David Beebe has been named as the first winner of this prestigious new prize, established by two of the major players in the miniaturisation sector, the Lab on a Chip journal and Corning
The prize aims to promote miniaturisation through micro and nanotechnologies to the wider scientific community and encourage both young and new scientists into the field.
"It is a pleasure to be able to present such a significant award, encouraging young pioneers in this exciting area of research" said Kou Murato, director life sciences, Corning International.
The presentation of this first award was made at the 10th International Conference on Miniaturised Systems for Chemistry and the Life Sciences (uTas) held in Tokyo, Japan in November.
Beebe, a professor in the department of biomedical engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison is involved in the development and application of micro technology to solve problems in biology and medicine.
Recent projects include disposable non-electronic drug delivery patches for large molecule therapeutics and a family of microfluidic-based tools for elucidating basic cell biology questions related to cancer, developmental biology and stem cells.
These projects have resulted in a number of patents.
Professor Beebe has also co-founded three biotechnology companies that are in the process of commercialising these technologies.
After the announcement Beebe commented, "Receiving this award is indeed a great honour.
"To be selected by peers in conjunction with Lab on a Chip, the top journal in the field is quite humbling.
"But the real thanks go to all the researchers who have grown the field to what it is today.
"It is the growth of the microfluidics and lab on a chip field that made such an award possible with the support of Corning.
"I hope that the award will stimulate others to push the field in new and interesting directions".
Both Lab on a Chip and Corning are determined that this will become an annual prize recognising significant contributions and outstanding achievements in the field of micro- and nano-scale science.
