The College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology’s Dr. Heather Fahlenkamp, associate professor in the School of Chemical Engineering, was recognized with the OKBio Researcher Recognition Award at the OKBio Summit held in Oklahoma City. Fahlenkamp was one of three finalists to attend the banquet, where she was recognized for her research aimed at pioneering new avenues of bioscience technologies. 

Fahlenkamp says being selected by a panel of peers and national bio industry experts makes her feel that her research is making a significant contribution to bio research in Oklahoma. 

At a time when infectious diseases are at the forefront of society’s mind, Fahlenkamp’s research has never been more pertinent. She began her career in biotechnology at a company where she developed tissue equivalent modules for testing human immune responses and is currently active in tissue engineering.  

Fahlenkamp says her passion for research has led her to devote her life to a field she believes can help people. She is currently working on three major projects that involve tissue modeling, including a study on inflammation associated with the early stages of atherosclerosis, one on allergic inflammatory responses and another on inflammation associated with influenza infection. 

She was accompanied at the banquet by a group of colleagues and supporters, including Chemical Engineering School Head Rob Whiteley, Interim Vice President for Research Sheryl Tucker, President of the OSU Research Foundation David Waits, Director of the Oklahoma Center for Respiratory and Infectious Disease, and Lin Liu, Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations Deborah Moorad-Watts and her husband, Jake. 

“Dr. Fahlenkamp’s selection for the OKBio Researcher Recognition Award confirms the significance of her tissue modeling research and the potential it offers to help minimize the impact of respiratory and infectious disease,” said Whiteley. “She is an outstanding researcher and a leader in chemical engineering in the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology.”

An alumna of OSU, Fahlenkamp received her Ph.D. in chemical engineering in 2003. She worked in industry for a few years before returning to Oklahoma State in 2006 as a chemical engineering faculty member. She has received eight patents for her work and is currently leading research projects funded by the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health. She was nominated by Moorad-Watts of the OSU Foundation. 

“When I first met Dr. Fahlenkamp, there was something about her research story that stuck out and seemed special,” said Moorad-Watts. “I see Dr. Fahlenkamp as one of the linchpins for Oklahoma State chemical engineering and biomedical research.” 

This honor brings biomedical research at Oklahoma State through chemical engineering to prominence. Fahlekamp’s award demonstrates the university’s ability to contribute to commercialized Oklahoma bioscience technology.  

Fahlenkamp says the goal of her research is to advance the study of the human immune system. She is a collaborative researcher who partners with clinicians and biomedical scientists to reach her goals, and this award validates her efforts.  

The BioSummit is designed for the local life science and research community to learn more about partnering with big Pharma, national funding opportunities, accessing federal researchers and resources and applying human-bioscience to agricultural markets. 

For more information on Fahlenkamp’s research projects, check out the 2014 issue of Impact magazine.