Frank C.P. Yin, internationally recognized for his pioneering contributions to biomechanics and cardiovascular research, was named the first Stephen F. and Camilla T. Brauer Distinguished Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Washington University in 1998.

Dr. Yin came to Washington University in 1997 after 20 years at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Johns Hopkins Hospital, to head a new department of biomedical engineering and direct the University's Institute of Biological and Medical Engineering, which implements the graduate degree program in that discipline. In ten short years, he built a dynamic, new department into one recognized as one of the nation's best, and in late 2002, the department moved into its new home, The Uncas A. Whitaker Hall for Biomedical Engineering.

Born in China, Dr. Yin received all his education in the United States, including both bachelors and master's degrees in aeronautical engineering from MIT. He then switched fields and went to the University of California at San Diego to study with Y.C. Fung, considered by many to be the father of modern bioengineering. He earned both M.D. and Ph.D. degrees there. The emphasis of his research has been on bio-fluid and soft tissue mechanics-applying the concepts for structural analysis to blood vessels, heart muscle and valves, cells, proteins, etc.

Dr. Yin is a founding fellow of the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering and has been active in numerous professional organizations including the American Society for Clinical Investigation, the American Physiological Society, the Biomedical Engineering Society, and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. He has served on the board of directors of St. Jude Medical, Inc. a medical device company, as a member of the advisory council of the National Institute of Biological Imaging and Bioengineering and is currently past-president of the Biomedical Engineering Society. He is the author or co-author of more than 125 peer-reviewed articles.