Biographical Info

Peter Pfanner is a Research Professor of Urology and the Executive Director of the UIC Innovation Center. He is also a Research Professor in the Department of Industrial Design in UIC’s College of Architecture, Design and the Arts.

Professor Pfanner works with the department’s residents and faculty members, helping them bring their research projects to life. Using an interdisciplinary approach, the Innovation Center combines students and faculty with backgrounds in medicine, business, design and engineering to see ideas from inception to product development.

Unlike the typical product development process, Pfanner’s lab brings in these varying perspectives from the start. By emphasizing collaboration throughout the design process, he and his students are able to come up with a greater mix of ideas and solutions.

Recently, Professor Pfanner has worked with urology on projects such as an automatic sewing machine, smart bicycle shorts that prevent erectile dysfunction and the Uroflow Meter, which helps catheter users measure urine volume.

Professor Pfanner has three decades of experience as an innovator, educator and as an industrial designer. He works in both commercial and educational settings around the world as a leader in innovative design, working on a variety of award-winning products. He enjoys helping to connect people who can make things happen– bringing together faculty and students from a variety of backgrounds and giving them the resources they need through corporate sponsorship.