Published Jul 06, 2023
Ariel Ash-Shakoor is a senior biomedical engineer at the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). She is responsible for a team that assesses the safety and effectiveness of medical devices. Ariel works closely with executives to ensure that the regulatory process for market approval/clearance is followed correctly.
Additionally, Ariel is a primary investigator for a collaborative study with cardiovascular surgeons to determine the enrollment of diverse populations in cardiovascular drug-eluting stent trials.
Her notable achievements include the approval of class III high-risk coronary scoring catheter, a pivotal clinical trial for a uniquely designed coronary drug-eluting stent, and the clearance of a novel imaging-based catheter system.
As a graduate student and National Science Foundation (NSF) Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship (IGERT) Fellow at Syracuse University, Ariel developed an innovative biomaterial substrate that can modify its surface on a nano-scale level in vivo.
This substrate has been crucial in studying the impact of surface chemistry and topography on cell behavior. Her research has been instrumental in designing implant surfaces that facilitate targeted cell growth and migration patterns. In addition to her research, she mentored undergraduate students, volunteered for STEM programs, and created a tutoring program.
Ariel is an advocate for diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and belonging in every aspect of the FDA.
She co-chairs the Office of Product Evaluation and Quality Committee on Belonging, spearheading diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging initiatives for the largest Center for Devices and Radiological Health office. She was critical in establishing an employee resource group for women of color in STEM.
Ariel is a sought-after speaker on health equity and best regulatory practices at cardiovascular device conferences. She volunteers as a career panelist at various institutions and conferences at least five times a year.
In 2022, she had the opportunity to meet with underrepresented medical and engineering students at Stanford University, the University of the District of Columbia, and various events, including the FDA's annual minority-serving institution networking event and the Women in Science and Engineering (WiSE) 22-year celebration at Syracuse University.
Ariel earned a Bachelor of Science in Bioengineering in 2011 from the University of Maryland and a Doctorate of Philosophy in Bioengineering in 2017 from Syracuse University. She is passionate about mentoring, which began when she volunteered with America Reads to tutor math at local elementary schools while attending the University of Maryland.
In 2016, Ariel received recognition for her efforts, including the BEYA Community Service Award and Syracuse University's Orange Circle Philanthropy Award for her significant impact on the community.
During her senior year of college, Ariel completed independent research projects on drug-eluting stents, which was later published in the Journal of the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists. After completing her bachelor's degree, she continued her senior internship as a full-time Oak Ridge Institute of Science and Education research fellow in OSEL at the FDA.
