The Origins of Engineered Biomaterials: NSF-Funded, University of Washington Engineered Biomaterials (UWEB)

The University of Washington Engineered Biomaterials (UWEB) Engineering Research Center (ERC) was funded from 1996 to 2007 by the U.S. National Science Foundation. The mission of UWEB was to advance biomaterials by integrating modern biology with materials science. UWEB specifically focused on the healing and integration of medical implants. UWEB teamed biologists, physicians, engineers, and industry and demonstrated three paths that might advance biomaterials so they could seamlessly integrate and heal in the body. The three primary lines of investigation were precision porous scaffolds, super-non-fouling surfaces, and the control of matricellular proteins. The UWEB program set the groundwork for the modern field of immunoengineering. Also, UWEB invested significantly in training scientists/engineers who could freely integrate advances in biological sciences, state-of-the-art materials science, and medical technology. This historical summary of the UWEB program demonstrates that federal investment in interfacing forefront fields can yield dividends with benefits for society and the economy.