Kathryn Uhrich facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kathryn Uhrich
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Kathryn Uhrich in April 2008.
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| Born | 1965 (age 60–61) |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Grand Forks Central High School |
| Alma mater | University of North Dakota, Cornell University |
| Known for | Creating new materials for medicine, preventing biofilm formation |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Chemistry, Cardiology |
| Institutions | Rutgers University, Polymerix Corporation |
Kathryn Uhrich (born 1965) is an American scientist and inventor. She is the Dean of the College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences at the University of California, Riverside. A dean is a leader at a university who helps manage a specific college or school. Uhrich is famous for creating special materials called polymers that can be used inside the human body to deliver medicine and help people heal.
She has won many awards for her groundbreaking work. In 2014, she was named a fellow of both the National Academy of Inventors and the American Chemical Society, which are very high honors for a scientist.
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Amazing Medical Inventions
Kathryn Uhrich's research focuses on making special plastics, called biodegradable polymers, that are safe to use in the body. These materials are designed to break down and dissolve over time after they have done their job. This is useful for many medical treatments.
A New Kind of Aspirin
One of her most famous inventions is PolyAspirin. The idea for aspirin is very old, dating back to Hippocrates in ancient Greece. Uhrich created a modern version. PolyAspirin is a polymer that slowly breaks down in the body, releasing the medicine in aspirin (salicylic acid) over time.
Originally, this material was designed for making sutures (stitches) that would dissolve on their own. Now, it is being tested for use in cardiac stents. A stent is a tiny tube that doctors place in a blocked artery to keep it open. Uhrich's biodegradable stent can help prevent swelling and irritation after surgery. Once the artery is healed, the stent simply disappears.
Fighting Harmful Bacteria
Uhrich has also used her polymer science to help with food safety. She worked with other scientists to see if PolyAspirin and other plant-based polymers could stop the growth of biofilms. A biofilm is a slimy, protective layer that bacteria like E. coli and Salmonella create. By preventing biofilms, her invention could help keep our food safer to eat.
In 1997, Uhrich received a patent for PolyAspirin. A patent protects an invention so others can't copy it. She has over 100 patents for her many inventions.
Tiny Delivery Systems for Medicine
Another area of Uhrich's research is creating tiny particles called polymeric micelles. You can think of them like soap bubbles. They have a special structure that lets them trap medicine inside. These tiny "packages" can then carry the medicine directly to the cells in the body that need it.
Her team works with two types of these delivery systems:
- Star-shaped molecules: These act like tiny, single-particle containers for medicine.
- Scorpion-shaped molecules: These molecules group together to form a container. They are easier to make and are being tested to deliver genetic material to cells.
These tiny particles could also help fight "bad" cholesterol (LDL). Too much bad cholesterol can clog arteries and lead to heart problems. Uhrich's polymers are designed to stop cells from absorbing bad cholesterol, but they leave the "good" cholesterol (HDL) alone.
Helping Nerves to Heal
When someone has a nerve injury, it can be hard for the nerve cells to regrow and reconnect. Uhrich's team is working on ways to help. They create special surfaces with tiny striped patterns of protein on them. These patterns act like a roadmap, guiding nerve cells to grow in the right direction and bridge the gap caused by an injury.
They are also developing "nerve guidance conduits," which are tiny tubes made from her biodegradable polymers. These tubes could be placed in the body to help guide and protect nerves as they heal.
Awards and Recognition
Kathryn Uhrich has received many awards for her contributions to science.
- 2014, Fellow, American Chemical Society
- 2014, Fellow, National Academy of Inventors
- 2013, Sioux Award
- 2013, Common Pathways Award, New Jersey Association for Biomedical Research
- 2007, Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists, Finalist
- 2005, ACS Buck-Whitney Award
- 2004, Outstanding Scientist – New Jersey Association for Biomedical Research
- 2003, Thomas Alva Edison Patent Award
- 2003, Fellow, American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering
- 2000, National Science Foundation CAREER Award
- 1996, Johnson & Johnson Discovery Award
Education and Career
- She attended Grand Forks Central High School.
- She earned a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree from the University of North Dakota in 1986.
- She earned a Master of Science (M.S.) degree in 1989 and a Ph.D. in 1992 from Cornell University.
- Early in her career, she worked as a researcher at AT&T Bell Laboratories and Eastman Kodak Company.
