Mikos receives O'Donnell award
 Antonios Mikos, the J.W. Cox Professor of Bioengineering, professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering, and director of Rice's Center for Excellence in Tissue Engineering, was honored with one of the Lone Star State's highest scientific honors, the Edith and Peter O'Donnell Award from The Academy of Medicine, Engineering and Science of Texas (TAMEST).
The O'Donnell awards include a $25,000 honorarium, a citation, and an inscribed statue. Mikos, a pioneer in the field of tissue engineering, received the award for engineering in January at the academy's annual conference in Austin. He was honored “for insightful application of chemical engineering principles to biomolecular engineering as exemplified by pioneering contributions to tissue engineering, biomaterials science, bioadhesion and drug delivery systems.”
“Living tissues like bone, muscle and cartilage are among the most complex structures known, and Dr. Mikos is a global leader in applying engineering techniques to synthesize these sophisticated tissues in the laboratory,” said Rice President David Leebron. “His research offers hope for significant improvements in orthopedic medicine, transplantation and other medical fields, and he is richly deserving of this distinguished honor.”
Mikos' research includes the synthesis, processing, and evaluation of new biomaterials for use as scaffolds for tissue engineering, as carriers for controlled drug delivery, and as non-viral vectors for gene therapy. His work has led to the development of novel orthopedic, cardiovascular, neurologic and ophthalmologic biomaterials.
“Dr. Antonios Mikos’ research has advanced some of the most exciting and dynamic areas of biomaterials science,” said U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison. “I am pleased that TAMEST has recognized his good efforts that exemplify the goals and purposes of the O’Donnell award.”
Launched with the support of Hutchison in 2004, TAMEST recognizes Texas’ leading researchers in medicine, engineering and science, and contributes to the state’s identity as center of achievement in those fields. Academy members include all Texas Nobel laureates and the 200-plus Texas members of the National Academies: the National Academy of Engineering, the National Academy of Sciences, the Institute of Medicine and the National Research Council.
Named for Dallas philanthropists Edith and Peter O'Donnell, the O'Donnell awards were established to recognize outstanding Texas up-and-comers and their work.
Mikos is author of more than 300 publications and a founding editor of the journal, Tissue Engineering. His research has earned numerous professional honors, including the Orthopaedic Research Society's 2005 Marshall R. Urist Award for Excellence in Tissue Regeneration Research. Mikos is a founding member of Rice's Department of Bioengineering.
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