Danielle S.W. Benoit, Ph.D., FAIMBE, FBMES, FNAI
Chair, Department of Bioengineering
Lorry Lokey Chair and Professor
Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact (Knight Campus)
University of Oregon
Visiting Professor, University of Rochester
Seminar Information
Advancements in therapeutic biomaterials are redefining the landscape of regenerative medicine by enabling precise modulation of cellular responses and tissue microenvironments. Our research integrates polymer science, drug delivery, and tissue engineering to develop biomaterials that actively guide tissue regeneration. We focus on designing degradable hydrogels, targeted nanoparticle systems, and scaffold-based platforms that deliver bioactive molecules with spatiotemporal precision and support endogenous repair mechanisms. These materials are engineered to respond to biological cues and pathological conditions, enhancing their therapeutic efficacy. In this talk, I will present recent innovations in biomaterial design and their application in musculoskeletal tissue regeneration, with an emphasis on translational strategies and preclinical validation. Our work underscores the potential of biomaterials to bridge engineering and biology, offering promising avenues for clinical impact.
Danielle Benoit leads a pioneering research program on therapeutic biomaterials to address clinical challenges in cell transplantation and drug delivery. Her work spans engineered extracellular matrices for bone repair, hydrogel depots for controlled drug release, pH-responsive nanoparticles for targeted therapies, and tissue mimetics for salivary gland and macular regeneration.
In addition to her academic leadership, Dr. Benoit is an accomplished inventor and entrepreneur. She holds 12 fully executed U.S. patents and 38 foreign patents across seven distinct inventions licensed to four companies, along with four U.S. provisional patents. A Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors, Biomedical Engineering Society, and American Institute for Biological Engineering, she recently founded AsteriaRx, a company redefining musculoskeletal healing through precision-targeted drug delivery.
She is a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors, Biomedical Engineering Society, and American Institute for Biological Engineering, and her honors include the 2026 Acta Biomaterialia Silver Medal Award, University of Oregon Chair of the Year, and the NSF CAREER Award. Benoit earned her B.S. in Biological Engineering from the University of Maine, Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Colorado, and completed postdoctoral training at the University of Washington. She became the inaugural chair of the Department of Bioengineering and the Lorry Lokey Chair at the University of Oregon Knight Campus in 2022, after a 12-year tenure at the University of Rochester.