William R. Wagner Elected International Fellow of the Chinese Society for Biomaterials

William R. Wagner, distinguished professor of bioengineering and chemical engineering at the University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering, was named an International Fellow of the Chinese Society for Biomaterials (CSBM) at the opening ceremony of the 2025 Chinese Biomaterials Congress in Shaoxing, China. 

Wagner was inducted into the first class of CBSM International Fellows, which recognizes scientists whose work has advanced the field of biomaterials and fostered international collaboration. In addition to his induction, Wagner also delivered a plenary lecture on biomaterials for heart disease and cardiovascular applications at the annual meeting. 

“It was an honor to be selected, and recognition as an international figure in the field is incredibly meaningful to me.” Wagner said. “The biomaterials community is truly international, and so much good work is happening globally that it’s important to have these links and ties to professional societies around the world.” 

Wagner’s pioneering work in cardiovascular biomaterials and tissue engineering has yielded more than 50 patents, multiple startup companies, and technologies advancing toward clinical use. The founding Editor-in-Chief of Acta Biomaterialia, his numerous honors include the Society for Biomaterials Founder’s Award, the Global Biomaterials Leadership Award, the TERMIS-Americas Senior Investigator Award, and the University of Pittsburgh Chancellor’s Distinguished Research Award. A fellow of the National Academy of Inventors, AIMBE, BMES, former director of the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine and past president of the Society for Biomaterials and ASAIO, Wagner has shaped the global biomaterials field through his innovation, scholarship, and leadership.