Biographical Sketches

Chih-Chang "C.C." Chu

Professor, Fiber Science and Apparel, College of Human Ecology, & Founding Member of CU Biomedical Engineering Program

Dr. C.C. Chu joined the Cornell faculty in 1978 after completing postdoctoral research on biomaterials for maxillofacial prostheses at the Medical Center of the University of Alabama in Birmingham. Dr. Chu is a founding member of CU Biomedical Engineering Program, and he is particularly interested in pursuing R/D of new and novel biodegradable biomaterials for saving human lives or improving the quality of living. His research includes the design and synthesis and engineering of novel biodegradable polymers, hydrogels, fibers and fabrics for tissue regeneration and repair including vascular grafts, heart valves, artificial skins, bone regeneration, wound healing and infection control, wound closure, drug control/release, DNA carriers for gene therapy, identification and forensic purposes. Some examples include the synthesis of new biodegradable polymers for immunotherapy of cancer patients, biomaterials for reducing restenosis of vascular stents, novel substrates for bone, blood vessel and heart valve engineering and cell preservation, electrified sutures for wound infection control, biodegradable vascular grafts, functional wound closure biomaterials for eliminating wound infection during surgery and novel non-viral gene transfection agents.

Chu has published 137 referred research papers, a recipient of 56 US and international licensed patents with several pending and disclosed, an author and editor of the book "Wound Closure Biomaterials and Devices". Via licensee, several novel biomaterials developed in Chu's labs have been in clinical trials worldwide for commercialization. One of Dr. Chu's new inventions 'Biodegradable, Bioactive, & Programable Hydrogels ' was chosen as a semifinalist for Discover Columbus Foundation Award competition. Dr. Chu has experience working with industry and medical professionals to bring his new inventions in biomaterials closer to clinical reality.

Dr. Chu teaches both undergraduate and graduate level courses. One course, "Biomaterials and Medical Devices for Human Body Repair", nicknamed "Human Spare Parts", is co-listed with the bioengineering curriculum, and has drawn students from all colleges at Cornell.

For more information, please visit his bio, cornell webpage and VIVO profile.