J. Biomater. Sci. Polymer Edn, Vol. 15, No. 4, pp. 375–377 (2004)Ó VSP 2004.Also available online - www.vsppub.com

PrefaceAllan Hoffman: A 70th Birthday Celebration

Allan S. Hoffman, Professor of Bioengineering and Chemical Engineering atthe University of Washington, was born in Chicago on October 27, 1932. Hereceived BS, MS and ScD degrees from Massachusetts Institute of Technology,completing his doctoral thesis in 1957 under the guidance of E. R. Gilliland,E. W. Merrill and W. H. Stockmayer. His � rst positions were at MIT, as theAssistant Director of the Oak Ridge Engineering Practice School and then as aninstructor. After a few industrial positions, including a stint with Chevron inthe Bay Area (California, USA) and Associate Director of Research for AmiconCorporation, Allan returned to MIT, � rst as Assistant Professor (1958–1960) andthen as Associate Professor (1965–1970). In 1970, after a short stay at the Centred’Etudes Nucleaires in Saclay (France), he came to the University of Washington.

376 Allan Hoffman: A 70th Birthday Celebration

The UW has served for 32 years as a utilitarian platform to build the illustriouscareer we see today. That is the concise history, but there is so much more to AllanHoffman that these sparse facts do not even hint at.

Allan Hoffman’s contributions to the � eld of biomaterials have been monumental.His � rst published paper was in 1955. His � rst paper on surface technology (radia-tion grafting) appeared in 1959. By 1969 he had a published a paper on hydrogelsfor desalination (synthetic hydrogels were � rst accurately described in 1960; it isthis paper that convinced me to come to Seattle to work with Allan). His � rst pa-pers focusing on biomedical polymers began appearing about 1971. Once Allanhad coalesced his vision of polymers in medicine and surgery, it was as if � ood-gates were opened. A tsunami of hundreds of papers followed, surging throughthe intellectual landscape and shaping the terrain of biomaterials as we know it to-day. What has Allan Hoffman given us? Here is a short list (probably incomplete):biomedical hydrogels, mechanics of natural tissue, surface modi� cation, new sur-face analysis methods, covalent biomolecule immobilization on biomaterials, non-fouling surfaces, drug delivery technology, new concepts in blood compatibility,stimuli-sensitive polymers (polyNIPAM was brought to our community by Hoff-man), immunoassays, biomolecule separations, smart bioconjugates and novel genedelivery molecules. Allan Hoffman has profoundly in� uenced current ideas in bio-materials such that, without his guiding light, many ideas we take for granted wouldnot be with us today and biomaterials would be a different and, most likely, intel-lectually poorer, endeavor. We see creativity of the highest order in Allan Hoffman.

Allan Hoffman’s contributions go much farther than his scholarly activities.With a personality of gold, a love for cultural diversity and willingness to giveand contribute, Allan has helped create the collegial, international, supportivebiomaterials community we all enjoy today. He has introduced thousands tobiomaterials ideas, mentored innumerable young (and some experienced) scientistsand befriended hundreds. He has been a world ambassador, not just for biomaterials,but also for the intellectual excitement that lights up science. His creativity,innovation and knack for asking the right question, projected from the podiumwith the inimitable Hoffman savoir faire, have stimulated us all. How often has hewarmed an audience in Japan, China, Italy, Israel, Germany, France, Russia, Spainor Korea with a choice phrase, not badly pronounced, in the local language? He hasconsumed the cuisine, worn the costumes, sung the songs, danced the dances anddowned the local brew of cultures around the globe. And his warmth, concern, greatmemory and natural curiosity have been rewarded with a lifetime of internationalfriendships.

This symposium honors the 70th birthday and some 50 years of scienti� caccomplishment of our colleague and friend, Allan S. Hoffman. Hoffman at 70is not all that different from Hoffman at 30 — only a little slower in the walk, abit grayer, de� nitely more savvy, and as creative, energetic and personally warm asever. Visualize Allan Hoffman as so many have seen him — in an outdoor café insome exotic locale, perhaps overlooking a river. From beneath the table umbrella,

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a cloud of smoke wafts — there is Allan, cigar in one hand, calvados in the other,and few close friends, engaged in rich conversation, smiles abound in the glow of asetting sun, the yellow shirt and a shining light — our friend Allan.

Happy Birthday, Allan. Much of the intellectual richness of this symposium canbe directly attributed to the inspiration you have provided.

BUDDY D. RATNERProgram Chair