Athanasiou Elected to American Academy of Arts and Sciences
April 22, 2026 - Kyriacos A. Athanasiou, Henry Samueli Chair in Engineering and Distinguished Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering, has been elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, one of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious honorary societies. He is one of six UCI faculty to be selected this year.
Advancing cartilage repair, biomaterials development and translational biomedical innovation, Professor Athanasiou's research focuses on tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. He is recognized for developing functional approaches for cartilage replacements, helping bridge laboratory discoveries and medical treatments. His work has also led to intraosseous infusion technologies used worldwide in emergency medicine to deliver life-saving drugs. Among other achievements, he is a member of the National Academy of Medicine, the National Academy of Engineering and the National Academy of Inventors.
This year’s election of more than 250 new members recognizes their accomplishments and leadership in academia, the arts, industry, journalism, philanthropy, policy, research and science. New members are nominated and elected to the academy by current members.
“This great recognition would not have been possible without the incredible support, collaboration and inspiration I have found here at UCI,” said Athanasiou. “I am proud to be part of such a remarkable community of scholars, and this distinction truly reflects the strength of the work we do together at UCI.”
The American Academy of Arts & Sciences, founded in 1780, is one of the U.S.’s oldest learned societies and independent policy research centers, convening luminaries from the academic, business and government sectors to confront challenges facing the nation and the world. The first members elected to the academy included George Washington, who said in his first annual message to Congress in 1790, “Knowledge is in every country the surest basis of public happiness.”
The induction ceremony will take place in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in October.
