University’s Device Fellows Program Gets New Leader

A research scientist from St. Jude Medical Inc. is assuming the helm of the Medical Device Innovation Fellows Program at the University of Minnesota. Saurav Paul, an inventor with more than 100 U.S. and international patents, replaces founding director Marie Johnson, who left the program to pursue “other opportunities,” according to the university.

Paul begins his duties as the Innovation Fellows Program director on Aug. 15.

In his new position, Paul will oversee the year-long program that trains mid-career professionals on medical device product development. The program, sponsored by the university’s College of Science and Engineering and the Academic Health Center, uses a cross-disciplinary team with degrees in engineering, medicine and biosciences to work with faculty, medical professionals and industry collaborators to develop and test ideas for new medical devices.

Since launching in the fall of 2008, Program fellows have filed invention disclosures on more than 30 new medical devices concepts, created two startup companies and licensed one technology, according to the university. A third fellows team will complete its work at the end of August and most likely will add to those numbers.

Paul received his Ph.D. in biomedical engineering and his master’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Minnesota. Additionally, he holds a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore, India, and a bachelor of science degree from the Regional Institute of Technology in Jamshedpur, India. Paul also earned a law degree from William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul, Minn.

Paul joined the research and development group at St. Jude Medical’s Daig Division in 2002. During his nine years at the company, he helped drive innovation and develop minimally invasive catheter-based technology platforms for the diagnosis and treatment of atrial fibrillation. He most recently worked in St. Jude’s Atrial Fibrillation Division.

During his tenure in law school, Paul focused on product liability law relating to medical devices and intellectual property law. His research paper focused on the federal Medical Device Amendments. Paul represented the William Mitchell College of Law in the Saul Lefkowitz Moot Court Competition hosted by the International Trademark Association, and he won the Best Brief in the Midwest Region. He also is trained in Alternate Dispute Resolution.

Paul’s research background in engineering and medicine is long and varied, and includes such areas as fluid mechanics; biomechanics; cardiovascular mechanics; hydrodynamic and vibratory cavitation; underwater and physiological acoustics; drug delivery; bio-heat transfer; and thermal and non-thermal tissue ablation. He has had research collaborations with investigators and leaders in cardiology, cardiac electrophysiology, surgery, ophthalmology, otolaryngology, physiology, physical medicine, kinesiology and psychology. His research has been funded by agencies such as the National Institutes of Health, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Office of Naval Research, the Minnesota Medical Foundation and companies such as Medtronic Inc., U.S. Surgical Corporation, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Research to Prevent Blindness and Pacific Gas and Electric Co. Paul also has written more than 30 articles in engineering and medical journals.