University of Miami Recognizes BME Postdoc Donahue

UCI postdoctoral scholar Ryan Donahue ‘22 was recognized as one of University of Miami’s 30 Under 30 alumni.

Aug. 14, 2024 – Ryan Donahue ‘22, a biomedical engineering postdoctoral scholar, was chosen by the University of Miami (UM) for its 2024 30 Under 30 list. A UM alumni review council, composed of Donahue’s peers, selected the 30 alumni who have demonstrated a positive impact on the university, as well as in their professions and communities.

Donahue earned his bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering from UM before coming to UCI in 2017 as a doctoral student in the lab of biomedical engineering Distinguished Professor Kyriacos Athanasiou. After receiving his doctorate in 2022, Donahue continued at UCI as a postdoctoral scholar, studying cartilage tissue engineering for the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), or jaw joint. Specifically, his research focuses on the clinical translation of a tissue-engineered implant to heal jaw cartilage.

He is currently working on preclinical studies, clinical-grade manufacturing and applying for FDA authorization to conduct human clinical trials. He hopes that they will receive FDA authorization to start trials soon in order to move toward widespread clinical use of the tissue-engineered implant. With this aim in mind, Donahue is also a project manager and director of preclinical translation at Cartilage Inc., a UCI-based startup company founded to commercialize the technologies behind the TMJ implant.

“This journey has allowed me to explore everything from basic and translational research to clinical trial planning, and it's gratifying to see my doctoral research advancing toward clinical use,” said Donahue. “Being acknowledged by UM as a young alumnus who has positively impacted both the university and the broader community is truly fulfilling.”

– Lilith Christopher

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