Omid Veiseh, professor of bioengineering at Rice University, has been selected to receive the 2026 Clemson Award for Basic Research. Given by the Society for Biomaterials (SFB), this award recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the biomaterials field.
Veiseh, also a CPRIT (Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas) Scholar, is a global leader in implantable biohybrid devices that improve outcomes for patients with ovarian cancer, diabetes and other complex diseases.
Projects led by Veiseh are disrupting how the pharma industry approaches some of the most devastating cancers. He is at the helm of THOR, or “targeted hybrid oncotherapeutic regulation,” a sense-and-respond implant technology that could significantly improve immunotherapy outcomes for patients facing cancers in the ovaries, pancreas, and other organs. With up to $45 million in funding from the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), the first clinical trials are being planned for 2026 for patients with ovarian cancer.
The Clemson Award underscores the impact that Veiseh’s research has had on the industry’s fundamental knowledge and understanding of the interaction of biomaterials with tissues.
“The role of implanted biomaterials and devices in modern medicine is rapidly expanding, but their efficacy is often compromised by host immune recognition and subsequent foreign body responses,” said Veiseh. “It is an honor to be recognized by the Society for Biomaterials for our fundamental research, which guides the better design of biomaterials with improved biocompatibility for chronic implants.”
Beyond the lab, Veiseh’s ventures expedite the translation of biomaterials research to clinical application. He is the faculty director of the Rice Biotech Launch Pad, a Houston-based accelerator that integrates Houston’s scientific, engineering, clinical, and product development ecosystems to create transformative medicines. He also serves as the managing partner for RBL LLC, a Houston-based company incubator that evolved from the Rice Biotech Launch Pad.
SFB is a global interdisciplinary community of academic, healthcare, governmental and business professionals who are dedicated to promoting biomaterials science. Veiseh will formally receive the award on March 25 in Atlanta, Ga., at the 2026 SFB Annual Meeting.