Poly-Med Founder

Dr. Shalaby W. Shalaby is considered one of the forefathers of the bioresorbable polymer industry, with over 130 patents granted and author of 250 publications, including 9 books.

In the late 1970’s he led an exploratory group on polymers, for biomedical applications, at a large medical device company. During that time, he was one the lead inventors for several bioresorbable products, including the Vicryl® suture.

In 1990, his love for research and education brought him to Clemson University in South Carolina. He founded Poly-Med, Inc. in 1993 as a means to continue unfettered research and to teach and sponsor students’ education. Dr. Shalaby passed away in 2010, but his vision and mission continue today, through the dedicated work of Poly-Med employees.

Dr. Shalaby earned his undergraduate degrees in Chemistry, Botany, and Pharmacy in his native Egypt, at Ain Shams and Cairo Universities. Dr. Shalaby completed his graduate degrees at the University of Massachusetts at Lowell, earning a M.S. in Textiles, a Ph.D. in Chemistry, and a second Ph.D. in Polymer Science.

After a postdoctoral assignment, he became a senior research chemist at Allied Signal, Polymer Research Group. Dr. Shalaby later joined Ethicon/Johnson & Johnson to start an exploratory group on polymers for biomedical applications. Dr. Shalaby’s focus was on new, absorbable, and radiation-sterilizable polymers. He also headed the Polymer Technology Center there.