Paul Ducheyne, Ph.D.

Paul Ducheyne, Professor Emeritus in Bioengineering and Orthopaedic Surgery Research, has won the 2023 Hironobu Oonishi Memorial Award from the International Society for Ceramics in Medicine (ISCM). This award, the ISCM’s top honor, will only be awarded ten times in total, with previous honorees hailing from Japan and France and focusing on clinical research and life sciences. As the fifth honoree, Ducheyne is the first biomaterials researcher and engineer to win this distinguished prize.

Dr. Hironobu Oonishi was one of the founders of the International Society for Ceramics in Medicine and a leading hip surgeon. He was known for his discovery that irradiated polyethylene displayed greatly improved wear resistance in total joint replacements… Continue reading.

We would like to congratulate Paul Ducheyne, Ph.D., a Professor in the Bioengineering Department and a Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery Research at Penn, on being selected for the International Award by the European Society for Biomaterials (ESB). The International Award is one of the ESB’s highest honors, recognizing scientists who have spent the majority of their careers outside of Europe. They are internationally recognized, have a high scientific profile, and have made major contributions to the field of biomaterials. Those nominated for the award typically also have had strong collaborations with the scientific community in Europe throughout their careers… Continue reading.

Dr. Ducheyne has dedicated close to 40 years serving the bioceramics community. In 1993 Paul organized the Bioceramics symposium in Philadelphia, only the second to be organized in the US, and he continued to support the bioceramics and biomaterials community all over the years. Shortly after, this is in 1994, the Society for Biomaterials elected him as its President. His visibility in bioceramics led the SFB to continuously recognize his achievements, most recently with the Founders Award (2015).

One of the major achievements of Professor Ducheyne is training pioneering leaders in bioceramics. Among many fellows who passed through his lab, Dr. Ducheyne served as the mentor for Professor Ishikawa, the current treasurer and former president of the ISC who was a postdoctoral fellow with him. Dr. Ducheyne also served as Ph.D. advisor for Dr. El-Ghannam, the current president of Bioceramics 28. Dr. Ducheyne has many publications and edited many biomaterials books. His papers have been cited about 11,000 times, and his ten most visible publications, which include papers elucidating the fundamental mechanisms of bioactivity, about 3000 times. The wealth of knowledge and literature generated by Dr. Ducheyne’s laboratory were paralleled only by his significant efforts in translating biomaterials research into medical devices. In fact, Paul has established three successful Biotech companies.

Paul Ducheyne, PhD of the University of Pennsylvania, is the recipient of the 2015 Founders Award for his long-term landmark contributions to the discipline of biomaterials. Professor Ducheyne’s research activities have established him as a pioneer and leader in bioengineering, orthopedic surgery research and tissue engineering.

“Throughout his career, Paul has been a highly productive and visible researcher, leader and entrepreneur in the field of biomaterials. His accomplishments are significant and considerable,” remarked nominator Michele Marcolongo, PhD.

A former President of the Society For Biomaterials, Professor Ducheyne has authored about 330 papers and chapters in a variety of international journals and books. His papers have been cited more than 10,000 times. He has also been granted more than 40 U.S. patents with international counterparts.