Dr. Kathryn Uhrich is currently the Dean of the College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences at University of California, Riverside. She obtained her undergraduate degree in Chemistry at University of North Dakota and her Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry at Cornell University. Her research focuses on creating bioactive and biodegradable polymers for use in drug delivery, food safety and personal care. She is current editor-in-chief of Journal of Bioactive and Compatible Polymers. She has been awarded Fellow of National Academy of Inventors, American Chemical Society, and Controlled Released Society.

Therapeutic Polyesters and Polyamides

Therapeutic Polyesters and Polyamides is the creation of a polymer with a backbone with ester, thioester and/or amide linkages. These biocompatible and biodegradable polyesters, polythioesters and polyamides degrade into therapeutic agents for pharmaceutical and medical use. The polymers can be delivered in different forms such as pastes and solvents casts to use in medical implants to create skin grafts, stents, bone plates, and other articles. The polymers can also be formulated into various skin products such as lotions, shampoos, and lipsticks.

Iodinated Polymers

The invention of iodinated polymers is created to be visualized in X-Rays. Medical articles are sometimes formed or coated with polymeric material and then cannot be seen in X-Rays once implanted in the human body. This invention can also be used in veterinary medicine and in security to identify taggants for food, cosmetic or pharmaceutical products.