Shu Chien

In thisChinese name,thefamily nameisChien.

Shu Chien
Tiền húc
Born	(1931-06-23)23 June 1931 Beijing,China
Nationality	Chinese
Citizenship	United States
Alma mater	National Taiwan University Columbia University Peking University Health Science Center
Known for	Fluid dynamics ofblood flow Stem Cells
Awards	National Medal of Science(2010) American Academy of Arts and Sciences(2006) National Academy of Engineering(1997) National Academy of Sciences(1994) Institute of Medicine(1993)
Scientific career
Fields	Bioengineering Physiology
Institutions	UC San Diego

Shu Chien(traditional Chinese:Tiền húc;simplified Chinese:Tiền húc;pinyin:Qián Xù;born June 23, 1931) is a Chinese–Americanphysiologistand bioengineer. His work on thefluid dynamicsof blood flow has had a major impact on the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases such asatherosclerosis.More recently, Chien's research has focused on the mechanical forces, such as pressure and flow, that regulate the behaviors of the cells in blood vessels. Chien is currently President of theBiomedical Engineering Society.

Chien was elected a member of theNational Academy of Engineeringin 1997 for research in blood rheology, microcirculation, cell mechanics, atherogenesis, and tissue engineering. He is one of only 11 scholars who are members of all three U.S. national institutes: theNational Academy of Sciences,National Academy of Engineering,and theInstitute of Medicine.

Biography

Chien discussing his life and career.

Chien was born in Beijing and grew up in Shanghai.Chien's family are descendants of the royal family of the KingQian Liuof theKingdom of Wuyue.His grandfather Chien Hong-ye ( tiền hồng nghiệp ) was a Chief Justice in theSupreme Court of the Republic of China(in Shanghai). His fatherChien Shih-Liang,achemist,was former President ofAcademia Sinica.His elder brotherRobert Chien( tiền thuần ) was formerMinister of Finance of Taiwan,and formerSecretary-generalofExecutive Yuan.His young brotherFredrick Chienis also an influential politician in Taiwan. Shu Chien married Dr. Kuang-Chung Hu Chien in 1957.

From 1947 to 1948, Chien completed his medical preparatory study atPeking UniversityMedical School. In 1949, Chien moved to Taiwan with his family. In 1953, Chien graduated from theNational Taiwan University.Chien went to study in the United States in 1954 and obtained his PhD in 1957 fromColumbia University.Chien also receivedM.D.from the National Taiwan University.

From 1969 to 1988, Chien was a Professor of Physiology and Biophysics at the Columbia University. Chien was a Founding Fellow of theAmerican Institute for Medical and Biological Engineeringin 1992.

Chien is current President (since 1991) of the Whitaker Institute of Biomedical Engineering at theUniversity of California, San Diego(UCSD). Chien was the Chair of theDepartment of Bioengineeringof UCSD from 1994 to 1999 and from 2002 to 2005. He is also the founding director of theInstitute of Engineering in Medicinein July 2008. He was named as a recipient of theNational Medal of Scienceby PresidentBarack Obamaon September 27, 2011, for "pioneering work in cardiovascular physiology and bioengineering".

1967 Science Papers

In 1967 Chien published three papers in Science that advanced the understanding of the physics behind the flow ofred blood cells.Chien and his colleagues were able to explore the flow properties of red blood cells through various experiments involved with filtering red blood cells through plastic porous sieves. One key finding was that the flow of red blood cells does not followNewtonian behaviorand this characteristic is fundamental in aiding red blood cells to squeeze through capillaries.

Chien and his colleagues further discovered the importance of the malleability of red blood cells to pass through tiny pores smaller than the cells' diameter. In other words, a healthy normal red blood cell is able to "squeeze" by deforming its shape and pass through small pores. In addition, this deformation helps lower the viscosity of blood and facilitate flow. Another important discovery that determines the viscosity of blood is the ability of red blood cells to aggregate to formrouleaux(like stacks of coins) due to their disc like shape. Chien and his colleagues discovered that this was a crucial factor in modulating viscosity and regulating blood flow and elucidated the mechanical, electrical and biochemical basis of this process. These discoveries show that the shape of red blood cells is not accidental, but rather a highly "engineered design" meant for efficient transportation.

Recent research

Chien has investigated the mechanisms by which mechanical forces such as pressure and flow regulate the behaviors of the cells in blood vessels, including theendothelialcells lining the vessellumenand the smooth muscle cells in the vessel interior and their interactions. His work has led to the understanding how forces with a clear direction (as seen in the straight parts of the vascular tree) can protect the vessels from atherosclerosis and how forces without a clear direction (as seen in the branch points) make the vessels vulnerable to atherosclerosis. More recently, he has developed novel approaches to assess the optimummicroenvironmentfor the growth and differentiation of stem cells.

Academic career

• Current, President of theBiomedical Engineering Society
• 2008–2009, President of the Internal Society ofBiorheology
• 2006–2008, President-Elect of the BMES Publications Board of Directors
• 2001–2002, President of theAmerican Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering(AIMBE)
• 1992–1993, President of theFederation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
• 1990–1991, President of theAmerican Physiological Society(APS).Chien is the 63rd President and the first Asian American President of APS.
• 1980–1981, President, The Microcirculatory Society
• Chairman of the steering committee of the North American Society of Biorheology
• President of the American Society ofChinese Medicine

Honors and awards

• 2016 – Benjamin Franklin Medal in Mechanical Engineering
• 2012 – Columbia University Honorary Degree
• 2011 – National Medal Of Science, The White House
• 2006 – Founders' Award, National Academy of Sciences
• 2006 – Foreign Member,Chinese Academy of Science
• 2006 – Fellow,American Academy of Arts and Sciences
• 2005 – Member,National Academy of Sciences
• 2004 – Pierre Galletti Award, American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering
• 1999 – National Health Medal, Department of Health, ROC
• 1998 – Lifetime Achievement Award, Chinese-American Engineers & Scientists Association of Southern California
• 1997 – Member,National Academy of Engineering
• 1996 – Melville Medal ASME
• 1994 – Member, Institute of Medicine, National Academy of Sciences
• 1992 – Founding Fellow, American Institute of Medical and Biological Eng.
• 1991 – Zweifach Award, Fifth World Congress for Microcirculation
• 1990 – Melville Medal ASME
• 1983 – Landis Award, Microcirculatory Society
• 1981 – The First Fahraeus Medal in Clinical Haemorheology
• 1980 – Nanci Medal for Research in Blood Rheology
• 1976 – Academician,Academia Sinica

External links

• American Society for Medical and Biological Engineering:Shu Chien, M.D., PhD,Biography courtesy of UCSD
• UCSD Medical Center Moores Cancer Center:CV of Shu Chien
• Shu Chien's presentation @ Carnegie Mellon Mechanical Engineering
• Video of Shu Chien talking about his work,from the National Science & Technology Medals Foundation