Kyriacos A. Athanasiou

Kyriacos Athanasiou is the Henry Samueli Chair in Engineering and a Distinguished Professor of Biomedical Engineering at the University of California, Irvine. The main objective of Professor Athanasiou’s research is to understand and enhance the healing processes of musculoskeletal tissues as well as the various cartilaginous tissues of the body. Another objective is to apply the translation of engineering innovations to clinical use, especially in terms of instruments and devices.

Athanasiou has developed functional approaches for cartilage replacements, helping bridge laboratory discoveries and medical treatments. His work has also led to intraosseous infusion technologies used worldwide in emergency medicine to deliver life-saving drugs.

He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering, the National Academy of Medicine, and the National Academy of Inventors.

Athanasiou received a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the New York Institute of Technology; and an M.S., Ph.M., and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Columbia University.