Duke Engineers Earn Clemson Awards for Biomaterials Ingenuity

By Michaela Martinez

1/17/24 Pratt School of Engineering

Joel Collier and Tatiana Segura received the awards from the Society for Biomaterials for their respective contributions to research and the scientific literature

Joel Collier, left, and Tatiana Segura of Duke University — Duke Engineers Earn Clemson Awards for Biomaterials Ingenuity

Joel Collier, the Theodore Kennedy Professor of Biomedical Engineering, and Tatiana Segura, professor of Biomedical Engineering at Duke University earned 2024 Clemson Awards from the Society for Biomaterials.

Collier received the Clemson Award for Basic Research, and Segura received the Clemson Award for Contributions to the Literature.

Joel Collier

The Clemson Award for Basic Research is awarded to individuals who have made an original contribution to the basic knowledge and understanding of the interaction between materials and tissue.

As a leader in the biomaterials field, Collier was recognized for his development of peptide biomaterial systems. These self-organizing particles can control adaptive immune responses, with potential uses spanning infectious diseases, cancer, urinary tract infections, wound healing and chronic inflammation.

The Society for Biomaterials has been my home scientific organization since I was a graduate student, so it is really special to receive this award from a community that means so much to me. I am so proud of the work that all our research group members have contributed over the years. The Clemson Award belongs as much to them as it does to me.
Joel Collier Theodore Kennedy Professor of Biomedical Engineering

Tatiana Segura

The Clemson Award for Contributions to the Literature is awarded to researchers who have made significant contributions to the scientific literature on the science or technology of biomaterials. With joint appointments in biomedical engineering, dermatology and neurology, Segura’s work is centered on developing biomaterials that can harness the body’s own ability to repair itself.

To accomplish this, she designs materials that can form into physical structures that send out biological cues that encourage surrounding cells to grow. This work has resulted in over 110 publications with over 11 thousand citations.

The Society for Biomaterials is my scientific home away from home. It has watched me evolve as a scientist from when I was a student to today, which is why it is so amazing for me to receive this honor. Earning the award for contributions to the literature also showcases the exciting work my past and current lab members have performed and highlights the impact these publications have had on our field.
Tatiana Segura Professor of Biomedical Engineering

About the Society for Biomaterials

The Society for Biomaterials is a professional society that promotes advances in biomedical materials research and development by the encouragement of cooperative educational programs, clinical applications and professional standards in the biomaterials field.

The society is committed to bridging the gap between academic research and its applications across industry to advance the biomaterials field and support innovations in research, patient care and policy.