Dewey D.Y. Ryu, professor of biochemical engineering at the University of California, Davis, has been awarded the 2004 Ho-Am Prize in Engineering. The prize, which includes a citation, gold medal and cash award of 100 million Korean won (approximately $86,000), is presented by the Ho-Am Foundation of Seoul, South Korea.

Ryu was recognized for combining fundamental biological sciences with engineering principles to design industrial-scale processes for biotechnology products of economic and medical importance, according to the award citation. The prize was presented at a ceremony in Seoul June 1.

"On this occasion, in order for me to be worthy of the honor bestowed on me through the Ho-Am Prize, I have renewed my resolve to dedicate myself to further advancement of adult stem cell research by using a biomolecular engineering approach for the benefit of mankind," Ryu said.

"Professor Ryu has played a leadership role nationally and internationally in helping to define what we mean today by biotechnology. His work has been seminal in a number of areas that have now become both mainstream and commercial," said Robert Powell, professor and chair of the Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science at UC Davis.

Ryu is director of the Biochemical Engineering Program at UC Davis. The program carries out research and teaching related to industrial processes in biochemistry and biotechnology. The program offers both graduate and undergraduate courses.

Ryu is widely recognized as a leader in establishing a new area of biotechnology, biomolecular engineering, which brings together basic biological sciences and engineering principles to focus on a detailed understanding of processes in living organisms.

This approach has enabled him to play a leading role in designing industrial-scale processes for manufacturing antibiotics, enzymes, nutritional supplements, food additives and other products for the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, chemical and food industries.

Most recently, his research has focused on technology for growing therapeutic adult stem cells. Found in very small numbers in tissues such as bone marrow, adult stem cells have the potential to develop into a wide range of cell types. They could form the basis for new cures and treatments for chronic and genetic diseases, such as Parkinson's or Alzheimer's disease, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, spinal cord injury, and conditions related to aging.

Ryu has written or contributed to over 210 scientific papers and 16 patents dealing with novel biotechnology products, bioprocess technologies and bioreactor design. He has acted as an adviser and consultant to the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries, national and international professional organizations, and government organizations including the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, National Research Council and the United Nations.

Ryu received his bachelor's degree in chemical engineering in 1961 and a Ph.D. in biochemical engineering in 1967, both from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He worked for several years as a senior research engineer at the Squibb Institute for Medical Research, now a part of pharmaceutical manufacturer Bristol-Myers Squibb. He taught at MIT, Rutgers University and The Korea Advanced Institute of Science before he joined UC Davis in 1982.

The Ho-Am Prizes were established in 1990 in memory of the late Byung-Chull Lee, chairman and founder of the Samsung group of companies, who was known by the sobriquet "Ho-Am." The prizes are awarded in the categories of science, engineering, medicine, the arts and community service to individuals who have made outstanding contributions in their respective fields. The prizes are awarded to Koreans or persons of Korean descent, except for the community service award, which is open to persons of any nationality working in Korea.