Thomas Webster
Associate Professor of Engineering:
Engineering
Phone: +1 401 863 2318
Phone 2: +1 401 863 2318
Thomas_Webster@brown.edu
Prof. Webster directs the Nanomedicine Laboratory which designs, synthesizes, and evaluates nanomaterials for various implant applications. Nanomaterials are central to the field of nanotechnology and are materials with one dimension less than 100 nm. Tissues investigated include bone, bladder, vascular, cartilage, dental, and the nervous system.
Biography
Thomas J. Webster is an associate professor for the Divisions of Engineering and Orthopedic Surgery at Brown. His degrees are in chemical engineering from the University of Pittsburgh (B.S., 1995) and in biomedical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (M.S., 1997; Ph.D., 2000). Prof. Webster's research designs, synthesizes, and studies nanophase materials for various implant applications. Nanophase materials are defined as materials with constituent dimensions less than 100 nm in at least one direction. Materials investigated to date include nanophase ceramics, metals, polymers, carbon fibers, and composites. Organ systems evaluated to date include orthopedic, cartilage, vascular, bladder, and the central and peripheral nervous systems. His lab group has generated 4 books, 33 book chapters, 85 invited presentations (including tutorials), 215 literature articles and/or conference proceedings, 245 conference presentations, and 15 provisional or full patents. His technology has resulted in one start-up company. He is the founding editor-in-chief of the International Journal of Nanomedicine and is on the editorial board 10 other journals. He has organized over 25 symposia at academic conferences. Dr. Webster was the 2002 recipient of the Biomedical Engineering Society Rita Schaffer Young Investigator Award, the 2004 recipient of the Outstanding Young Investigator Award for the Schools of Engineering at Purdue University, the 2004 Finalist for the Young Investigator Award of the American Society for Nanomedicine, and the 2005 recipient of the Wallace Coulter Foundation Early Career Award.
Degrees
PhD in Biomedical Engineering
Awards
Awards from Societies/Organizations
1997 Paper entitled "Supplemental Instruction benefits students in an introductory engineering course" was selected as one of 13 papers out of over 400 submitted to be published in Journal of Engineering Education summarizing ASEE Frontiers in Engineering Education Conference, Pittsburgh, PA
1998, 1999 Biomedical Engineering Society Student Travel Award
1999 Honorable Mention for the Student Travel and Professional Development Award for the Society of Biomaterials
2002 Rita Schaffer Biomedical Engineering Society Young Investigator Award
2004 Certificate of Recognition for IPSE (Indiana Partnership for Statewide Education)
2004 Leadership and Innovation in "Teaching with Technology in a Distance Education Program" Certificate of Appreciation for giving an invited tutorial at the John F. Johnston Society for the Advancement of Prosthodontics
2004 Special contribution to the Materials Research Society meeting monetary award
2005 Finalist for Outstanding Young Investigator for the American Association of Nanomedicine
2005 Coulter Foundation Early Career Award
Awards from Universities
1997 Highlighted as Outstanding Alumni in University of Pittsburgh School of Engineering Alumni Newsletter
1997 Rensselaer Founders Award for Excellence (awarded to less than 1% of graduate student body)
1997-2000 Department of Biomedical Engineering Paul B. Daischt Award
2000 Karen and Lester Gerhardt Graduate Student Award in recognition of outstanding academic achievement and promise for a successful career
2004 Young Researcher Award for Purdue University Schools of Engineering(award given annually to one faculty member under 35 years of age)
Affiliations
RESEARCH AND TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Associate Professor
2006-present Division of Engineering, Brown University Providence, RI
2006-present Division of Orthopaedics, Brown University
Providence, RI (by courtesy)
Associate Professor
2005-2006 Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
2005-2006 School of Materials Engineering, Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN (by courtesy)
Assistant Professor
2000-2005 Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
2004-2005 School of Materials Engineering, Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN (by courtesy)
Funded Research
PI: Thomas Webster Other Agencies (including NSF) to which this proposal has been/will be submitted: None
Support: X Current Pending Submission Planned in Near Future Transfer Of Support
Project/Proposal Title: "Testing Arthrosurface Cartilage Materials"
5-29035
Source of Support: ArthroSurface, Inc.
Award Amount (or Annual Rate): $10,000 Total Award Period Covered: 1/1/06 - 12/31/06
Location Of Project: Brown University, Division of Engineering, 184 Hope Street, Providence, RI 02912
Person-Months Per Year Committed to the Project. Cal: 0.05 Acad: Sumr:
Support: X Current Pending Submission Planned in Near Future Transfer Of Support
Project/Proposal Title: "Bionanotechnology for the Improvement of Orthopedic Implants"
5-29022
Source of Support: Wallace H. Coulter Foundation
Award Amount (or Annual Rate): $240,000 Total Award Period Covered: 1/1/06 - 12/31/08
Location Of Project: Brown University, Division of Engineering, 184 Hope Street, Providence, RI 02912
Person-Months Per Year Committed to the Project. Cal: Acad: Sumr: 1.00
Support: X Current Pending Submission Planned in Near Future Transfer Of Support
Project/Proposal Title: "Helical Rosette Nanotubes for Treating Osteoporotic Bone"
5-27587
Source of Support: DHHS
Award Amount (or Annual Rate): $512,240 Total Award Period Covered: 4/15/06 - 2/28/09
Location Of Project: Brown University, Division of Engineering, 184 Hope Street, Providence, RI 02912
Person-Months Per Year Committed to the Project. Cal: Acad: Sumr: 0.50
Support: X Current Pending Submission Planned in Near Future Transfer Of Support
Project/Proposal Title: "Testing Osteoblast Adhesion Assays"
5-29109
Source of Support: Ionic Fusion Corp
Award Amount (or Annual Rate): $15,000 Total Award Period Covered: 1/15/06 - 1/14/07
Location Of Project: Brown University, Division of Engineering, 184 Hope Street, Providence, RI 02912
Person-Months Per Year Committed to the Project. Cal: 0.05 Acad: Sumr:
Support: X Current Pending Submission Planned in Near Future Transfer Of Support
Project/Proposal Title: "Nanoparticle Coating System for Biomedical Applications"
5-24015
Source of Support: NanoMech/DHHS
Award Amount (or Annual Rate): $150,000 Total Award Period Covered: 9/26/2006 - 8/31/2008
Location Of Project: Brown University, Division of Engineering, 184 Hope Street, Providence, RI 02912
Person-Months Per Year Committed to the Project. Cal: Acad: Sumr: 0.50
Support: Current X Pending Submission Planned in Near Future Transfer Of Support
Project/Proposal Title: "Evaluation of Growth Factor Release from Wound Dressing Materials"
Source of Support: Spire Biomedical
Award Amount (or Annual Rate): $40,000 Total Award Period Covered: 4/1/06 - 10/1/06
Location Of Project: Brown University, Division of Engineering, 184 Hope Street, Providence, RI 02912
Person-Months Per Year Committed to the Project. Cal: 0.15 Acad: Sumr:
Support: Current X Pending Submission Planned in Near Future Transfer Of Support
Project/Proposal Title: "Testing of orthopedic materials with Angstrom Medica"
Source of Support: Angstrom Medica/DHHS
Award Amount (or Annual Rate): $15,000 Total Award Period Covered: 1/1/06 - 12/31/06
Location Of Project: Brown University, Division of Engineering, 184 Hope Street, Providence, RI 02912
Person-Months Per Year Committed to the Project. Cal: 0.05 Acad: Sumr:
Support: Current X Pending Submission Planned in Near Future Transfer Of Support
Project/Proposal Title: "Biocompatibility at the Nanoscale"
With 12 other Professors
Source of Support: DHHS
Award Amount (or Annual Rate): $11,781,015 Total Award Period Covered: 10/01/05 - 9/30/10
Location Of Project: Brown University, Division of Engineering, 184 Hope Street, Providence, RI 02912
Person-Months Per Year Committed to the Project. Cal: Acad: Sumr: 1.00
Support: Current X Pending Submission Planned in Near Future Transfer Of Support
Project/Proposal Title: "Materials Testing for Spire Biomedical Phase II"
Source of Support: Spire Biomedical/DHHS
Award Amount (or Annual Rate): $399,000 Total Award Period Covered: 6/01/06 - 5/31/09
Location Of Project: Brown University, Division of Engineering, 184 Hope Street, Providence, RI 02912
Person-Months Per Year Committed to the Project. Cal: Acad: Sumr: 1.00
Support: Current X Pending Submission Planned in Near Future Transfer Of Support
Project/Proposal Title: "Ceramic Nanoparticles for Bone Cancer Treatment"
Source of Support: DHHS
Award Amount (or Annual Rate): $800,594 Total Award Period Covered: 12/1/06 - 11/30/09
Location Of Project: Brown University, Division of Engineering, 184 Hope Street, Providence, RI 02912
Person-Months Per Year Committed to the Project. Cal: Acad: Sumr: 1.00
Support: Current X Pending Submission Planned in Near Future Transfer Of Support
Project/Proposal Title: "Functionally Graded HA Coatings for Tailored Biological Response"
Source of Support: Spire Biomedical
Award Amount (or Annual Rate): $100,000 Total Award Period Covered: 3/1/07 - 2/28/09
Location Of Project: Brown University, Division of Engineering, 184 Hope Street, Providence, RI 02912
Person-Months Per Year Committed to the Project. Cal: Acad: Sumr: 0.05
Support: Current X Pending Submission Planned in Near Future Transfer Of Support
Project/Proposal Title: "Testing of Vascular Materials Made by Spire"
Source of Support: Spire Biomedical
Award Amount (or Annual Rate): $33,000 Total Award Period Covered: 12/01/06 - 11/30/07
Location Of Project: Brown University, Division of Engineering, 184 Hope Street, Providence, RI 02912
Person-Months Per Year Committed to the Project. Cal: Acad: Sumr: 0.05
Support: Current X Pending Submission Planned in Near Future Transfer Of Support
Project/Proposal Title: "Cytocompatiblility Tests Part 2"
Source of Support: Ionic Fusion Corp
Award Amount (or Annual Rate): $100,000 Total Award Period Covered: 6/1/06 - 5/31/07
Location Of Project: Brown University, Division of Engineering, 184 Hope Street, Providence, RI 02912
Person-Months Per Year Committed to the Project. Cal: 1.00 Acad: Sumr:
Support: Current X Pending Submission Planned in Near Future Transfer Of Support
Project/Proposal Title: "Testing Novel Orthopedic Helical Coatings for Orthopeic Applications"
Source of Support: Spire Biomedical, Inc.
Award Amount (or Annual Rate): $40,000 Total Award Period Covered: 9/1/06 - 8/31/07
Location Of Project: Brown University, Division of Engineering, 184 Hope Street, Providence, RI 02912
Person-Months Per Year Committed to the Project. Cal: Acad: Sumr: 0.05
Support: Current X Pending Submission Planned in Near Future Transfer Of Support
Project/Proposal Title: "Ceramic Nanoparticles for Osteoporosis Treatment"
Source of Support: DHHS
Award Amount (or Annual Rate): $800,594 Total Award Period Covered: 12/1/06 - 11/30/09
Location Of Project: Brown University, Division of Engineering, 184 Hope Street, Providence, RI 02912
Person-Months Per Year Committed to the Project. Cal: Acad: Sumr: 1.00
Support: Current X Pending Submission Planned in Near Future Transfer Of Support
Project/Proposal Title: "Testing of Spire Wound Dressing Materials"
Source of Support: NIH
Award Amount (or Annual Rate): $40,000 Total Award Period Covered: 9/1/06 - 8/31/07
Location Of Project: Brown University, Division of Engineering, 184 Hope Street, Providence, RI 02912
Person-Months Per Year Committed to the Project. Cal: Acad: Sumr: 0.50
Support: Current X Pending Submission Planned in Near Future Transfer Of Support
Project/Proposal Title: "Testing of Materials for Angstrom Medica for Orthopedic Applications"
Source of Support: Angstrom Medica/NSF
Award Amount (or Annual Rate): $19,920 Total Award Period Covered: 6/1/06 - 12/31/06
Location Of Project: Brown University, Division of Engineering, 184 Hope Street, Providence, RI 02912
Person-Months Per Year Committed to the Project. Cal: Acad: Sumr: 0.25
Support: Current X Pending Submission Planned in Near Future Transfer Of Support
Project/Proposal Title: "NUE: Nanotechnology Undergraduate Translational Education
w/Haberstroh,Hurt,Kane Program (NUTEP)"
Source of Support: NSF
Award Amount (or Annual Rate): $200,000 Total Award Period Covered: 10/1/06 - 9/30/08
Location Of Project: Brown University, Division of Engineering, 184 Hope Street, Providence, RI 02912
Person-Months Per Year Committed to the Project. Cal: Acad: Sumr: 0.50
Support: Current X Pending Submission Planned in Near Future Transfer Of Support
Project/Proposal Title: "Nano Therapeutics: Nanometals as Orthopedic Implants"
w/Sheldon
Source of Support: NIH
Award Amount (or Annual Rate): $1,077,973 Total Award Period Covered: 1/1/07 -12/31/08
Location Of Project: Brown University, Division of Engineering, 184 Hope Street, Providence, RI 02912
Person-Months Per Year Committed to the Project. Cal: Acad: Sumr: 2.00
Support: Current X Pending Submission Planned in Near Future Transfer Of Support
Project/Proposal Title: "Ceramic Nanoparticles for the Treatment of Bone Cancer"
Source of Support: NIH
Award Amount (or Annual Rate): $533,339 Total Award Period Covered: 1/1/07 -12/31/08
Location Of Project: Brown University, Division of Engineering, 184 Hope Street, Providence, RI 02912
Person-Months Per Year Committed to the Project. Cal: Acad: Sumr: 2.00
Support: Current X Pending Submission Planned in Near Future Transfer Of Support
Project/Proposal Title: "Advanced Drug-Eluting Stent Coating or Reduced Restonsis, Thrombosis
Source of Support: Spire and Inflammation"
Award Amount (or Annual Rate): $66,000 Total Award Period Covered: 3/1/07 - 2/28/09
Location Of Project: Brown University, Division of Engineering, 184 Hope Street, Providence, RI 02912
Person-Months Per Year Committed to the Project. Cal: Acad: Sumr: 0.05
Support: Current X Pending Submission Planned in Near Future Transfer Of Support
Project/Proposal Title: "Nanopatterned Titanium Surfaces for Vascular Stent Applications"
Source of Support: NIH/Purdue U
Award Amount (or Annual Rate): $220,954 Total Award Period Covered: 6/1/07 - 5/31/10
Location Of Project: Brown University, Division of Engineering, 184 Hope Street, Providence, RI 02912
Person-Months Per Year Committed to the Project. Cal: Acad: Sumr: 0.50
Support: Current X Pending Submission Planned in Near Future Transfer Of Support
Project/Proposal Title: "Testing of Ionic Fusion Corporation, Materials"
Source of Support: Ionic Fusion, Corp.
Award Amount (or Annual Rate): $150,000 Total Award Period Covered: 1/1/07-12/31/07
Location Of Project: Brown University, Division of Engineering, 184 Hope Street, Providence, RI 02912
Person-Months Per Year Committed to the Project. Cal: 0.05 Acad: Sumr:
Support: Current X Pending Submission Planned in Near Future Transfer Of Support
Project/Proposal Title: "Nanosurface Roughness on UHMWPE for Orthopedic Applications"
Source of Support: Wright State University
Award Amount (or Annual Rate): $150,000 Total Award Period Covered: 6/1/07-5/31/10
Location Of Project: Brown University, Division of Engineering, 184 Hope Street, Providence, RI 02912
Person-Months Per Year Committed to the Project. Cal: Acad: Sumr: 1.00
Support: Current X Pending Submission Planned in Near Future Transfer Of Support
Project/Proposal Title: "Functional Integration of Limbs for Soldiers (FILS)"
Source of Support: ARO/DEPSCoR
Award Amount (or Annual Rate): $500,000 Total Award Period Covered: 6/1/07-5/31/10
Location Of Project: Brown University, Division of Engineering, 184 Hope Street, Providence, RI 02912
Person-Months Per Year Committed to the Project. Cal: Acad: Sumr: 0.10
Support: Current X Pending Submission Planned in Near Future Transfer Of Support
Project/Proposal Title: "Funtionalizing Nanophase Ceramics for Fighting Osteoporosis"
w/Balasundaram
Source of Support: NSF
Award Amount (or Annual Rate): $595,376 Total Award Period Covered: 6/1/07-5/31/10
Location Of Project: Brown University, Division of Engineering, 184 Hope Street, Providence, RI 02912
Person-Months Per Year Committed to the Project. Cal: Acad: Sumr: 0.65
Support: Current X Pending Submission Planned in Near Future Transfer Of Support
Project/Proposal Title: "NER: Cell Imprinted Carbon Nanotube Based Materials for Nerve
w/D. Hoffman-Kim Regeneration"
Source of Support: NSF
Award Amount (or Annual Rate): $130,000 Total Award Period Covered: 6/1/07-5/31/08
Location Of Project: Brown University, Division of Engineering, 184 Hope Street, Providence, RI 02912
Person-Months Per Year Committed to the Project. Cal: 0.50 Acad: Sumr:
Support: Current X Pending Submission Planned in Near Future Transfer Of Support
Project/Proposal Title: "Collaborative Research: Materials World Network: Nanostructured
Bioactive Phosphate-Based Materials"
Source of Support: NSF
Award Amount (or Annual Rate): $350,000 Total Award Period Covered: 8/1/07-7/31/10
Location Of Project: Brown University, Division of Engineering, 184 Hope Street, Providence, RI 02912
Person-Months Per Year Committed to the Project. Cal: Acad: Sumr: 1.00
Support: Current X Pending Submission Planned in Near Future Transfer Of Support
Project/Proposal Title: "Materials World Network: Carbon Nanofibers/Nanotubes Imbedded with
Stem Cells for Healing Deamaged Neural Tissue"
Source of Support: NSF
Award Amount (or Annual Rate): $530,841 Total Award Period Covered: 4/1/07-3/31/10
Location Of Project: Brown University, Division of Engineering, 184 Hope Street, Providence, RI 02912
Person-Months Per Year Committed to the Project. Cal: Acad: Sumr: 1.00
Support: Current X Pending Submission Planned in Near Future Transfer Of Support
Project/Proposal Title: "Design of Intelligent Biodegradable Ceramic Nanoparticles for
Osteoporosis Treatment"
Source of Support: NIH
Award Amount (or Annual Rate): $413,771 Total Award Period Covered: 7/1/07-6/30/09
Location Of Project: Brown University, Division of Engineering, 184 Hope Street, Providence, RI 02912
Person-Months Per Year Committed to the Project. Cal: Acad: Sumr: 0.50
Support: Current X Pending Submission Planned in Near Future Transfer Of Support
Project/Proposal Title: "Testing of Antibacterial and Bone Cell functions on NanoMech samples"
Source of Support: Nano Mech
Award Amount (or Annual Rate): $33,000 Total Award Period Covered: 8/1/07-1/1/08
Location Of Project: Brown University, Division of Engineering, 184 Hope Street, Providence, RI 02912
Person-Months Per Year Committed to the Project. Cal: Acad: Sumr: 0.05
Support: Current X Pending Submission Planned in Near Future Transfer Of Support
Project/Proposal Title: "Functional Integration of Limbs for Soldiers
Source of Support: RI STAC
Award Amount (or Annual Rate): $150,000 Total Award Period Covered: 1/1/07-12/31/07
Location Of Project: Brown University, Division of Engineering, 184 Hope Street, Providence, RI 02912
Person-Months Per Year Committed to the Project. Cal: Acad: Sumr: 0.50
Support: Current X Pending Submission Planned in Near Future Transfer Of Support
Project/Proposal Title: "Testing of Antibacterial and Bone Cell functions on NanoMech samples"
Source of Support: Nano Mech
Award Amount (or Annual Rate): $33,000 Total Award Period Covered: 8/1/07-1/1/08
Location Of Project: Brown University, Division of Engineering, 184 Hope Street, Providence, RI 02912
Person-Months Per Year Committed to the Project. Cal: Acad: Sumr: 0.05
Support: Current X Pending Submission Planned in Near Future Transfer Of Support
Project/Proposal Title: "Materials Testing for Spire Biomedical Phase II"
Source of Support: Spire
Award Amount (or Annual Rate): $400,000 Total Award Period Covered: 6/1/07-5/31/10
Location Of Project: Brown University, Division of Engineering, 184 Hope Street, Providence, RI 02912
Person-Months Per Year Committed to the Project. Cal: Acad: Sumr: 0.05
Support: Current X Pending Submission Planned in Near Future Transfer Of Support
Project/Proposal Title: "Sculpted Surface for Improved Bone Adhesion
Source of Support: Spire
Award Amount (or Annual Rate): $32,000 Total Award Period Covered: 6/1/07-11/30/07
Location Of Project: Brown University, Division of Engineering, 184 Hope Street, Providence, RI 02912
Person-Months Per Year Committed to the Project. Cal: Acad: Sumr: 0.05
