Roger Marchant

Roger E. Marchant, PhD, was Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Director of the Center for Cardiovascular Biomaterials at Case Western Reserve University (CWRU). He was one of the earliest and most respected members of the CWRU Biomaterials Faculty and made significant contributions to science and engineering in drug release, atomic force microscopy, biomimetic materials and cardiovascular implant devices.

Professor Marchant received a B.Sc. (Honors) in Polymer Science and Chemistry in 1978 from the University of Sussex in England. He subsequently received his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees (1982 and 1984, respectively) in Macromolecular Science and Engineering, specializing in biomaterials, from CWRU in Cleveland, OH, under research advisor Professor James M. Anderson. He received the award for outstanding research from the Society for Biomaterials in 1984. He was a visiting scientist at the University of Washington, University of Utah, and University of Paris. Dr. Marchant joined the primary faculty in the Department of Biomedical Engineering and the Department of Macromolecular Science at CWRU in 1988, rising to the rank of Professor by 1998.

Professor Marchant was internationally recognized for his research contributions in biomaterials, reflected by his visiting professorships in Chongqing, China and Bangkok, Thailand. His seminal research contributions include using concepts from nature that mimic cellular structures, like endothelial cells and platelets, to develop new materials for medical use. He developed cell-targeted liposomes for drug delivery and biomimetic coatings on artificial blood vessels to allow better tissue healing. He was also a pioneer in atomic force microscopy, and developed techniques to image proteins and vascular cells at a molecular scale. He was the holder of 10 patents and brought in over $23 million in National Institutes of Health and National Science Foundation research grant support to CWRU from 1988 to 2014, with $19 million attributed to him as a principal investigator. He had published 135 peer-reviewed scientific papers, 18 book chapters and had presented over 250 papers and invited lectures. His co-investigator on most of these projects was his former graduate student colleague and wife, Kandice Kottke-Marchant, MD, PhD, who is Chair of the Robert J. Tomsich Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Institute at the Cleveland Clinic.

Professor Marchant was also revered as an educator and mentor. He taught courses on the Structure of Biomaterials and Polymers in Medicine, among others, at CWRU for 20 years, educating a generation of biomedical engineering students. During his tenure at CWRU, he personally mentored 22 postdoctoral researchers, 27 graduate students, 15 master's students and 54 undergraduate students in his research laboratory. Many of his former students are now research professors, research scientists and physicians in Cleveland, throughout the USA and internationally.

Roger Marchant was born in Birmingham, UK, on March 8, 1951, the son of Eric and Audrey Marchant. He was a competitive fencer who was a member of the English national fencing team in the 1970's. He was also an avid football (soccer) player, who was a life-long supporter of Aston Villa Football Club. He was a devoted father and husband who loved traveling, especially long road trips in his Z28 Camaro. He became a US citizen in 2014. He is survived by his wife of 32 years, Kandice Kottke-Marchant, MD, PhD, two children, Eleanor Marchant (b. 1983) and Alexandra Marchant Lederer (b. 1986), and by his sister, Janet Johnson, niece, Samantha Johnson, and parents, Eric and Audrey Marchant. A lectureship in biomaterials is being established in his memory at CWRU.

Contributions may be made in memory of Roger Marchant to establish a memorial lectureship: send contributions to Case Western Reserve University, Biomedical Engineering Department, c/o Case School of Engineering 10900 Euclid Avenue Cleveland, Ohio 44106 or online c/o Case School of Engineering http://www.case.edu/giving/ . Please indicate that your contribution is in memory of Roger Marchant, Biomedical Engineering Department.

Funeral Services will be held at 12 o'clock noon on Saturday, February 8 in the Amasa Stone Chapel, 10940 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH 44106. FRIENDS MAY CALL AT BROWN-FORWARD, 17022 CHAGRIN BLVD, SHAKER HTS., OH ON FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7 FROM 2-4PM AND 6-8PM. Private Interment, Lake View Cemetery.


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