Kathleen A. Derwin

Kathleen A. Derwin, PhD, serves as Vice Chair and Associate Staff in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Cleveland Clinic's Lerner Research Institute and in Orthopedic Surgery at Cleveland Clinic. She is also Director of the Musculoskeletal Research Center and holds academic appointments as Assistant Professor at both Case Western Reserve University (Department of Biomedical Engineering) and Cleveland State University (Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering).

• Cleveland Clinic - Lerner Research Institute (Department of Biomedical Engineering)
• Case Western Reserve University - Department of Biomedical Engineering
• Cleveland State University - Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering

Dr. Derwin received her BS in mechanical engineering from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, followed by an MS in bioengineering and medical degree from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. Appointed in 1998, she has established herself as a leading researcher in musculoskeletal biomechanics and tissue engineering.

Dr. Derwin's research focuses on identifying factors that influence healing and clinical outcomes after rotator cuff repair, including demographic, disease, surgical issues, and local biological factors such as stem cell characteristics and inflammatory biomarkers. Her laboratory investigates extracellular matrix scaffold technologies to enhance healing after rotator cuff repair, utilizing advanced imaging techniques including traditional MRI and novel CT-based imaging of radiopaque markers to measure tendon retraction. The team is also developing imaging biomarkers to quantify bone marrow quality and guide decision-making for tissue-healing potential.

Analysis of Dr. Derwin's publication record shows consistent contributions to the fields of rotator cuff repair, extracellular matrix applications, and musculoskeletal biomechanics. Her work spans clinical outcomes research, biomaterial development, surgical technique evaluation, and advanced imaging methodologies. Recent publications demonstrate increasing focus on patient-reported outcomes, three-dimensional imaging analysis, and the development of novel medical devices including radiopaque tissue markers and biodegradable hydrogel coatings.

• US Patent 8,080,260: Molecular Enhancement of Extracellular Matrix and Methods of Use (2011)

Dr. Derwin leads a research team comprising postdoctoral fellows and research engineers focused on translational product development for tissue-engineered medical devices. Her laboratory has secured significant research funding, including a $6M NIH grant for ACL surgery research as Co-Director of the Musculoskeletal Research Center. The team collaborates extensively with orthopedic surgeons at Cleveland Clinic to address real-world challenges in shoulder surgery and musculoskeletal repair.

The Derwin Laboratory maintains active collaborations with industry partners for technology commercialization and has contributed to regulatory processes for medical devices. The research program bridges basic science, preclinical testing, and clinical applications in the field of musculoskeletal repair and regeneration.