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SAN ANTONIO - Today, KCI announced that Kris Kieswetter, Ph.D., MBA, Senior Director, Research Sciences, and Deepak Kilpadi, Ph.D., MBA, Medical Science Liaison, are the co-recipients of the 2020 Edith and Peter O’Donnell Award in Technology Innovation from TAMEST (The Academy of Medicine, Engineering and Science of Texas). The two will be honored during the TAMEST 2020 Annual Conference in Dallas on January 8, 2020. 

“Kris and Deepak are vital components of our scientific research organization here at KCI,” said John Harper, Ph.D., Senior Vice President, Chief Technology Officer. “We are committed to providing patients and clinicians with best-in-class advanced wound care products and the research Kris and Deepak have devoted their careers to has been the foundation from which we are able to execute that commitment. With their contributions, KCI has brought many new products to market and innovated around existing products, all backed by proven outcomes, to best fit the needs of healthcare providers and their patients.” 

Since the beginning of her career at KCI in 2001, Dr. Kieswetter has played an instrumental role in the research and development of many of KCI’s advanced wound care products. Dr. Kieswetter has been a leader in KCI’s scientific research efforts, as she created the Research organization and established the strategy and initial framework for developing the scientific evidence that led to the understanding of key scientific mechanisms of action of negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT). Dr. Kieswetter, alongside talented colleagues recruited to KCI, has conducted bench, pre-clinical and clinicals studies to further the understanding of the science of wound healing and of NPWT. These efforts have led to significantly expanded claims for existing advanced wound care solutions, as well as built the foundation for the approval of new products. Dr. Kieswetter’s research had led to patented product enhancements to V.A.C. Therapy® and devices for osteochondral repair, as well as key insights regarding the use of negative pressure in the open abdomen and over surgical incisions. 

In his 18 years at KCI, Dr. Kilpadi has been a passionate advocate for research in the development and evolution of new and existing products. Dr. Kilpadi’s robust research on the effect of negative pressure wound therapy on a wounded area’s underlying tissue, lymphatic system and vascular physiology has helped KCI reimagine the current and future uses of the technology. Throughout his time at KCI, Dr. Kilpadi and his teams’ research have been fundamental pieces in the commercial development of NPWT for surgical incisions, instillation therapy, and open abdomen management. 

The Edith and Peter O’Donnell Awards annually recognize rising Texas researchers who are addressing the essential role that science and technology play in society, and whose work meets the highest standards of exemplary professional performance, creativity and resourcefulness. The O’Donnell Awards acknowledge outstanding achievements by Texas-based researchers in four categories: medicine, engineering, science and technology innovation.