Professor Abhay Pandit, Scientific Director of CÚRAM at NUI Galway has been elected to Fellowship of the Irish Academy of Engineering.
The Irish Academy of Engineering is an all-island body with a mandate to provide independent advice to policy makers on matters involving engineering and technology.
Fellowship of the Academy recognises outstanding distinction in engineering in Ireland and overseas, covering academia, public sector, industry and engineering consultancy, with a current membership of 146.
This distinction has been bestowed on Professor Pandit by the Academy in recognition of his “exceptional career and contribution to the advancement of engineering and economic and social progress in Ireland”.
CÚRAM is a research centre into developing Medical Devices based at NUI Galway, with a multi-disciplinary team funded by Science Foundation Ireland.
Professor Pandit’s own research integrates material science and biological systems in developing solutions for chronic diseases.
His work has helped create advanced drug delivery systems to deliver highly localised treatments of “biomolecules to target injury mechanisms at the molecular and cellular levels.”
Prof. Pandit has been recognised many times over for his work, being elected to many national and international bodies, published more than 250 papers in peer-reviewed journals, filed numerous patent applications and has licensed four technologies to medical device companies.
He has coordinated four EU grants to date and has generated research contracts from industry and government funding agencies totalling €90 million.
Speaking about his Fellowship, Prof Pandit said that it was a great honour to be elected to the Irish Academy of Engineering.
“I look forward to building on this achievement to further enhance the impact of tissue engineering at NUI Galway and to further the growth and international recognition of the medical device sector here in the West of Ireland.”
President of NUI Galway Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh said “On behalf of colleagues at NUI Galway, I extend warmest congratulations to Abhay on this recognition”.
“His election to Fellowship signals the immense and continuing contribution which Abhay continues to make to the field of engineering in Ireland, in particular to the area of tissue engineering. I’m delighted to see his achievements so justly recognised by the Academy in this way.”
