Drezek recognized for medical technology achievements

CONTACT: Jade Boyd
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Drezek recognized for medical technology achievements
Rice bioengineer wins AAMI Becton-Dickinson Career Achievement Award

Rice University bioengineer Rebekah Drezek has been awarded the 2005 Becton-Dickinson Career Achievement Award by the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI). Drezek is the Stanley C. Moore Assistant Professor of Bioengineering and assistant professor in electrical and computer engineering.

The AAMI Career Achievement Award is given each year to an individual who is innovative, creative and fundamentally committed to improving the health and well-being of the world’s population. The award recognizes outstanding achievement in the development of medical devices, instruments or systems that will help all people live healthy lives. It includes a $1500 prize.

Drezek will receive the award next month at the association’s annual national meeting in Florida.

Drezek was selected for her groundbreaking developments in optically based medical diagnostic tools for women’s healthcare and specifically for creating new technologies for the early detection of many cancers. Drezek’s laboratory draws from a wide array of fields, including computational modeling, photonics and signal processing, to develop optical instruments for automated, noninvasive cancer screening.

”Her projects truly exemplify bench-to-bedside technology development,” said J. David Hellums, the E.D. Butcher Professor of Bioengineering and chair of Rice’s bioengineering department. ”What is particularly unique about Rebekah’s work is the diversity of fields on which it draws and the impressive results generated by her multidisciplinary approach.”

Drezek is currently developing new optical technologies for improved detection, diagnosis, and monitoring of breast, ovarian, and endometrial cancer.

Founded in 1967, the 6,000 member Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation is dedicated to increasing the understanding and beneficial use of medical instrumentation.

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