A team led by engineers at the University of California San Diego has developed a biodegradable polymer system to treat rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune and inflammatory disease, by working in concert with the power of the human immune system.

A team of transdisciplinary researchers from the Departments of Materials Science and Engineering and Chemical Engineering are working to answer that question. The team recently won grant support to begin developing biodegradable materials to eventually displace plastics used in health care facilities. Abby Whittington, a professor jointly appointed in both departments, is leading the effort.

Michael Schulz, assistant professor of chemistry within the Virginia Tech College of Science, has received a National Science Foundation Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) award. The award, which begins in May, comes on the heels of Schulz receiving a U.S. Department of Energy 2022 Early Career Research Program Award.