image_alt_text
5

2018-2019 AIMBE Scholar Bios

Reid W. D’Amico, Ph.D.

Dr. D’Amico is an AIMBE Scholar at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in the Center for Devices and Radiological Health. Reid completed his Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering at Vanderbilt University. His doctoral research focused on designing next generation models of pulmonary vascular disease. Specifically, Reid created a new model of pulmonary arterial hypertension that enabled the precise control of mechanical parameters, such as pressure and flow, seen at various stages of the disease. His model enables researchers to more efficiently translate findings from the lab to the clinic. Outside of the lab, Reid is a rare disease advocate and has worked with pharmaceutical companies to help design clinical trial protocols and increase company-patient engagement. As an AIMBE Scholar, Reid plans to merge his expertise in biomedical research and passion for patient communities to create policy that promotes scientific innovation and addresses specific patient needs. Reid’s ultimate goal as an AIMBE Scholar is to use his engineering background to foster the development of safe and effective technologies to improve patient care.

Jason M. Ryans, Ph.D.

Dr. Ryans is an AIMBE Scholar at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in the Center for Devices and Radiological Health, Office of the Center Director. Jason completed his Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering at Tulane University. His doctoral research focused on developing computational models of pulmonary mechanics to investigate mechanical ventilation treatment strategies for the lung. Specifically, he created multi-scale models of the lung incorporating airway closure due to liquid plug occlusions and parenchymal tissue tethering to observe their effects on airway stability, as well as lung ventilation behavior. Outside of the laboratory, Jason pursued various entrepreneurial experiences, including co-founding a medical diagnostic company Flux Diagnostics and participating in the NSF Innovation Corps (I-Corps) program. These opportunities allowed him to develop cutting-edge biotechnology and learn the intricate process of bringing a technology to commercialization, including the regulatory pathway. As an AIMBE Scholar, Jason looks forward to using his experience in entrepreneurship and biomedical science to inform regulatory policy to better protect public health and safety.