Biomedical Engineering Spring 2024 Update
Feature Story
ARPA-H grant for anti-inflammatory therapy
New funding for SecondWave Systems, a company co-founded by Professor Hubert Lim, will support the development of a wearable ultrasound stimulation platform for treating rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory conditions.
Research Highlights
A breakthrough for brain stimulation therapies
For the first time, Associate Professor Alexander Opitz and team showed that non-invasive brain stimulation can change a specific brain mechanism that is directly related to human behavior.
New insights on sickle cell disease origins
Scientists now have a better understanding of the mechanisms of sickle cell disease pathology, thanks to a new study from Professor David Wood and Ph.D. student Dillon Williams.
Metformin reduces COVID-19 viral rebound
To help steer the direction of this phase 3 randomized clinical trial, the team used a computer simulator developed by Professor David Odde, a study co-author, and team.
Student Highlights
Student startup attracts investors
Efraín Torres, Parker Jenkins, and the team at Adialante have developed a new kind of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) that has the potential to change medical care for millions. The team recently received $1.3 million from investors.
NSF Graduate Research Fellowships
Bri Brennecke and Hannah Szafraniec were named NSF Graduate Research Fellowship recipients, while Kira Lynch and Paige Nielsen were recognized with honorable mentions.
Building a new medical device from scratch
An undergraduate student project has been exploring a potential light-based therapy for Raynaud’s phenomenon. Their device shows so much promise for treating the condition that findings were recently published and clinical studies are planned.
Nedda Abuhadid receives service award
Abuhadid was honored with the President’s Student Leadership Service Award, which recognizes the accomplishments and contributions of outstanding undergraduate, graduate, and professional student leaders at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities.
Faculty Highlights
Lim to lead medical device center
Professor Hubert Lim has been named director of Bakken Medical Devices Center, a role in which he will oversee a wide range of responsibilities and commitments within the Center and the Institute for Engineering in Medicine’s Innovation Pillar.
Sachs elected to AIMBE College of Fellows
The American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) has announced the induction of Jonathan N. Sachs to its College of Fellows.
Johnson receives teaching award
The College of Science and Engineering Honors and Awards Committee recommended Matthew Johnson for the award, which recognizes outstanding contributions to teaching.
National Conference Highlights
Neuromodulation symposium held
Professor Tay Netoff played a key role in organizing and hosting the 11th annual Minnesota Neuromodulation Symposium, bringing together approximately 430 basic scientists, engineers, clinicians, industrial practitioners, and entrepreneurs.
UMN hosts organoid symposium
Professor and Head Brenda Ogle co-chaired the “Toward a Minnesota Organoid Center” Symposium and Workshop, which attracted more than 200 researchers and clinicians from the University of Minnesota and Mayo Clinic.