IE Professor Youngjae Chun Awarded Consecutive Innovative Project Awards by the American Heart Association
Youngjae Chun, professor of industrial engineering at the University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering, has been honored with the Innovative Project Award for both 2023 and 2024, totaling $400,000. His research addresses critical problems related to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases by integrating novel concepts in smart materials and implantable electronics with cardiovascular implants to address challenging issues and complications.
Treating small artery diseases in coronary, cerebral, or peripheral locations presents unique challenges, as implanted vascular devices often suffer from long-term hemocompatibility complications such as thrombosis, in-stent restenosis, or plaque formation. Ischemic heart disease and stroke are the leading causes of death worldwide, accounting for approximately 500,000 deaths annually in the United States.
The first project focuses on developing an active surface treatment technology for coronary artery stents. If successful, this technology could significantly impact current stent technology by improving efficacy and reducing complications. This project is a collaborative work with Drs. William R. Wagner and Sang-Ho Ye from the Department of Bioengineering.
“This study introduces a new direction for in situ active surface treatment in endovascular device technology,” Chun said. “The innovative platform technology for active surface treatment can be expanded to almost every endovascular device, providing a low-profile solution without bulky batteries or complex electronics for prolonged cardiac device implantation.”
The second project involves developing an electronics-embedded cardiovascular device capable of monitoring physiological variations in real time without the need for a battery or complex systems. This innovation promises to enhance the functionality and reliability of cardiovascular devices. This project is a collaborative work with Dr. Woon-Hong Yeo from the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering at Georgia Tech.
“The project promotes a comprehensive understanding of sensor mechanics, fluid dynamics, wireless communication, and printing-based manufacturing to overcome current limitations in implantable bioelectronics while advancing knowledge in vascular health,” Chun explained.
The American Heart Association (AHA) sponsors the Innovative Project Award (IPA) to support highly innovative, high-risk, high-reward research with the potential to significantly advance cardiovascular and cerebrovascular science. These awards fund groundbreaking research ideas that challenge existing paradigms and propose new hypotheses, methodologies, or technologies.
With the support of these innovative and impactful research projects, Chun aims to achieve significant advancements in cardiovascular health and ultimately improve patient outcomes.