Tuesday 8th August 2026:
Prof Abhay Pandit, Founding Director of CÚRAM Research Ireland Centre for Medical Devices (2015-2026) and Scientific Director of Rinn Medical Devices (established in 2026) has just been awarded the Klaas de Groot Award 2026 by the European Society For Biomaterials – ESB, presented at its annual conference in Antwerp this week.
The Klaas de Groot Award recognises scientists who have shown outstanding mentorship of young researchers, helping them build independent, successful careers of their own. It is one of the highest honours the biomaterials community can bestow, reflecting exactly the kind of leadership that has shaped Prof Pandit’s career.
According to the ESB, “Professor Pandit’s journey exemplifies how mentored students and their ideas can drive scientific discoveries and become a source of inspiration for generations to come. A true testament to the “art” of mentorship, a relationship that flows in both directions and elevates our entire scientific community.”
Prof Pandit has spent over three decades building to the establishment of Rinn Medical Devices with a strong commitment to and focus on developing talent as a foundation for long term innovation. During his career to date he has supervised over 40 Postdoctoral researchers and 72 PhD students alongside 25 Master’s students. He has also hosted Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellows and Early Stage Researchers from across Europe through the establishment of the Medtrain, Medtrain+ and MedDevDoc training networks. His postgraduate researchers have earned over 54 awards, including 15 Julia Polak Educational Doctorate Awards from the ESB. Many of his mentees have since become academic leaders, clinicians, and industry innovators worldwide, creating a genuine talent pipeline for the medical device sector.
Prof Pandit has also championed access to research careers for underrepresented students, co-founding the Research Ireland Discover-funded UROP programme at University of Galway, which has given 30 undergraduate students to date their first hands-on experience in a research laboratory and encouragement to consider research careers in the future. Rinn Medical Devices is a member of the IIE Scholar Rescue Fund Programme, a global program that arranges, funds, and supports fellowships for threatened and displaced scholars at partnering higher education institutions worldwide.
Prof Pandit’s commitment to developing people continues to shape the culture at Rinn Medical Devices, whose mission includes the development of the next generation of industry-relevant, publicly engaged researchers.
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