Nancy Allbritton facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Nancy Allbritton
Nationality	American
Alma mater	Louisiana State University (BS) Johns Hopkins University (MD) Massachusetts Institute of Technology (PhD)
Known for	Single-cell analysis
Scientific career
Fields	Biomedical Engineering
Institutions	University of Washington University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University

Nancy Allbritton is a leading scientist in biomedical engineering. She is currently a Professor of Bioengineering at the University of Washington. She also serves as the Frank & Julie Jungers Dean of the College of Engineering there.

Before this, she was a special professor and chair at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She also worked at North Carolina State University.

Dr. Allbritton is famous for her work in single-cell analysis. This means she studies individual living cells very closely. She uses engineering ideas to create new tools. These tools help scientists understand how cells work. They also help them learn how to control cells and tissues. Her work helps us learn about how cells communicate.

Education and Early Career

Nancy Allbritton studied physics at Louisiana State University. She earned her bachelor's degree in 1979. Later, she went to Johns Hopkins University. There, she earned her medical doctor (MD) degree in 1985. She then continued her studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). In 1987, she received her PhD in medical physics and engineering.

After finishing her studies, Dr. Allbritton became a postdoctoral fellow. She worked at Stanford University from 1989 to 1994.

University Roles

In 1994, Dr. Allbritton became a professor at the University of California at Irvine. She taught in many different departments. These included Physiology, Biomedical Engineering, and Chemistry. She stayed at UC Irvine for 13 years, until 2007.

In 2007, she moved to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She became a Kenan Distinguished Professor. From 2009 to 2019, she led the Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering. This department was shared between the University of North Carolina and North Carolina State University. She also held positions in Chemistry and Materials Science.

Since November 2019, Dr. Allbritton has been at the University of Washington. She is a Professor of Bioengineering. She also leads the College of Engineering as its Dean. In 2021, she became a co-editor for the Annual Review of Analytical Chemistry.

What Dr. Allbritton Studies

Dr. Allbritton's main research is in single-cell analysis. She uses special methods like capillary electrophoresis (CE). She also uses tiny, engineered devices. This work helps her study how fats signal within single cells. She also finds ways to collect specific immune cells. These are called cytotoxic T-cells.

She also works on organ-on-a-chip technology. This involves creating tiny devices. These devices act like human organs. They use methods from electronics and microfluidics. Her lab has made devices that copy the environment of the small and large intestine. These devices help scientists study diseases.

Another area of her research is dielectrophoresis (DEP). This method uses electric fields to move cells. Her lab is working to bring DEP-based tools from the lab to hospitals. This could help with medical tests and treatments.

Awards and Recognition

Dr. Allbritton has received many awards for her important work.

• 1982-1985: Health Sciences and Technology Fellowship, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• 1995: Searle Scholar Award
• 1995: Beckman Young Investigator Award
• 22003-2004: Distinguished Mid-Career Faculty Award for Research, University of California, Irvine
• 2009: Mary K. and Velmer A. Fassel Award, Iowa State University
• 2015: NIH Director’s Transformative Award, National Institutes of Health
• 2016: Award in Chemical Instrumentation, ACS Division of Analytical Chemistry
• 2017: Edward Kidder Graham Leadership Award, UNC
• 2017: Innovator of the Year, UNC-Chapel Hill
• 2020: Ralph N. Adams Award in Bioanalytical Chemistry, Pittcon
• 2021: Pritzker Distinguished Lecture Award, Biomedical Engineering Society

See also

In Spanish: Nancy Allbritton para niños