Dr Umut A. Gurkan

Umut A. Gurkan, Ph.D. is the Wilbert J. Austin Professor of Engineering at Case Western Reserve University (CWRU), where he directs the Case Biomanufacturing and Microfabrication Laboratory. An elected Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE), Senior Member of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI), and member of the National Academies’ New Voices in Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, he is recognized internationally for his translational biomedical engineering research.

Professor Gurkan’s work focuses on microfluidic technologies, lab-on-a-chip systems, erythrocyte biomechanics, sickle cell disease modeling, and AI-integrated point-of-care diagnostics to advance global health equity. His innovations have translated into over 18 issued U.S. patents, over 100 international patent applications, over 100 peer-reviewed publications, and four university spin-off companies. Most notably, Hemex Health Inc.’s Gazelle™ platform, a portable, affordable diagnostic tool, has screened more than 4 million individuals across 44+ countries for hemoglobin disorders such as sickle cell disease, thalassemia, and anemia. The technology has received regulatory approvals worldwide and was recently honored with the US Food and Drug Administration Breakthrough Device Designation.

At CWRU, he serves as Clinical and Translational Science (CTS) Annual Pilot Award Program Lead and CTS Pilot Co-Lead within the Clinical and Translational Science Collaborative (CTSC) of Northern Ohio, where he drives pilot funding mechanisms to accelerate translational research and foster interdisciplinary collaborations. He also co-directs the Translational Fellows Program at the CWRU School of Medicine, mentoring the next generation of translational scientists. His leadership and contributions have been recognized with numerous international honors, including the 2025 Savio L-Y. Woo Translational Biomechanics Medal from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), the 2025 Distinguished Investigator Award from the Association for Clinical and Translational Science (ACTS), and endowed professorships reflecting sustained university support for his entrepreneurial impact.

During his 2026–2027 sabbatical, Professor Gurkan will be a Visiting Scholar at the Centre for India and Global Business, Cambridge Judge Business School, collaborating with Professor Jaideep Prabhu on frugal innovation frameworks for scaling equitable medical technologies in emerging markets. He is honored to join Clare Hall as a Visiting Fellow, where he looks forward to engaging with the College’s interdisciplinary community while deepening his work on global health leadership and innovation.