Dr. Ayokunle Olanrewaju, an Assistant Professor in Bioengineering and Mechanical Engineering at the University of Washington, received the prestigious Beckman Young Investigator Award in 2024. This honor recognizes promising early-career faculty in the chemical and life sciences, providing crucial research funding to develop innovative methods, instruments, and materials.
Dr. Olanrewaju’s groundbreaking research focuses on developing a wearable device that collects and analyzes small blood samples to understand how medications affect individual bodies. This technology aims to move beyond the conventional one-size-fits-all approach to medication dosing, offering instead personalized medicine with precise dosages tailored to each patient. His work is especially significant for conditions requiring regular medication monitoring, such as preventing organ transplant rejection and reducing side effects from cancer chemotherapies.
Beyond this primary focus, Dr. Olanrewaju’s research encompasses technologies to improve treatment for both infectious and chronic diseases, including HIV, tuberculosis, and cancer. His laboratory utilizes advanced techniques in 3D microfabrication, autonomous microfluidics, and molecular assays to address complex medical challenges. A central aim of his work is developing systems for continuous monitoring of medication levels, helping patients adhere to dosing schedules and ultimately improving health outcomes.
