KTEC Pipeline: PIPELINE Innovators

PIPELINE Innovators

CHARTER CLASS:

Clint Batman

Joey Blue

2008 CLASS:

Lisa Friis

Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering & Product Development Core Director
KU BioEngineering Research Center
Lawrence, Kansas

Elizabeth "Lisa" Friis’ entrepreneurial work and research is both academic and industry based. As an Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Kansas, Dr. Friis is committed to creating a multi-disciplinary approach to biomedical product development, as well as providing a robust entrepreneurial grounding to her students. At KU, Lisa's interest in the practical application of biomechanical technology led her to develop and offer her students a multi-disciplinary Biomedical Product Development course, as well as the associated university-wide KU Entrepreneurship Thematic Learning Community program.

Dr. Friis is also a partner in the Sunflower Biotechnology Group, LLC, a start-up committed to bringing new biotech products to market from the university research setting. Lisa works closely with the KU Tech Transfer group, and NIH SBIR awards have supported her research.

Lisa came to KU from Wichita-based Orthopedic Research Institute Inc., where she worked as a research scientist. At ORI, Lisa did applied research in orthopedics. She worked with attending orthopedists and residents and taught biomechanics and biomaterials principles to orthopedic surgery residents. During her tenure at ORI, Lisa also co-authored a book on orthopedic biomechanics and biomaterials with two colleagues. Dr. Friis’ research has been widely published in national and international peer-reviewed journals and other publications.

Prior to joining ORI, Lisa did her graduate research in biomedical engineering at the University of Iowa. Lisa holds a BS in Biomedical Engineering and a MS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Iowa, and a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Wichita State University.