Over the past two decades, increasing attention has been paid to development of systems to deliver drugs for long periods at controlled rates. Such systems, some of which can deliver drugs continuously for over 1 year, have been developed for birth control and the treatment of eye diseases. However, little attention has been given to developing systems for the controlled release of large molecules (M.W. > 1000) such as polypeptide hormones. In early studies, we discovered that microspheres made of hydrophobic polymers could release many different macromolecules in bioactive form for over 100 days in vitro and in vivo. Using these techniques, a variety of systems for releasing polypeptides such as insulin have been designed. To provide increased release rates on demand, a polymer drug delivery system containing small magnetic beads was designed. Release rates were controlled by an oscillating external bar magnet. When exposed to the magnetic field, polymer matrices release up to 30 times more drug. Recently, controlled release microchips have been designed.

Bioerodible polymers, in particular polyanhydrides, have been synthesized as vehicles to release both large and small molecules. These polymers are unique in that they show surface erosion and lead to near constant release rates of incorporated drugs. By altering the hydrophobicity of the polymer backbone, release times from 1 week to 6 years can be achieved. The FDA has approved such polymers in a novel drug delivery system for treating brain cancer.

Approaches involving the synthesis and application of bioerodible polymers as implantable scaffolds for mammalian cells are being studied. This approach has been used to create a variety of tissues such as liver, skin, nerves and cartilage in animals and humans.

ROBERT S. LANGER is the Kenneth J. Germeshausen Professor of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dr. Langer has written 725 articles and 420 abstracts. He has nearly 500 issued or pending patents worldwide, one of which was cited as the outstanding patent in Massachusetts in 1988 and one of 20 outstanding patents in the United States. Dr. Langer's patents have been licensed or sublicensed to over 100 pharmaceutical, chemical, biotechnology and medical device companies, a number of which were launched on the basis of these patent licenses. He served as a member of the US Food and Drug Administration's highest advisory board, the SCIENCE Board, from 1995 until 2002, and as its Chairman from 1999 until 2002.

Dr. Langer has received over 100 major awards. In 2003, he was elected to the Academy of Achievement and received the Harvey Prize in Science, Technology and Human Health and the John Fritz Medal. In 2002, he received the $500,000 Charles Stark Draper Prize, considered the world's most prestigious engineering prize, from the National Academy of Engineering. He is the only engineer to receive the Gairdner Foundation International Award; 60 recipients of this award have subsequently received a Nobel Prize. In 1998, he received the $500,000 Lemelson-MIT prize, the world's largest prize for invention for being "one of history's most prolific inventors in medicine." In 1989 Dr. Langer was elected to the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences and in 1992 he was elected to both the National Academy of Engineering and to the National Academy of Sciences. He is one of very few people elected to all three United States National Academies and the youngest in history (at age 43) to receive this distinction.

Forbes Magazine (1999) and Bio World (1990) named Langer as one of the world's 25 most important individuals in biotechnology. Discover Magazine (2002) named him among the 20 most important people in this area. Forbes Magazine (2002) selected Langer as one of 15 innovators worldwide who will reinvent our future. Time Magazine and CNN (2001) named Langer as one of the 100 most important people in America and one of the 18 top people in science or medicine in America. He has served on 12 boards of directors and 30 scientific advisory boards of such companies as Alkermes, Mitsubishi Pharmaceuticals, Warner-Lambert, and Guilford Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Langer has received honorary doctorates from the ETH (Switzerland), the Technion (Israel), the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (Israel), the Universite Catholique de Louvain (Belgium) and the University of Liverpool (England). He received his bachelor's degree from Cornell University in 1970 and his Sc.D. from MIT in 1974, both in Chemical Engineering.

W. Robert Marshall, 1916–1988

Bob Marshall's career spanned more than 40 years of outstanding service to the University of Wisconsin and to the national and international community of scholars.

W. Robert Marshall received his B.S. from Illinois Institute of Technology and his Ph.D. in chemical engineering from the University of Wisconsin in 1941, studying under Olaf A. Hougen. After six years at DuPont he returned to UW as associate professor of chemical engineering, where his research focussed on atomization and spray drying.

In 1953 Bob was named director of the Engineering Experiment Station, and in 1971 was appointed dean of the College of Engineering. As dean, he led the college in strengthening its international ties, and developed programs to help women and minorities enter the field of engineering. In 1981 he became director of University Industry Research, a program dedicated to the encouragement of cooperative efforts between the university and industry.

Bob's service to the profession was further demonstrated through his commitment to the American Institute of Chemical Engineers as a director and later as its president. He believed in the value of the exchange of information and the cross-fertilization of ideas that professional societies can provide.

But most of all, Bob Marshall was mentor, advisor and friend to the many who knew him.

Founders' Lectureship in Chemical and Biological Engineering

The Founders' Lectureship was established in 1986 to bring distinguished speakers to the UW Department of Chemical Engineering to broaden our perspective and suggest new opportunities and areas of responsibility in the profession. Such assessment and evaluation is essential in order to keep our curriculum and research programs vigorous and responsive to a changing world. It is also a continuation of departmental traditions that go back to the turn of the century. The Marshall Fund supports this annual lectureship in honor of the founders of the department.

Previous Founders' Lecturers

Alexander MacLachlan, DuPont 1987–1988 Neal R. Amundson, University of Houston 1988–1989 Stuart E. Builder, Genentech 1989–1990 Sheldon A. Buckler, Polaroid 1990–1991 Arnold F. Stancell, Mobil 1991–1992 Mark S. Wrighton, MIT 1992–1993 Roger W.H. Sargent, Univ. of London 1993–1994 J. Howard Purnell, Univ. of Wales 1994–1995 Kathleen C. Taylor, General Motors 1995–1996 Mary L. Good, US Dept. of Commerce 1996–1997 Robert A. Brown, MIT 1997–1998 Joseph A. Miller, Jr., DuPont 1998–1999 W. Henry Weinberg, Symyx 1999–2000 Vern W. Weekman, Jr. 2001–2002