DETROIT — Howard W.T. Matthew, Ph.D., professor of chemical engineering, materials science and biomedical engineering at Wayne State University, is one of 107 new members elected to the College of Fellows of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE).

The Detroit resident's election was based on what institute officials said are seminal contributions to the development and application of polysaccharide biomaterials in tissue engineering.

The College of Fellows comprises the top 2 percent of medical and biological engineers in the country, officials said. Its members include engineering and medical school chairs, research directors, innovators and successful entrepreneurs who help fulfill AIMBE's mission of providing leadership and advocacy in medical and biological engineering for the advancement of society.

"The 107 inductees consist of some of the most talented and influential members of our field," said Kenneth Lutchen, AIMBE president and dean of engineering at Boston University. "It is both a pleasure and an honor to welcome the Class of 2012 to our College of Fellows."

A formal induction ceremony will be held Feb. 20 during AIMBE's 21st annual event in Washington, D.C.

Since 1991, institute officials said, the College of Fellows has led the way for technological growth and advancement in the fields of medical and biological engineering. Fellows have helped revolutionize medicine and related fields in order to enhance and extend the lives of people all over the world. They also have advocated successfully for public policies that have enabled researchers and business-makers to further the interests of engineers, scientists and ultimately, patients.

# # #

Wayne State University is one of the nation's pre-eminent public research institutions in an urban setting. Through its multidisciplinary approach to research and education, and its ongoing collaboration with government, industry and other institutions, the university seeks to enhance economic growth and improve the quality of life in the city of Detroit, state of Michigan and throughout the world. For more information about research at Wayne State University, visit http://www.research.wayne.edu.