We are very excited to have Danielle join Safar’s Scientific Advisory Board! Her experience as an academic in the tissue engineering space makes Danielle a strong asset for our growing portfolio of material science and life science companies. 

Danielle Benoit is a Professor within the Department of Biomedical Engineering with appointments also in Chemical Engineering and the Center for Musculoskeletal Research and is also the Director of Materials Science Program at the University of Rochester.  She directs the Therapeutic Biomaterials Laboratory, which specializes in the rational design of polymeric materials for regenerative medicine and drug delivery applications.  Her work has provided insights into the translation of tissue engineering strategies for bone allograft repair, the development of pH-responsive nanoparticles for nucleic acid and small molecule drug delivery, and novel targeting strategies for bone-specific delivery of therapeutics.  Prof. Benoit has been recognized by numerous awards and accolades for her research program including the 2019 Class of AIMBE Fellows, the 2018 University of Maine Distinguished Alumni Award, the 2016 Kate Gleason Young Engineer of the Year Award, a 2015 Young Innovator Award in Cellular and Molecular Bioengineering, an NSF CAREER Award, and Alex’s Lemonade Stand Young Investigator Award. She is also a standing member of the NIH Biomaterials and Biointerfaces Study Section. Prof. Benoit received her undergraduate degree in Biological Engineering from the University of Maine and M.S. and Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Colorado, where she was mentored by Dr. Kristi Anseth. She then trained at the University of Washington where she was the Merck Fellow of the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation, working with Drs. Patrick Stayton and Allan Hoffman.  Prof. Benoit joined the faculty at the University of Rochester in 2010.