pittsburgh, PA, October 28, 2012.

Professor Surya Mallapragada of the Iowa State University (PhD ‘96, now Chair of the Department of Chemical Engineering) and Professor Balaji Narasimhan of Iowa State University (PhD '96, now Associate Dean of Engineering) with Nicholas Peppas at the Annual AIChE Meeting, Pittsburgh, PA, October 28, 2012.

Rebekah Scheuerle (BS ‘13) and Nicholas Peppas at the AIChE meeting in Pittsburgh, PA, October 2012. Rebekah worked in the laboratory since her freshman year. She is the author of two papers, five proceedings and abstracts. Two of her posters have received “best paper” awards. Among other activities, Rebekah is President of the AIChE Student Chapter.

Pictures from the Georgia Aquarium where the Annual BMES Bash was held. Annual meeting of the Biomedical Engineering Society, Atlanta, GA, October 24-27.

Pictures from the Georgia Aquarium where the Annual BMES Bash was held. Annual meeting of the Biomedical Engineering Society, Atlanta, GA, October 24-27.

Prof Balaji Narasimhan (PhD ‘96) of Iowa State University and Nicholas Peppas at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta. Annual meeting of the Biomedical Engineering Society, Atlanta, GA, October 24-27.

Amey Puranik, Stephanie Steichen, Brenda Carrillo-Conde and Jenny Knipe in front of Stephanie’s poster at the Annual meeting of the Biomedical Engineering Society, Atlanta, GA, October 24-27.

At the lobby of the Hyatt Regency Atlanta. Annual meeting of the Biomedical Engineering Society, Atlanta, GA, October 24-27.

Nicholas Peppas and Flemming Madsen who was a PhD student in our laboratory in the late 1990s (although he received his PhD from the University of Copenhagen under the direct supervision of Sr Sven Frokjaer). Fleming co-authored the major contribution (in Biomaterials) that showed unequivocally that P(MAA-g-EG) hydrogels exhibited inhibitory effect on the proteolytic activity of enzymes in the stomach and GI tract. Compare also this photograph with a photograph from summer 1997 here (link). Dr. Flemming Madsen is now Head of the Department of Pharmacy at the University of Copenhagen (link). Annual meeting and exhibition of the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS), Chicago, October 17, 2012.

Annual meeting and exhibition of the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS), Chicago, October 17, 2012.

Annual meeting and exhibition of the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS), Chicago, October 17, 2012.

October 17, 2012: Our living legend Professor John McKetta celebrates his 97th birthday today as healthy as ever. Here in a photo from a recent event, he is playing the piano with Lisa Brannon-Peppas.

The Art Museum of Chicago. Annual meeting and exhibition of the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS), Chicago, October 16, 2012.

The Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Annual meeting and exhibition of the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS), Chicago, October 16, 2012.

Annual meeting and exhibition of the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS), Chicago, October 15, 2012.

From the annual meeting of the Institute of Medicine, the US academy of medicine. Nicholas Peppas with newly inducted IOM member Prof. George Georgiou (2011). Washington DC, October 14, 2012.

From the annual meeting of the Institute of Medicine, the US academy of medicine. Nicholas Peppas (IOM 2008) with Kristi Anseth (IOM 2010) who used to work in the lab as an undergraduate and postdoc in the early 1990s. Washington DC, October 14, 2012.

From the annual meeting of the Institute of Medicine, the US academy of medicine. Washington DC, October 14, 2012.

From the annual meeting of the Institute of Medicine, the US academy of medicine. Washington DC, October 14, 2012.

From the annual meeting of the Institute of Medicine, the US academy of medicine. Washington DC, October 14, 2012.

From the annual meeting of the Institute of Medicine, the US academy of medicine. Washington DC, October 14, 2012.

Some photographs from the black tie dinner and ball event at the National Academy of Engineering induction of Drs. Richard Korsmeyer (PhD ‘83) of Pfizer and Antonios Mikos (MS’85, PhD ‘88) of Rice University. Washington, DC, October 1, 2012.

Professors Nicholas Peppas and Antonios Mikos (MS ‘85, PhD ‘88) at the National Academy of Engineering 2012 Annual Meeting, Washington, DC, October 1, 2012.

Drs. Richard Korsmeyer (PhD ‘83) of Pfizer and Antonios Mikos (MS’85, PhD ‘88) of Rice University at their first NAE meeting of the Bioengineering section, October 1, 2012.

National Academy of Engineering Founders Award ceremony, Washington, DC, September 30, 2012. From left: Charles Holliday, NAE Chairman (former CEO of DuPont), Nicholas A. Peppas, 2012 NAE Founders Award recipient, Charles Vest, NAE President (former President of MIT) and Matt O’Donnell, Chair of NAE Awards Committee (Dean of Engineering Emeritus, University of Washington).

Nicholas A. Peppas gives his acceptance speech for the 2012 Founders Award of the National Academy of Engineering National Academy of Engineering Founders Award ceremony, Washington, DC, September 30, 2012.

National Academy of Engineering Founders Award ceremony, Washington, DC, September 30, 2012. From left: Charles Vest, NAE President (former President of MIT) and Charles Holliday, NAE Chairman (former CEO of DuPont).

National Academy of Engineering Founders Award ceremony, Washington, DC, September 30, 2012.

Professor Elazer Edelman of Harvard/MIT (member of IOM and NAE), his wife Cheryl and Professor Lisa Brannon-Peppas at the National Academy of Engineering induction festivities of the 2012 class.

Drs Leonard Pinchuk and Richard Korsmeyer (PhD ‘83) at the National Academy of Engineering induction festivities of the 2012 class.

Professors Nicholas Peppas and Lisa Brannon-Peppas along with new NAE member Dr Richard Korsmeyer (PhD ‘83) and Ms. Renni Korsmeyer at the National Academy of Engineering induction festivities of the 2012 class, Washington, DC, September 29, 2012.

Professors Lydia Kavraki and Antonios Mikos (MS ‘85, PhD ‘88) of Rice University at the National Academy of Engineering induction ceremony of the 2012 class. Along with them, Dean Barbara Boyan (left) of Virginia Commonwealth University and Gordana Vunjak-Novakovid (right) of Columbia University. Washington, DC, September 29, 2012.

Visit of Professor Madeline Torres-Lugo of University of Puerto Rico, who was a 2001 PhD graduate of the laboratory. From left clockwise: Lindsey Sharpe, Jenny Knipe, Mary Caldorera-Moore, Amey Puranik, Brandon Slaughter, Michael Koetting, Jonathan Peters, Matilde Duran, Heidi Culver, Sarena Horava, Diane Forbes, Brenda Carrillo-Conde, Prof. Madeline Torres-Lugo, Adam Daily, Bill Liechty, Stephanie Steichen, Austin, TX, September 27, 2012.

Nicholas Peppas speaks to the biomedical engineering students during the welcoming reception of the department on August 31, 2012.

Nicholas Peppas speaks with Brandon Slaughter at the welcoming reception of the Biomedical Engineering Department on August 31, 2012. Brandon, who is expected to receive his PhD in August 2013 has been a National Science Foundation and an NSF/IGERT Fellow and has contributed to the group and the department in numerous ways. He has had internships at the Ecole Polytechnique de Lausanne in Switzerland where he worked with McArthur Foundation Fellow Prof. Melody Swartz. His research contributions have received more than 350 citations and include the highly cited paper on the use of Hydrogels in Regenerative Medicine (link), the most downloaded paper in the history of the Annual Reviews of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (link)(link) and the entry on Hydrogels in the classic reference Polymer Science: A Comprehensive Reference, by K. Matyjaszewski and M. Möller. In addition, in May 2012 Brandon Slaughter received the Excellence in Graduate Research Award for Engineering and Natural Sciences from the University of Texas at Austin.

Welcome party for the new graduate students joining the lab in Fall 2012 and celebration of Prof. Peppas' birthday, Austin TX, August 24, 2012. From left, clockwise: Adam Daily (BME, from Univ. Missouri), Diane Forbes, Stephanie Steichen, Jonathan Peters, Hannah Frizzell, Bill Liechty, Brenda Carrillo-Conde, Eileen Dawson, Amey Puranik, Sarena Horava (ChE, from Univ. Massachusetts), Michael Koetting, Heidi Culver (BME, from Johns Hopkins), Lindsey Sharpe (BME, from UCLA), Brandon Slaughter.

Welcome party for the new graduate students joining the lab in Fall 2012 and celebration of Prof. Peppas' birthday, Austin TX, August 24, 2012. From left, clockwise: Eileen Dawson, Amey Puranik, Sarena Horava (ChE, from Univ. Massachusetts), Michael Koetting, Heidi Culver (BME, from Johns Hopkins), Lindsey Sharpe (BME, from UCLA), Anthony Monteforte (BME, from UCSD), Brandon Slaughter, Adam Daily (BME, from Univ. Missouri), Diane Forbes, Stephanie Steichen, Jonathan Peters, Hannah Frizzell, Brenda Carrillo-Conde.

The group welcomes the new graduate students joining the lab in Fall 2012 and celebrates Prof. Peppas' birthday, Austin TX, August 24, 2012. From left, clockwise: Stephanie Steichen, Jonathan Peters, Hannah Frizzell, Bill Liechty, Brenda Carrillo-Conde, Eileen Dawson, Amey Puranik, Sarena Horava (ChE, from Univ. Massachusetts), Michael Koetting, Heidi Culver (BME, from Johns Hopkins), Lindsey Sharpe (BME, from UCLA).

Members of the group attending the Society for Biomaterials, Biomaterials Day, Rice University, Houston TX, July 27, 2012. From Left: First row: Nicholas Peppas, Grace Fletcher, Jenny Knipe, Mar Creixell, Hannah Frizell, Brenda Carrillo-Conde, Michael Koetting. Second row: Jonathan Peters, Stephanie Steichen, Bill Liechty, Brandon Slaughter, Diane Forbes (July 27, 2012).

NanoBio Seattle 2012 meeting. Members of the group attending, from left, are Bill Liechty, Jonathan Peters, Brenda Carrillo-Conde, Stephanie Steichen and Amey Puranik (July 26, 2012).

NanoBio Seattle 2012 meeting. Returning to Seattle by boat from the meeting banquet (July 26, 2012).

NanoBio Seattle 2012 meeting. A wonderful view of downtown Seattle (July 25, 2012).

NanoBio Seattle 2012 meeting. Members of the group attending, from left, Jonathan Peters, Stephanie Steichen and Amey Puranik, Nicholas Peppas and Brenda Carrillo-Conde. At the table behind, Prof Kebvn Healey (UC Berkeley), Prof. Ashtosh Chilkoti (North Carolina State University), our host Prof. Pat Stayton (University of Washington) and Prof. David Grainger (University of Utah) (July 24, 2012).

NanoBio Seattle 2012 meeting. The first Starbucks store in Seattle.

NanoBio Seattle 2012 meeting (July 23, 2012)

33rd Annual MIT course on Drug Delivery, Cambridge, MA. Charles river, July 9, 2012.

Retirement of Particia Marcum, our Administrative Associate for seven years. From Left: First row: Carrie Cunningham, Mar Creixell. Second row: Brenda Carrillo-Conde, Jenny Knipe, Patricia Marcum, Diane Forbes, Nicholas Peppas. Third row: Cody Schoener, Bill Liechty, Amey Puranik, Brandon Slaughter, Jonathan Peters (June 28, 2012).

Interview of N. Peppas in China Daily of June 5, 2012 (pdf).

Prof Xingdong Zhang of Sichuan University, general chairman of the World Congress and Prof. Nicholas Peppas, President of IUSBSE talk at a break of the Congress.

Photos from a spectacular closing banquet of the 9th World Biomaterials Congress in Chengdu, China (June 4, 2012).

Peppas with Dr. Penny Martens, Senior Lecturer in Biomedical Engineering at the University of New South Wales (link). Dr Martens was a former PhD of Dr Kristi Anseth of Colorado, so an academic grand daughter. (June 4, 2012).

Former and present members of the group in Chengdu, China: From left Adam Ekenseair (PhD ‘ 10, now postdoc at Rice University with his academic brother Dr Mikos), Tiffany Vo (BS ‘11, former BME at UT Austin, now second year graduate student at Dr. Mikos’ lab), Antonios Mikos (MS ‘85, PhD ‘88, now distinguished professor at Rice University and NAE member), Bill Liechty (PhD student in ChE at UT Austin) and Ali Khademhosseini (Professor at Harvard Medical School and Adjunct Professor of BME at UT Austin), (June 4, 2012).

Three of the five winners in the history of the Acta Biomaterialia Gold Medal, a major recognition in biomaterials science. From left Buddy Ratner (2009) of the University of Washington, Seattle, David Williams (2012) of the Universities of Liverpool and Wake Forest and Nicholas Peppas (2010) at David Williams’ reception in Chengdu on June 3, 2012. Absent are Bob Langer (2008) of MIT and Mike Sefton (2011) of the University of Toronto.

Election of seven US and Japanese academics 佩帕斯 (Nicholas Peppas)、片岗一泽（Kazunori Kataoka)、岗野光夫（Teruo Okano)、安东尼.米科斯（Antonios Mikos)、约阿吉姆.柯恒（Joachim Kohn)、巴迪·拉特纳（Buddy Ratner)、and 艾伦.霍夫曼（Allan Hoffman) as Honorary Professors of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China, June 3, 2012 (article here).

Election of seven US and Japanese academics 佩帕斯 (Nicholas Peppas)、片岗一泽（Kazunori Kataoka)、岗野光夫（Teruo Okano)、安东尼.米科斯（Antonios Mikos)、约阿吉姆.柯恒（Joachim Kohn)、巴迪·拉特纳（Buddy Ratner)、and 艾伦.霍夫曼（Allan Hoffman) as Honorary Professors of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China, June 3, 2012 (article here).

Professor Peppas with undergraduate BME student Ying (Constance) Chen of Sichuan University who helped him in all the official business as President of the International Union.

Awarding of an Honorary Professorship of Sichuan University honor to Professors Nicholas Peppas and Antonios Mikos (MS ‘85, PhD ‘88) of Rice University at a special ceremony in Chengdu, China on June 2, 2012.

Awarding of an Honorary Professorship of Sichuan University to Professors Nicholas Peppas at a special ceremony in Chengdu, China on June 2, 2012. Here Peppas with the President of Sichuan University, Professor Xie Heping, a geologist and academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, during the reading of the laudatio.

Awarding of an Honorary Professorship of Sichuan University to Professors Nicholas Peppas at a special ceremony in Chengdu, China on June 2, 2012. Here Peppas with the President of Sichuan University, Professor Xie Heping, a geologist and academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering.

A special Top-Level Forum on Engineering Science and Technology Development Strategies in Biomaterials Science and Engineering was held by the Chinese Academy of Engineering in Chengdu, China on June 2, 2012. Prof. Peppas talked on “Promoting Convergence in Biomaterials Engineering”.

From the first Chinese Society for Biomaterials meeting which was held in Chengdu, China on June 1, 2012, where Nicholas Peppas gave a short talk.

From the first Chinese Society for Biomaterials meeting which was held in Chengdu, China on June 1, 2012.

Professor Nicholas A. Peppas receives a plaque for presenting the plenary lecture at the 9th World Biomaterials Congress in Chengdu, China (June 1, 2012).

Plenary lecture by Nicholas A Peppas at the 9th World Biomaterials Congress in Chengdu, China (June 1, 2012).

Coverage of the Welcoming Ceremony of the 9th World Biomaterials Congress and Peppas’ inaugural speech as President of the International Union of Societies for Biomaterials Science and Engineering by the China Daily of June 1, 2012

Welcoming ceremony at the 9th World Biomaterials Congress, Chengdu, China, June 1, 2012.

Professor X. Zhang of Sichuan University, Chairman of the 9th World Biomaterials Congress, speaks during the welcoming ceremony at the 9th World Biomaterials Congress, Chengdu, China, June 1, 2012.

Welcoming ceremony at the 9th World Biomaterials Congress, Chengdu, China, June 1, 2012.

Induction of new FSBE Fellows at the welcoming welcoming ceremony at the 9th World Biomaterials Congress, Chengdu, China, June 1, 2012. Here (from left) Prof. Joachim Kohn of Rutgers University (Chair of the International Fellows Committee), Prof. Antonio Merolli of the Catholic University of Rome (new inductee) and Prof. Hasan Uludag of the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada (Secretary of the International Union of Societies for Biomaterials Science and Engineering.

Nicholas Peppas with the new FSBE Fellow inductee, Prof. Maria Vallet-Regí of the Complutense University of Madrid, Spain (June 1, 2012).

Professor Nicholas A. Peppas, the President of the International Union of Societies for Biomaterials Science and Engineering, the world-wide organization of biomaterials scientists. presents the citations of 52 new FSBE Fellows during their induction on May 31, 2012 (from the China Daily of June 1, 2012).

Professor Nicholas A. Peppas, the President of the International Union of Societies for Biomaterials Science and Engineering, the world-wide organization of biomaterials scientists, opens the 9th World Biomaterials Congress in Chengdu, China (May 31, 2012).

From the Commencement of May 2012

Two photos from the 2012 Michael H. Granof University Awards for Excellence in Graduate Research and Education event at the Four Seasons hotel in Austin on May 17, 2012. Bill Liechty, the winner of the Michael H. Granof Outstanding Graduate Student Award, with Brandon Slaughter, the winner of the Excellence in Graduate Research Award for Engineering and Natural Sciences. This is the third year in a row that a graduate student from the lab receives this University-wide award. Last year's recipient was Bill Liechty, while the 2010 recipient was David Kryscio.

In the second photo, Prof. Michael Granof of the LBJ School of Public Affairs, Prof. Nicholas Peppas, William Liechty, Dr. Gregory Fenves, Dean of Engineering, and Dr. Steve Leslie, Provost.

Induction of Nicholas Peppas to the Royal Spanish Academy and inaugural speech (April 25, 2012).

Induction of Nicholas Peppas to the Royal Spanish Academy and inaugural speech (April 25, 2012).

Induction of Nicholas Peppas to the Royal Spanish Academy and inaugural speech (April 25, 2012).

Induction of Nicholas Peppas to the Royal Spanish Academy and inaugural speech (April 25, 2012).

Induction of Nicholas Peppas to the Royal Spanish Academy and inaugural speech (April 25, 2012).

Induction of Nicholas Peppas to the Royal Spanish Academy. From left: Prof. Clément Sanchez (Materials, Collège de France, Paris), Prof. Josep Plannell (Biomaterials, Institute of Bioengineering of Catalonia), Prof. Bartolomé Ribas Ozonas (Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid), Prof. Maria Teresa Miras Portugal (Biology, Complutense University of Madrid), President of the Academy, Prof, Maria Vallet Regí (Inorganic Chemistry, Complutense University of Madrid) who served as the nominator and read the laudatio, Nicholas Peppas, Prof. Ruth Duncan (Cardiff University), Prof. Mariano Esteban (Virology, National Center of Biotechnology) and Prof. Antonio Salinas (Inorganic Chemistry, Complutense University of Madrid) (April 25, 2012).

Induction of new Corresponding Members to the Royal Spanish Academy. From left: Professors Sam Stupp (Northwestern University), Ruth Duncan (Cardiff University) and Nicholas Peppas. (April 25, 2012).

Induction of new Corresponding Members to the Royal Spanish Academy. From left: Professors Nicholas Peppas, Maria Vallet Regí (the nominator of all three, Complutense University of Madrid) Ruth Duncan (Cardiff University) and Sam Stupp (Northwestern University) (April 25, 2012).

Visit to Madrid, Spain for induction to the Royal Spanish Academy (April 25, 2012).

Visit to Madrid, Spain for induction to the Royal Spanish Academy (April 25, 2012).

Visit to Madrid, Spain for induction to the Royal Spanish Academy (April 25, 2012).

Visit to Madrid, Spain for induction to the Royal Spanish Academy (April 25, 2012).

Visit to Madrid, Spain for induction to the Royal Spanish Academy. From left Prof Wim Hennink (University of Utrecht), Prof Sam Stupp (Northwestern University) and Prof Ruth Duncan (Univ of Cardiff) (April 25, 2012).

Visit of Nicholas Peppas to the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering of the University of California at Berkeley for the Berkeley Lectures: Some photos from a visit to the offices of the Dean of Chemistry. The Glenn T. Seaborg (April 19, 1912 –February 25, 1999, Nobel 1951) display.

Display of medals and awards by G.N. Lewis (October 23, 1875 – March 23, 1946), Joel Hildebrand (November 16, 1881 – April 30, 1983) and Melvin Calvin (April 8, 1911 – January 8, 1997).

The desk of the legendary Gilbert N. Lewis (1875-1946) is preserved at the Dean of Chemistry office of the University of California at Berkeley.

Visit of Nicholas Peppas to the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering of the University of California at Berkeley for the Berkeley Lectures.

Visit of Nicholas Peppas to the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering of the University of California at Berkeley for the Berkeley Lectures: With former UT undergraduates who worked in the lab and are now PhD students at UC Berkeley: From left: Cynthia Chen (BS ‘11), Barbara Ekerdt (BS ‘10), Victor Ho (BS ‘08) and Adrianne Rosales (BS ‘07), Berkeley, CA, April 3, 2012.

Visit of Nicholas Peppas to the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering of the University of California at Berkeley for the Berkeley Lectures: With Prof. Doug Clark, Chair of the ChE Department at Berkeley in the caves of the Jarvis Estate in Napa, CA, April 3, 2012.

Visit of Professor Antonios Mikos of Rice University, who was a 1988 PhD graduate of the laboratory. From left clockwise: Prof. Antonios Mikos, Bill Liechty, Stephanie Steichen, Mary Caldorera-Moore, Diane Forbes, Brenda Carrillo-Conde, Cody Schoener, Amey Puranik, Michael Koetting, Jonathan Peters, Jenny Knipe, Austin, TX, March 28, 2012.

Visit of Professor Antonios Mikos of Rice University, who was a 1988 PhD graduate of the laboratory. From left clockwise: Prof. Antonios Mikos, Bill Liechty, Stephanie Steichen, Mary Caldorera-Moore, Diane Forbes, Brenda Carrillo-Conde, Cody Schoener, Amey Puranik, Michael Koetting, Jonathan Peters, Jenny Knipe, Austin, TX, March 28, 2012.

Professor Peppas and Professor Dukjoon Kim (PhD ‘92) of the Chemical Engineering Department of Sungkyunkwan (SKKU) University. In 2011, Professor Kim received the Sungkyunkwan Fellowship Award from the University. The SKKU Award is the highest recognition of the University and is given every year to the professor who has had the most outstanding research results throughout his entire career in Science and Engineering at Sungkyunkwan University. The Sungkyunkwan University is the fifth ranked University in Korea among about 300, and is now supported by Samsung. Photo from the 6th International Symposium on Intelligent Drug Delivery Systems, Seoul, South Korea, March 16, 2012.

6th International Symposium on Intelligent Drug Delivery Systems held in Seoul, South Korea on March 14-17, 2012. From left: Prof Sung Wan Kim (Univ of Utah), Prof. Kinam Park (Purdue University, whose 60th birthday was celebrated during the meeting) and Dr Haesun Park (Purdue University).

6th International Symposium on Intelligent Drug Delivery Systems held in Seoul, South Korea on March 14-17, 2012.

6th International Symposium on Intelligent Drug Delivery Systems held in Seoul, South Korea on March 14-17, 2012.

The group celebrates the 40,000th citation of the lab’s publications (link), with an impromptu cake on March 5, 2012. From left: Nicholas Peppas, Bill Liechty, Carolyn Bayer, Eileen Dawson, Mary Caldorera-Moore, Mar Creixell, Brenda Carrillo-Conde, Diane Forbes, Jenny Knipe, Steve Marek, Amey Puranik, Michael Koetting, Greg Mullen, Jonathan Peters.

Impromptu celebration for the 40,000th citation of the lab's publication, Austin, TX, March 5, 2012.

Gottlieb Lecture 2012. Members of the lab with Prof. Frances Arnold (CalTech) during her visit to UT Austin. From left: Greg Mullen, Amey Puranik, Mar Creixell, Jonathan Peters, Prof. Frances Arnold, Brenda Carrillo-Conde, Bill Liechty, Mary Caldorera-Moore, Jenny Knipe, Austin, TX, March 2, 2012.

2012 Miami Winter Symposium, A Nature Conference. Three scientists of Greek ancestry: From left: Prof. Leonidas Bachas (Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Miami), Prof. Paul Alivisatos (Univ of California, Berkeley, and Director of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory) and Prof. Peppas. Nature Conference on Nanomedicine, Miami, FL, February 28, 2012.

American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering meeting, Washington, DC. From left: Nicholas Peppas, Stephanie Steichen, Michael Koetting, Dr. Richard Korsmeyer of Pfizer (MS ’80, PhD ’83), Bill Liechty and Amey Puranik, February 20, 2012.

American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering meeting, Washington, DC. From left: Prof. Ali Khademhosseini of the Harvard Medical School, Michael Koetting, Stephanie Steichen, Nicholas Peppas, Bill Liechty, Dr. Richard Korsmeyer of Pfizer (MS ’80, PhD ’83) and Amey Puranik, February 20, 2012.

Members of the lab during the BME seminar by Professor Elazer Edelman of MIT. From left: Diane Forbes, Brenda Carrillo-Conde, Mary Caldorera-Moore, Mar Creixell, Stephanie Steichen, Jenny Knipe, Amey Puranik and Eileen Dawson in Austin, TX, January 26, 2012.

Farewell lunch for Prof. Ali Khademhosseini of Harvard University, who was the 2011 Harrington Fellow at UT. From left: Jenny Knipe, Greg Mullen, Ali Khademhosseini, Mary Caldorera-Moore, Cody Schoener, Bill Liechty, Nicholas Peppas, Brenda Carrillo-Conde, Brandon Slaughter, Mar Creixell, Stephanie Steichen, Diane Forbes in Austin, TX, January 6, 2012.

Ebru Oral (PhD 2002) receives the 2011 HAP Paul Award of the International Society for Technology in Arthroplasty. Ebru is an Instructor in Orthopedic Surgery at the Massachusetts General Hospital (link). The same year she received the Claflin Distinguished Scholar of the Massachusetts General Hospital. Previously, she had received the Young Investigator Award of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

Nicholas Peppas introducing the contributions of Sybille Harrington at the Harrington Symposium. Since Ms. Harrington was also a well known contributor to the Metropolitan Opera, Peppas found the opportunity to stress her contributions to opera productions. Austin, TX, November 10, 2011.

Introduction by Nicholas Peppas at the Harrington Symposium in Austin, TX, November 10, 2011.

Dr. Lisa Brannon-Peppas (MS ‘86, PhD ‘88) and Dr. Surya Mallapragada (PhD ‘97, now Chair of Chemical and Biological Engineering at Iowa State University) at the Harrington Symposium in Austin, TX, November 10, 2011.

Dr. Surya Mallapragada (PhD ‘97, now Chair of Chemical and Biological Engineering at Iowa State University) speaking at the Harrington Symposium in Austin, TX, November 10, 2011.

PhD students Cody Schoener and William Liechty at the Harrington Symposium in Austin, TX, November 10, 2011.

Mary Caldorera-Moore, a postdoc of our group and Prof. Michael McShane of the BME Department of Texas A&M University converse at the Harrington Symposium in Austin, TX, November 10, 2011. Mary was Dr. McShane’s undergraduate assistant at Louisiana Tech eight years earlier.

Jordan Keller, a junior in chemical engineering, was featured by the Cockrell College of Engineering for her work on drug delivery.

As Chairman of the AIChE Awards Committee (2011-13), Nicholas Peppas presents the 2011 Institute Awards (2011 AIChE meeting, Minneapolis, MN, October 17, 2011).

Professor Klavs Jensen, Chair of MIT’s Chemical Engineering Department, receives the 2011 William H. Walker Award from Nicholas Peppas, Chairman of the AIChE Awards Committee. The William H. Walker is the highest AIChE recognition and the earliest national award established by AIChE in 1936. In this 75th anniversary of this award we remember that its first recipient was Allan P. Colburn of the University of Delaware whose name is given to the AIChE Young Investigator Award (under 35 years of age). Dr Jensen as well as Drs Bowman, Anseth and Khademhosseini (see below) have received the Colburn Award in 1987, 2002, 2003 and 2010, respectively.

Chris Bowman (BS ’88, PhD ’91), now a distinguished professor of chemical engineering at the University of Colorado accepts the 2011 Professional Progress Award at the 2011 Annual AIChE meeting in Minneapolis, MN (October 17, 2011).

Reunion at the 2011 AIChE meeting… Celebrating several AIChE and other awards of the former lab associates are (from left) Christopher Bowman (BS ’88, PhD ’91, now distinguished professor of chemical engineering at the University of Colorado), Balaji Narasimhan (PhD ’96, now Associate Dean of Engineering at the Iowa State University), Aaron Foss (PhD ’02, now with Boston Scientific in Maple Grove, MN), Ali Khademhosseini (good friend of the group and a significant research contributor), Nicholas Peppas, Surya Mallapragada (PhD ’97), now Chair of Chemical and Biological Engineering at the Iowa State University), Bob Parker (PhD ’99, now Professor of Chemical Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh), Adam Ekenseair (PhD ’09, now a postdoctoral fellow in Bioengineering at Rice University), Zach Hilt (MS ’02, PhD ’04, now Professor of Chemical Engineering at the University of Kentucky) and Kristi Anseth (BS ’92, postdoc ’95, now distinguished professor of chemical engineering at the University of Colorado). On her lap the wonderful Riley Grace Anseth Bowman (age 4) (October 17, 2011).

Reunion at the 2011 AIChE meeting… Nicholas Peppas and Aaron Foss (PhD ’02, now with Boston Scientific in Maple Grove, MN) (October 2011).

Connecticut Governor Malloy addresses the Chair of the BME Departments of the United States at the Old State House in Hartford, CT during the annual meeting of the Biomedical Engineering Society (October 12, 2011).

Reception of the Biomedical Engineering Department of the University of Texas at Austin for alumni/ae and friends from the annual meeting of the Biomedical Engineering Society in Hartford, CT (October 13, 2011).

From the celebration of the Purdue Chemical Engineering Centennial. Nicholas Peppas giving the Centennial Lecture (October 7, 2011).

From the celebration of the Purdue Chemical Engineering Centennial. G.V. “Rex” Reklaitis and Nicholas Peppas (October 7, 2011).

From the celebration of the Purdue Chemical Engineering Centennial. Tony Mikos (MS ‘85, PhD ‘88) and Ron Harland (BS ‘83, MS ‘85, PhD ‘88) back at Purdue together again (October 7, 2011).

From the celebration of the Purdue Chemical Engineering Centennial. Tony Mikos (MS ‘85, PhD ‘88) speaking at the Academic Panel (October 7, 2011).

From the celebration of the Purdue Chemical Engineering Centennial. Michelle Smith (BS ’84, MS ’85) and Julie (Mounts) Alexander (BS ’84) back at Purdue together again (October 7, 2011).

From the celebration of the Purdue Chemical Engineering Centennial. Ron Harland (BS ‘83, MS ‘85, PhD ‘88) speaking with Purdue President Dr France Córdova (left) and former NSF Director and Purdue professor Dr Ardent Bement (center) (October 7, 2011).

From the celebration of the Purdue Chemical Engineering Centennial. Bob Goetlz (BS ‘78) and Walter Schumacher (BS ‘78) back at Purdue together again. Bob and Walter were in the first class (ChE 542) that Nicholas Peppas taught at Purdue in the Spring 1977 (October 7, 2011) The full Centennial talk of Nicholas Peppas can be found here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkbhkVdySeA.

From the celebration of the Purdue Chemical Engineering Centennial. Returning alumni/ae and members of the laboratory included (from left) Tony Mikos (MS ’85, PhD ’88), Michelle Smith (BS ’84, MS ’85), Nicholas Peppas, Julie (Mounts) Alexander (BS ’84) and Matt Helmkamp (BS ‘93). Missing from the photo is Ron Harland (BS ’83, MS ’85, PhD ’88). (October 7, 2011).

From the celebration of the Purdue Chemical Engineering Centennial. The authors of the 650-page history of Purdue’s Chemical Engineering, Peppas and Professor Phil Wankat. (October 7, 2011).

Invited Seminar in the Chemical Engineering Department of the Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (ETH) Zürich, Switzerland. Professor Sotirios Pratsinis of ETH (left) and Professor Peppas (September 26, 2011).

Replica of the Nike (Victory) of Samothrace from the Student Commons of ETH (Swiss Technical University) of Zurich, Switzerland (September 26, 2011).

Inner river in Zurich, Switzerland on a sunny Sunday afternoon (Visit to ETH, Zurich, September 25, 2011).

And a little while later sunset comes over Zurich (September 25, 2011).

From the induction ceremony for new ACS Fellows at the Denver ACS meeting, Nicholas Peppas with ACS inductees Art Coury (retired, Genzyme) and Buddy Ratner (Univ Washington) (August 2011).

From the induction ceremony for new ACS Fellows at the Denver ACS meeting, Nicholas Peppas with ACS Past President Joe Francisco (who used to be NAP’s colleague at Purdue in the 1990s) (August 2011).

Eileen Dawson in front of her poster on "An injectable, immune priming center for cancer vaccines" at the Controlled Release Society meeting, Washington, DC, July 2011.

Eileen Dawson, Jenny Knipe, Prinda Wanakule, Cody Schoener and Mary Caldorera-Moore celebrate winning a Trivia Contest at the Controlled Release Society meeting, Washington, DC, July 2011.

Ali Khademhosseini of Harvard Medical School and Nicholas Peppas in Boston (MIT Controlled Release course, July 2011).

Bob Langer of MIT teaches in the MIT Controlled Release course (July 2011). This was the 32nd year that this course was held. It was originally established in July 1979 by Drs Langer, Peppas, Karel, Rha, and Harris. Bob Langer, Nicholas Peppas and Frank Harris (Univ. Akron) have continued teaching it since then.

Closing reception of the Seventh International Symposium on Controlled Release Systems, Istanbul, Turkey (June 2011) on a boat in Bosporus. Among others we see the symposium organizers Professors Betül Dortunç (Marmara University) and Yıldız Özsoy (Istanbul University).

Three friends of the lab attend the Seventh International Symposium on Controlled Release Systems, Istanbul, Turkey (June 2011). From left: Professors Oya Alpar (University of London). Ayla Gürsoy (Marmara University) and Betül Dortunç (Marmara University).

View of Bosporus from Besiktas (Seventh International Symposium on Controlled Release Systems, Istanbul, Turkey, June 2011).

The famous Taksim Tünel tramway in Istanbul (Seventh International Symposium on Controlled Release Systems, Istanbul, Turkey, June 2011).

The Bosporus bridge connecting Europe and Asia (Seventh International Symposium on Controlled Release Systems, Istanbul, Turkey, June 2011).

The Bosporus bridge connecting Europe and Asia (Seventh International Symposium on Controlled Release Systems, Istanbul, Turkey, June 2011).

Dolmabahse Palace in Istanbul (Seventh International Symposium on Controlled Release Systems, Istanbul, Turkey, June 2011).

Katie Mass recognized by UT President William Powers Jr. for her research achievements. Katie worked in the lab for three years. Upon graduation in May she will be going to MIT for a Ph.D. in chemical engineering. Katie is the recipient of a Hertz Foundation Fellowship and a National Science Foundation Fellowship  (Austin Statesman, May 10, 2011, photograph by Ralph Barrera).

Mary Caldorera-Moore (postdoc, PhD ‘10, UT Austin) and Diane Forbes (PhD candidate).

Dinner in honor of Prof. Antonios Mikos of Rice University who received the 2011 SFB Founders Award. Society for Biomaterials meeting, Orlando, FL, April 14, 2011. Dr. Art Coury makes some humorous remarks, while Profs. Jennifer West (Rice University, left) and Elizabeth Cosgrill-Fernandez (Texas A&M) listen.

Prof. Antonios Mikos of Rice University (PhD ‘88 from our lab) receives the 2011 SFB Founders Award at the Society for Biomaterials meeting, Orlando, FL, April 14, 2011.

Dinner in honor of Prof. Antonios Mikos of Rice University who received the 2011 SFB Founders Award. Society for Biomaterials meeting, Orlando, FL, April 14, 2011. Nicholas Peppas introduces the program with memories from the days Tony was a graduate student at Purdue.

 Chengdu, China, site of the 2012 World Congress of Biomaterials and the center of pandas in China (March 2011).

Meeting of the Executive Committee of the International Union of Societies of Biomaterials Science and Engineering in Chengdu, China. Evening in Chengdu.(March 2011).

Meeting of the Executive Committee of the International Union of Societies of Biomaterials Science and Engineering in Chengdu, China. Intercontinental Hotel (March 2011).

Meeting of the Executive Committee of the International Union of Societies of Biomaterials Science and Engineering in Chengdu, China. Dinner at Sichuan University Among others: Keith Mclean, Australian delegate, William Wagner, US delegate (March 2011).

Meeting of the Executive Committee of the International Union of Societies of Biomaterials Science and Engineering in Chengdu, China. Preparation for the 2012 World Congress of Biomaterials. Among others: Prof. Hua Ai of Sichuan University, Professor Pinotti of the University of Minas Gerais, Brazil, Professor Chandra Sharma of Trivandrum, India and Professor Liu of Shanghai (March 2011).

Meeting of the Executive Committee of the International Union of Societies of Biomaterials Science and Engineering in Chengdu, China. Preparation for the 2012 World Congress of Biomaterials. The main hotel of the meeting, the Holiday Inn Century City, Chengdu (March 2011).

Meeting of the Executive Committee of the International Union of Societies of Biomaterials Science and Engineering in Chengdu, China. Preparation for the 2012 World Congress of Biomaterials. The Convention Center, Century City, Chengdu (March 2011).

Meeting of the Executive Committee of the International Union of Societies of Biomaterials Science and Engineering in Chengdu, China. Preparation for the 2012 World Congress of Biomaterials. The Holiday Inn and the Convention Center, Century City, Chengdu (March 2011).

Alkis Payatakes Memorial Lecture given by Nicholas A. Peppas at the University of Houston, March 4, 2011.

Alexandros Payatakes, MD, Pennsylvania State University talks about his late father Alkis Payatakes (former Professor of Chemical Engineering at the University of Houston) at a dinner at the University of Houston, March 3, 2011.

Alexandros Payatakes, MD, Pennsylvania State University talks about his late father Alkis Payatakes (former Professor of Chemical Engineering at the University of Houston) at a dinner at the University of Houston, March 3, 2011.

Professor Ray Flummerfelt of the University of Houston talks about Alkis Payatakes (former Professor of Chemical Engineering at the University of Houston) at a dinner at the University of Houston, March 3, 2011.

Professor Dan Luss of the University of Houston talks about Alkis Payatakes (former Professor of Chemical Engineering at the University of Houston) at a dinner at the University of Houston, March 3, 2011.

From left: Profs. Dan Luss and Ray Flummerfelt (University of Houston), Prof. Alexander Payatakes (Pennsylvania State University) and Prof. Antonios Mikos (Rice University).

Visit and seminar at Auburn University. Toomer’s Corner (February 23, 2011).

Induction of Prof. Mark Byrne (first from left, sitting, PhD 2003, now Professor at Auburn University) to the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineers (February 2011).

Induction of Prof. Mark Byrne (PhD 2003, now Professor at Auburn University) to the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineers (February 2011).

70th birthday of Prof. Sung Wan Kim, Fifteenth International Symposium on Recent Advances in Drug Delivery, Salt Lake City, Utah, February 2011.

Meeting in honor of Prof. Sungwan Kim’s 70th birthday in Salt Lake City, UT, February 15, 2011.

Meeting in honor of Prof. Sungwan Kim’s 70th birthday in Salt Lake City, UT, February 15, 2011. From left: Jindrich Kopecek (University of Utah), Jim Anderson (Case Western Reserve University), Pat Stayton (University of Washington), Jan Feijen (Twente University)

Meeting in honor of Prof. Sungwan Kim’s 70th birthday in Salt Lake City, UT, February 15, 2011. From left: Vince Lee (Hong Kong Univesrity), SungWan Kim, Kinam Park (Purdue University).

10th Congress of the Sociedad Española de Farmacia Industrial y Galénica in Madrid, Spain on February 3, 2011.

Plenary Lecture of the 10th Congress of the  Sociedad Española de Farmacia Industrial y Galénica in Madrid, Spain on February 3, 2011.

Plenary Lecture of the 10th Congress of the  Sociedad Española de Farmacia Industrial y Galénica in Madrid, Spain on February 3, 2011.

Poster with Ana Fernandez Olleros and Prof. Dolores Blanco (Sociedad Española de Farmacia Industrial y Galénica, Madrid, Spain, February 3, 2011).

Peppas with present and former PhDs of the laboratory. From left: Edgar Perez Herrero, Ana Fernandez Olleros, Marta Gomez Burgaz and Coro Echeverria  (Sociedad Española de Farmacia Industrial y Galénica, Madrid, Spain, February 3, 2011).

Performance by the world famous Orquesta de Pulso y Púa de la Universidad Complutense de Madrid (Sociedad Española de Farmacia Industrial y Galénica, Madrid, Spain, February 3, 2011).

Closing banquet (Sociedad Española de Farmacia Industrial y Galénica, Madrid, Spain, February 3, 2011).

Meeting in honor of Prof. Mikos’s 50th birthday at Rice University, Houston, TX, January 8, 2011.

Meeting in honor of Prof. Mikos’s 50th birthday at Rice University, Houston, TX, January 8, 2011.

Meeting in honor of Prof. Mikos’s 50th birthday at Rice University, Houston, TX, January 8, 2011.

Annual TERMIS (Tissue Engineering) meeting, symposium in honor of the scientific contributions of Dr. Art Coury of Genzyme. Here Nicholas Peppas and Dr. Coury  (Orlando, FL, December 4, 2010).

Annual BMES meeting, Austin, TX, October 2010.

Peppas with Dr. Joseph Reinhardt, Chair of BME at the University of Iowa

Annual BMES meeting, Austin, TX, October 2010.

Addressing the gathering of BME Chairs at the BME building of UT

BME Chairs dinner. Dr. George Truskey, BME Chair at Duke University and Dr. Greg Fenves, UT Dean of Engineering

Annual BMES meeting, Austin, TX, October 2010.

BME Chairs dinner and the UT BME Department. In the main table (from left): Dr. Christine Schmidt, 2010 BMES meeting Chair, Dr. Martine LeBerge, BME Chair at Clemson University, Dr. Kyriakos (Kerry) Athanasiou, BME Chair at the University of California at Davis,  Dr. George Truskey, BME Chair at Duke University and Dr. Greg Fenves, UT Dean of Engineering

Peppas with Dr. Cato Laurencin, Dean of Medicine, University of Connecticut

Dr. Cato Laurencin, Dean of Medicine, University of Connecticut and Dr. Greg Fenves, Dean of Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Reception for Acta Biomaterialia Gold Medal Award: from left Dr. Art Coury, Chair of the Awards Committee, Dr. William Wagner, Editor of Acta Biomaterialia and Dr. Nicholas Peppas

Dr. Ebru Oral, Harvard Medical School and Dr. David Henthorn, Professor of BME at St Louis University, were PhD classmates in the lab in the early 2000s...