Steve Fening, PhD

Translational Research, Medical Devices, Orthopaedic Biomechanics

Dr. Fening is an Associate Vice President for Research at Case Western Reserve University, a Professor of Biomedical Engineering, and the Managing Director of the Case-Coulter Translational Research Partnership. He also has appointments at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute and the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center. In these roles, Steve drives innovation and research growth to move technologies to the market, where they can improve society. He received undergraduate and masters degrees in mechanical engineering, an interdisciplinary Ph.D. degree in biomedical engineering, and a postdoctoral fellowship in orthopaedic biomechanics. His career goal is to make broad and substantial improvements to patient care through translational research and commercialization.

Dr. Fening has overseen more than $10M in translational research programs and supported more than 60 translational projects over the last decade. He co-leads the I-Corps@NCATS Cleveland site and the Case Translational Fellows Program. Dr. Fening is a co-founder of two companies including as Chief Technology Officer of Apto Orthopaedics Corporation, an early-stage company focusing on non-invasive methods to adjust orthopaedic implants. He also serves or has served on the board of directors for several for- and not-for-profits, including the Ohio Life Sciences Association and Jumpstart.

Prior to joining Case Western Reserve University, Dr. Fening has served as the Director of Research for Cleveland Clinic Sports Health, the Director of Orthopaedic Research for Summa Health System, and the Director of Orthopaedic Devices at the Austen BioInnovation Institute in Akron. His areas of research focus included the biomechanics of sports injuries to the knee, shoulder, and head and in innovation more broadly across orthopaedic devices. He has received over $20M in grant funding, published more than 100 peer reviewed publications and presentations, and has several patents. He was a 2017 recipient of the Crain's Cleveland Business Forty Under 40, and is a member of several national and international professional societies.