Syd Wiggins currently serves as a Regulatory Affairs Associate at Proxima Clinical Research, a contract research organization that serves the emerging drug and medical device industries. 

At Proxima, she works on various medical device and drug product consulting projects and submissions across all stages of development, including 510(k), BDD, EUA, and IND submissions.  

Syd has research experience in biomaterials, polymer chemistry, immunology, drug development and delivery, regenerative medicine, and tissue engineering. Prior to joining the Proxima team, Syd received her Masters in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Florida, where her research aimed to develop immunomodulatory biomaterials for allogeneic transplantation. Additionally, Syd has been involved in research evaluating triple-negative breast cancer cell receptor kinetics, biomarkers and in vitro diagnostic devices for traumatic brain injury, optimization of gold nanoparticle synthesis, and transaortic valve replacement design.

Syd is passionate about translating medical research from the benchtop to the bedside. She enjoys engaging with startups and is eager to assist with the advancement of innovative technologies in health care.

University of Arkansas: Biomedical Engineering, B.S.

University of Florida: Biomedical Engineering, M.S.

‍Proxima Clinical Research, Inc., Houston, Texas
Regulatory Affairs Associate

University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
Graduate Research Assistant

Wellstar Health Systems, Marietta, Georgia
Summer Intern, Center for Health Transformation‍

SFC Fluidics, Fayetteville, Arkansas
Summer Intern‍‍

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Ms. Wiggins has received the following honors: ‍

Graduate Student Fellowship, University of Florida

Honors College Fellowship, University of Arkansas

Arkansas Governor’s Distinguished Scholarship

Ms. Wiggins has played an important role in the development of the following medical products:

1. Drug – COVID-19
2. Biologic – Oncolytic Vaccine
3. Medical Device – Software for Atrial Fibrillation Detection
4. Medical Device – Anchors for Fetoscopic Surgeries
5. Medical Device – Transnasal Endoscope
6. Medical Device – IVD for Hemoglobin A1c
7. Medical Device – Gastric Sleeve and Anchor
8. Medical Device – Ultrasonic Surgical Device
9. Medical Device – Mixer Syringe
10. Medical Device – Rapid Cooling Device
11. Medical Device – EEG Sensor
12. Medical Device – IVD for Barret’s Esophagus  
13. Medical Device – Absorbable Tympanostomy Tubes
14. Medical Device – Non-Invasive Blood Pressure Monitor

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Ms. Wiggins has contributed to the following peer-reviewed publications:  

Wiggins SC, Abuid NJ, Gattas-Asfura KM, Kar S, Stabler CL, Nanotechnology approaches to modulate immune responses to cell-based therapies for type 1 diabetes, Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology. (2020) 14 (2), 212-225.  

Jiang K, Chaimov D, Patel SN, Liang JP, Wiggins SC, Samojlik MM, Rubiano A, Simmons CS, Stabler CL, 3-D physiomimetic extracellular matrix hydrogels provide a supportive microenvironment for rodent and human islet culture, Biomaterials. (2018) 0-1.

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Ms. Wiggins has presented at the following conferences:

Wiggins SC, Miller D, Gattas-Asfura KM, Stabler CL, Engineering an anti-inflammatory islet transplant microenvironment through IL-10 cell-surface immobilization. Poster presented at: 9th Annual Conference of TERMIS-Americas; 2019 Dec 2-5; Orlando, FL

Wiggins SC, Jiang K, Liang JP, Stabler CL, Repolarization of M1 bone marrow-derived macrophages with IL-10-functionalized porous PDMS surfaces. Presented at: Biomaterials for Medical Devices and Regenerative Medicine; 2018 June 25-29; Bordeaux, FR

Jiang K, Wiggins SC, Liang JP, Stabler CS. Functionalization of IL-10 to PDMS porous surfaces attenuates inflammatory macrophage response. Presented at: 8th Annual Conference of TERMIS-Americas; 2017 Dec 3-6; Charlotte, NC

Jiang K, Liang JP, Wiggins SC, Stabler CS. Functionalized immunomodulatory IL-10 surfaces attenuate biomaterial topography activated macrophages. Presented at: BMES Annual Meeting; 2017 Oct 11-14; Phoenix, AZ.  

Wiggins SC, Powel A, Bailey T, Muldoon T. Multiphoton quantification of intra and extracellular receptors in live breast cancer cells as a tool for triple-negative breast cancer diagnostic applications. Poster presented at: SPIE Translational Biophotonics; 2016 May 16-17; Houston, TX

Maxwell K, Wiggins SC, Young MA, Washispack S, Khang A, Stubbs S. Designing TAVR systems for bicuspid aortic valve patients. Presented at: BMES Coulter College; 2015 Aug 13-16; Coral Gables, FL

Wiggins SC, Joyce JL, Wolchok J. Evaluating astrocyte extracellular DNA in response to chemical injury as possible traumatic brain injury detection method. Presented at: 5th Annual FEP Honors Research Symposium; 2013 Apr 20; Fayetteville, AR

Teacher, Biomaterial Science and Engineering, SSTP, University of Florida

Teaching Assistant, Cell and Tissue Engineering, University of Florida

Teaching Assistant, Senior Design, University of Florida

Graduate Student Council Travel Award, University of Florida

Executive Board Member, Student Advocating the Support of Science

Executive Board Member, Society for Biomaterials, University of Florida

National Conference Programming Chair, TERMIS-AM

Undergraduate Research Mentor, University of Florida

Honors Graduate, Magna Cum Laude, University of Arkansas

Honors College Research Grant, University of Arkansas

Teaching Assistant, Biomolecular Engineering Lab, University of Arkansas

Grader, Biomedical Instrumentation, University of Arkansas

Best Presentation, BMES Coulter College

College of Engineering Co-Op Scholarship, University of Arkansas

Best Presentation, 5th Annual Honors Research Symposium, University of Arkansas