Distinguished University Professor and Director, Musculoskeletal Research Center

Bioengineering
University of Pittsburgh
405 Center for Bioengineering
300 Technology Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15219

Telephone: (412) 648-2000
Fax: (412) 648-2001

Education:
B.S., Chico State College, 1965
M.S., University of Washington, 1966
Ph.D., University of Washington at Seattle, 1971
D.Sc. (Honorary), California State University, 1998
D.Eng., (Honorary), Hong Kong Polytechnic University, 2008

Dr. Savio L-Y. Woo is a Distinguished University Professor of Bioengineering and the Founder and Director of the Musculoskeletal Research Center (MSRC), a diverse multidisciplinary research and educational center in the Department of Bioengineering, Swanson School of Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh where over 460 orthopaedic surgeons, biologists, bioengineering students and staff have studied and worked. He joined the faculty at the University of Pittsburgh in 1990 following 20 years of service at the University of California in San Diego as a Professor of Surgery and Bioengineering. Dr. Woo's research interests include biomechanics; experimental, theoretical and numerical analyses of the nonlinear material properties of biological tissues and developing new viscoelastic theories for soft tissue. He has studied the homeostatic responses of ligaments and tendons, which has led to the concept of "controlled motion is good." For the last 25 years, Dr. Woo has found new ways to enhance the healing of the meniscus, tendons, and in particular, the MCL and ACL. More recently, Dr. Woo has focused on using novel functional tissue engineering to heal and to regenerate ligament and tendon at the molecular, cellular, tissue and organ levels.  Also, he has pioneered the use of robotic technology to study the function of ACL and to improve ACL reconstruction procedures.  When combining it with biplanar fluoroscopy, he and his team will be able to better characterize mechanisms of ACL injury and find better ways for its prevention.  Dr. Woo has published 309 original research papers in refereed journals, 138 book chapters and review papers and over 817 abstracts. He has also edited 12 books and 17 conference proceedings, in addition to delivering more than 875 lectures. For his work, Dr. Woo has been recognized by many professional societies. Most notably, he has been inducted by the Institute of Medicine (USA), The National Academy of Engineering (USA), and Academia Sinica (Republic of China). In 1998 he was the winner, of the IOC Olympic Prize for Sports Medicine and was awarded the first Olympic Gold Medal in Nagano, Japan.

 

Dr. Woo's complete curriculum vitae

Resume