Originally published by the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering News.

The Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine of Florida has inducted four University of Florida engineering faculty members into its 2025 class, recognizing their outstanding contributions to research, innovation and societal impact. The 2025 class includes 26 new inductees.

Among this year’s inductees is Cherie Stabler, professor and department chair of the J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering.

“We welcome our new ASEMFL members. Their lifelong dedication, creativity and talent have resulted in critical and impactful advances in their fields with resulting benefits to society,” said Hortensia Amaro, president of ASEMFL.

Inductees are selected based on their distinguished research contributions and innovations that have made meaningful impacts across science, engineering and medicine.

Stabler was recognized for her global leadership in developing translational biomaterials for cellular transplantation, with a focus on improving treatments for Type 1 diabetes. Her work centers on engineering advanced biomaterial systems that support cell-based therapies aimed at restoring insulin production.

“I have long admired so many of the long-standing members of this academy and their substantial impacts, so to be a part of this group feels a bit surreal,” Stabler said. “As a Floridian, I am so excited to contribute to the mission of ASEMFL, which is to provide unbiased, expert advice to Florida stakeholders to address key challenges within the state.”

Stabler’s research is driven by a long-standing goal: to develop curative therapies for Type 1 diabetes using tissue engineering approaches. While current treatments rely on external insulin delivery, her work explores how engineered cellular implants could restore natural function.

“The potential of cell therapy to completely restore what is lost in a person with Type 1 diabetes is incredibly exciting,” she said. “Just like any other cellular implant, however, we must engineer a safe house — a three-dimensional structure — to contain the cells.”