University of Maryland Establishes New Endowed Professorship in Biomedical Engineering

The $3 million endowment will support a leader in translational biomedical research and innovation.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) has been awarded $1 million in matching funds from the Maryland E-Nnovation Initiative Fund (MEIF) to establish the Edward and Jennifer St. John Endowed Professorship in Translational Biomedical Engineering and Innovation at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM). The $3 million endowment, which includes matching funds from UMB, will enable the recruitment of a nationally recognized leader whose work bridges bioengineering and medicine with a strong track record in translational research and innovation.

Why it matters

This endowed professorship represents a crucial step in realizing the full promise of the Center for Translational Engineering and Medicine (CTEM), a collaboration between UMSOM and the A. James Clark School of Engineering at the University of Maryland, College Park. The new position is designed to catalyze cross-campus collaboration, elevate the University of Maryland as a leader in translational biomedical engineering, and serve as a shared resource for investigators seeking to integrate engineering approaches into biomedical and clinical research.

The details

The endowed professorship will support a nationally recognized leader whose work bridges bioengineering and medicine, with a strong track record in translational research and innovation. The position is designed to catalyze cross-campus collaboration, elevate the University of Maryland as a leader in translational biomedical engineering, and serve as a shared resource for investigators seeking to integrate engineering approaches into biomedical and clinical research.

  • The University of Maryland, College Park (UMCP) and the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) launched CTEM last year, funded by a $10 million joint gift from the St. Johns and the Edward St. John Foundation and with an additional $12.75 million grant from the University of Maryland Strategic Partnership: MPowering the State (MPower).
  • The Maryland E-Nnovation Initiative Fund (MEIF) was created by the General Assembly during the 2014 legislative session and has provided more than $100.3 million in funding to leverage more than $111.5 million in private donations.

The players

University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB)

The university that has been awarded $1 million in matching funds from the Maryland E-Nnovation Initiative Fund (MEIF) to establish the endowed professorship.

University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM)

The school that will host the new endowed professorship in translational biomedical engineering and innovation.

Edward and Jennifer St. John

The donors who provided a $10 million joint gift to launch the Center for Translational Engineering and Medicine (CTEM), a collaboration between UMSOM and the A. James Clark School of Engineering at UMCP.

Mark T. Gladwin, MD

The Dean of the University of Maryland School of Medicine and Vice President for Medical Affairs at the University of Maryland, Baltimore.

Bruce E. Jarrell, MD, FACS

The President of the University of Maryland, Baltimore.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“As Maryland continues to emerge as a national leader in biomedical technology, this matching grant will help us recruit a new scientific leader who can bring together teams of clinicians and engineers to accelerate the development of innovative medical technologies--from bench to bedside.”

— Mark T. Gladwin, MD, Dean, University of Maryland School of Medicine (PRNewswire)

“This endowed professorship represents a crucial next step toward realizing the full promise of CTEM. The complex health challenges we face today cannot be solved by any one discipline of science, engineering, or medicine. Through CTEM, we are building a powerful, truly collaborative environment where biomedical and engineering researchers come together to translate discoveries into meaningful advances for patients.”

— Bruce E. Jarrell, MD, FACS, President, University of Maryland, Baltimore (PRNewswire)

“We are excited to recruit a new faculty leader that can expand our impact in biomedical innovation and mentor the next generation engineers, clinicians, and physician-scientists dedicated to improving human health. This endowment furthers our commitment to building sustainable programs that benefit patients and investigators.”

— Osamah Saeedi, MD, Co-Director of CTEM and Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at UMSOM (PRNewswire)

What’s next

The University of Maryland will begin the search for a nationally recognized leader to fill the new endowed professorship in translational biomedical engineering and innovation.

The takeaway

This endowed professorship represents a significant investment in translational biomedical research and innovation at the University of Maryland, positioning the institution as a national leader in this critical field. By bringing together clinicians and engineers, the new position will drive the development of cutting-edge medical technologies that can directly benefit patients and improve health outcomes.