Shu Chien

Shu Chien (traditional Chinese: 錢煦; simplified Chinese: 钱煦; pinyin: Qián Xù; born June 23, 1931) is a Chinese–American physiologist and bioengineer. His work on the fluid dynamics of blood flow has had a major impact on the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis. 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 the Biomedical Engineering Society.

Chien was elected a member of the

From 1947 to 1948, Chien completed his medical preparatory study at Peking University Medical School. In 1949, Chien moved to Taiwan with his family. In 1953, Chien graduated from the National Taiwan University. Chien went to study in the United States in 1954 and obtained his PhD in 1957 from Columbia University. Chien also received M.D. from the National Taiwan University.^[3][4]

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

Chien is current President (since 1991) of the Whitaker Institute of Biomedical Engineering at the

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 form rouleaux (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 the

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Academic career

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• Current, President of the
  Biomedical Engineering Society
• 2008–2009, President of the Internal Society of Biorheology
• 2006–2008, President-Elect of the BMES Publications Board of Directors
• 2001–2002, President of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE)
• 1992–1993, President of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
• 1990–1991, President of the American Physiological Society (APS).^[2] Chien is the 63rd President and the first Asian American President of APS.^[2]
• 1980–1981, President, The Microcirculatory Society
• Chairman of the steering committee of the North American Society of Biorheology
• President of the American Society of Chinese Medicine

Honors and awards

• 2016 – Benjamin Franklin Medal in Mechanical Engineering^[8]
• 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

References