Research Information
Research Interests
Dr. Gurkan's group works on gaining a fundamental understanding of hemoglobin, red blood cells, blood rheology, and microcirculation in health, in disease, with targeted interventions, and with gene-based therapies. Gurkan's research has led to new biomedical microtechnologies that improve patients’ access to timely diagnosis and personalized monitoring of emerging therapies.
Awards and Honors
Publications
Lab website: Case Biomanufacturing and Microfabrication Laboratory
Google Scholar: T-pwPKsAAAAJ&hl
Scopus: 24178384100
Orcid: 0000-0002-0331-9960
PubMed: gurkan ua
Additional Information
Umut A. Gurkan is the Warren E. Rupp Associate Professor at Case Western Reserve University. Dr. Gurkan holds BS degrees in Chemical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering from Middle East Technical University in Turkey, and a PhD degree in Biomedical Engineering from Purdue University. He completed his Postdoctoral Training at Harvard-MIT Health Sciences and Technology. Dr. Gurkan is leading the CASE Biomanufacturing and Microfabrication Laboratory at Case Western Reserve University. Dr. Gurkan’s honors include: NSF CAREER Award, Biomedical Engineering Society “Rising Star” Award, Doris Duke Innovations in Clinical Research Award, Belcher-Weir Family Pediatric Innovation Award, Translational Research Featured New Investigator Award, MIT Technology Review Innovator under 35 Award (Turkey), IEEE-Wyss Award for Translational Research, Vodafone Wireless Innovation Award, USPTO Patents for Humanity Honorable Mention, and Geddes-Laufman-Greatbatch Award from Purdue University. Dr. Gurkan has authored over 70 peer-reviewed papers. Four of his patents have been licensed for commercialization by: DxNow Inc., Xatek Inc., BioChip Labs Inc., and Hemex Health Inc. One of these technologies is a microchip electrophoresis test for point-of-care screening of common hemoglobin disorders, commercialized under product name “Gazelle Hb VariantTM” by Hemex Health. Dr. Gurkan has led multi-site international clinical testing of this technology in the US and in low-and middle-income countries worldwide. Hemex Health has received CE Mark in Europe and regulatory clearance in Africa and India for this product.