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Marcos Intaglietta

Professor, Bioengineering



Development of effective blood substitutes based on a deep understanding of the microcirculation. Applications to transfusion and emergency medicine, cancer, ischemia, and the heart-lung machine.

Professor Intaglietta has largely influenced present understanding of the effects of viscosity and colloid osmotic pressure on the local regulation of blood flow and oxygen transport at the level of microscopic blood vessels. He is the author or co-author of more than 200 scientific papers and books and pioneered instruments currently in use in laboratories worldwide for studying the microcirculation. His fundamental discovery that oxygen is delivered in small pulses to the microcirculation has provided important information towards creating effective blood substitutes. Previously, substitutes actually caused blood vessels to constrict and shut down because the substitutes delivered too much oxygen. Intaglietta has also collaborated for many years with international colleagues in Europe, Latin America and Asia on projects related to blood plasma expanders for use in emergency situations and for companies with low blood bank supplies.

Capsule Bio:
Marcos Intaglietta joined UCSD in 1966 as a founding bioengineering faculty member. His pioneering work on artificial blood substitutes with Robert Winslow is now being developed through Sangart, a San Diego based company. He is the Chair of Sangart's Scientific Advisory Board, and serves on the company's board of directors. Intaglietta received his Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from the California Institute of Technology in 1963. He founded the International Institute for Microcirculation, and is an honorary member of the Italian, French, Indian, and Mexican societies for microcirculation. Intaglietta received the Malpighi Gold Medal Award from the European Society for Microcirculation (1994), the Whitaker Award (1996) and the International Award (2002) from the Biomedical Engineering Society, and the Landis Award (1999) from the Microcirculation Society.

Selected Publications:

Google Scholar Publications
Marcos Intaglietta
Office Phone:
858-534-4275
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