Brad Weston is senior director of instrument research in transfusion at Abbott Laboratories.
By the time Brad Weston (BSME 94) received his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Mississippi, he had already decided he would one day be a financial supporter of his alma mater. Twenty-five years later, the Cincinnati, Ohio, native is generously giving financial assistance to his beloved university.
As senior director of instrument research in transfusion at Abbott Laboratories, Weston led a diagnostics team in developing Alinity, a blood and plasma screening instrument to eliminate sample carryover between tests. The new instrument is faster and more effective than current probe-washing techniques. For Weston’s achievement, he received Abbott’s Researcher of the Year Award for 2018.
“This was satisfying because I got to see it evolve from the back of a scrap of paper into labs around the world,” said Weston, who designated the stipend from his award as a donation to the UM Department of Mechanical Engineering.
Weston, who also earned his master’s degree in product design and development from Northwestern University in 2011, said he intends on increasing his relationship with the engineering school going forward.
“By establishing this scholarship, I hope to ease the burden for a deserving student,” he said.
Weston’s generosity is greatly appreciated, said Greg Carter, UM Foundation development officer for the School of Engineering.
“Brad Weston has proven a faithful and generous benefactor of Ole Miss Engineering,” Carter said. “The School of Engineering in general and our programs involved in biomedical device development, such as the new Department of Biomedical Engineering, are deeply grateful to him for his gift.”
While Weston formulated the initial concept for Alinity, he is quick to acknowledge the efforts of his team and other contributors to its realization.
“Innovation doesn’t just come from the person who has an idea,” he said. “It comes from the people who foster it and turn it into a product. It comes from customers and marketing. Innovation is an amalgamation of all these elements and how they come together.”
Several Abbott leaders championed the project, and a dedicated group of engineers focused on the technology. Even external specialists on induction heating helped bridge the gap between idea and finished product.
Weston sees a bright future for his creation. In June 2017, U.S. Patent No. 9686824 was granted for induction heat washing, with additional patents planned.
Weston also led the engineering activity in 1998 that made all of Pepsi’s custom toys and merchandise for “Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace.”
“It was a fascinating job where I got to design and develop slush molds for life-size ‘Star Wars’ characters,” he said.
Weston lives in Dallas with his three daughters. He enjoys travel, golf, Ole Miss football and Southern Gothic literature.
“Ole Miss provided me with an excellent technical engineering education, without a doubt,” Weston said. “My time at Ole Miss also helped prepare me for future leadership roles, which proved invaluable in my career. We learned teamwork from working in groups on various projects.”