David S. Kaplan, cell biologist, tissue-engineered biomaterials characterization, at the Center for Devices and Radiological Health, Office of Science and Engineering Laboratories at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in Silver Spring, Md., received the Patrick G. Laing Award from ASTM International Committee F04 on Medical and Surgical Materials and Devices. Committee F04 cited Kaplan for "outstanding contributions to the work of the committee in developing standards for medical and surgical materials and devices."

An ASTM International member since 2000, Kaplan works on various F04 subcommittees and serves as executive secretary of Subcommittee F04.04, Division lV - Tissue Engineered Medical Products, and is secretary of Subcommittee F04.43 on Cells and Tissue Engineered Constructs for TEMPs.

Kaplan assumed his current position at the FDA in 1990. His work includes quantitative bright field and fluorescence histomorphometry; the development of light standards and test methods for intra- and interlaboratory calibration of mercury light sources; chemiluminescence light intensity measurements for comparison of biocompatibility of biomedical materials; the development of cell adhesion, cell morphologic and biochemical test methods; and cell-biomaterial interactions. Before joining the team at the FDA in 1987, he held positions at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md., and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Alexandria, Va.

A graduate of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University where he received a bachelor's degree in biology, Kaplan holds a Ph.D. in microbiology from George Washington University.

Release #8004