John Watson

Dr. Watson is a Founder of the William von Liebig Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology Advancement, as well as a Professor of Bioengineering at the UC San Diego. Prior to joining UCSD, he worked over 27 years at National Institutes of Health (NIH), most recently as Director of Clinical and Molecular Medicine at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, where he oversaw over 60 major clinical trials involving thousands of patients and all the engineering in cardiovascular medicine programs such as assisted circulation for advanced heart failure, less invasive diagnostic imaging, and implantable biomaterials.

Dr. Watson is one of the top experts on a coordinated approach to translating research- an approach that addresses clinical, regulatory, and payer aspects simultaneously, shortening time-to-market for medical innovations. His work on the conception, design, development, and clinical trial of left ventricular assist devices and the artificial heart contributed to the federal regulatory and payment decision-making process.

In 1998, he was inducted into the National Academy of Engineering (NAE), becoming the first member so recognized from the NIH. He was an invited member of the Nominating Committee for the Nobel Prize, the Japanese Kyoto Prize, and the NAE Draper Prize. Dr. Watson holds a PhD in physiology from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School (1972) and engineering degrees from University of Cincinnati and Southern Methodist University.