Guillermo U. Ruiz-Esparza, M.D. Ph.D. F.R.S.A.
Dr. Guillermo U. Ruiz-Esparza is a Physician-Scientist, BioNanotechnologist and Entrepreneur at the Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology part of Harvard University (Harvard) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He is also part of the Divisions of Renal Medicine and Engineering in Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. He founded and currently leads the Academic Research Program in Health Technologies where more than 300 students have pursued scientific training in various research laboratories across Harvard and MIT.
Dr. Ruiz-Esparza holds a Bachelor in Biosciences, a Medical Degree (MD) and a PhD in Biotechnology and Nanotechnology from the Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education and Houston Methodist Hospital (Joint MD/PhD Program). Dr. Ruiz Esparza’s pioneering doctoral work developing molecular nanosystems for heart failure served as the initial pilar for The George and Angelina Kostas Research Center for Cardiovascular Nanomedicine at Houston Methodist Hospital. After completing his doctoral studies, Dr. Ruiz-Esparza pursued Postdoctoral training in Molecular Nanomedicine, Regenerative Medicine (Tissue Engineering), and Micro and Nanofabrication of Smart Biomaterials at the Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology and Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
During his career, he has developed and tested pioneering biotechnology and nanotechnology platforms for various pathologies such as heart failure, cancer, diabetes, acute kidney injury, postsurgical adhesions and others. Some of these platforms include molecular nanotherapeutics (micro and nanoencapsulation systems for drugs, proteins and genetic material), hydrogels, smart biomaterials, nanosensing diagnostic technologies, and tissue engineering constructs.
His research work was the first to prove and achieve intravascular and site-specific nanoparticle-based delivery of agents to a failing heart, enabling the current development of new nanotechnologies for delivering genetic material, drugs, and diagnostics for the treatment of heart failure.
Dr. Ruiz-Esparza has received numerous distinctions including the Latin American TR35 award by MIT - Technology Review as one of the top innovators under the age of 35, the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Award, and the Future of Health Technology Award at the MIT Media Lab. He has been named one of the 30 most influential Latino leaders under the age of 30 by El Mundo Boston and one of the most promising Mexican individuals under the age of 40 by Grupo Expansion and CNN. Singularity University and Poder Civico have named him “Gifted Citizen”, and he has been the recipient of the National Youth Medal in Science and Technology bestowed by the President of Mexico, the highest honor and state decoration that the Mexican government can bestow on young physicians and researchers that live in Mexico or abroad. He has received other honors, medals and awards from the Mexican Congress, the Government of the State of Aguascalientes, and the City of Aguascalientes. In total, he has received over 22 national and international distinctions.
Dr. Ruiz-Esparza has numerous publications in high impact scientific journals including “Science Translational Medicine”, “Nature Communications”, “European Journal of Heart Failure”, “Materials Science and Engineering: R: Reports”, “Advanced Materials”, “Advanced Functional Materials” to name a few. The quality of his scientific work has been recognized with several journal covers and featured in hundreds of media coverages worldwide. His scholarly production also includes numerous scientific reviews, as well as participation in several books. He has presented in some of the most prestigious forums and congresses around the world, such as in the American College of Cardiology Annual Meeting, the European Society of Cardiology, the World Congress of Acute Heart Failure, Heart Failure Society of America, Harvard University, EmTech by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) – Technology Review, Future Health Technology Annual Conference at the MIT Media Lab, as well as others.
Dr. Ruiz-Esparza has been distinguished as member of the Royal Society for Arts, Manufactures and Commerce, one of the most prestigious, oldest and learned societies of Europe, comprising intellectuals, artists, entrepreneurs, writers, and scientists. He has received several awards in Social Leadership by Monterrey Institute of Technology for the creation of educational programs in science and technology for underserved communities in Mexico.
Additionally, he serves on the boards of Angel Ventures, Enactus, Prothesia, The Clinical Engineer Hub, Veri Nano, and has participated in several commissions assisting the Embassy of Mexico in the United States through its Consular network in projects regarding public policy and economic development related to science, technology and education.
As an entrepreneur, Dr. Ruiz-Esparza has cofounded some nanotechnology ventures and successfully raised several rounds of investment.
In summary, Dr. Ruiz-Esparza’s career is focused in creating impact in relevant aspects of medicine, science, technology, engineering, entrepreneurship, academia, public policy, scientific communication and social causes.