Biomedical Engineering Spring 2025 Update

Thank you, UMN BME: A Look Back and the Road Ahead

Dear BME community,

As I prepare to step down as Head of the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the end of June, I want to reflect on the past six years, thank you for the opportunity to work with you, and share my enthusiasm for our incoming department head.

When I began this role, we laid out ambitious goals through our 2019–24 strategic plan. Together, we’ve made incredible strides.

Research: We grew our three core areas of excellence—neuroengineering, cancer bioengineering, and cardiovascular engineering—that have since secured major federal funding, launched vital partnerships, and expanded our impact.

Faculty and staff: We welcomed eight outstanding faculty members from leading institutions such as MIT, Stanford, Columbia, Michigan, and Duke, strategically strengthening key areas and building a faculty community. We also recruited key staff roles in community engagement, finance, and lab coordination. Our department is now more collaborative and resilient than ever.

Research output: Our research expenditures increased by 83 percent, publications by 11.5 percent, and citations by 16 percent—clear signs of our expanding influence.

Education: We opened state-of-the-art teaching labs, improved curriculum integration, and launched new initiatives to support and prepare students. We also built summer high school and undergraduate research programs to expand pathways to our degree programs.

Visibility and infrastructure: We created new spaces to welcome, gather, and connect. While we haven’t built a new building (yet!), our true foundation—our people and work—continues to strengthen.

I’m thrilled to pass the baton to Professor Jonathan Sachs, whose vision, experience, and dedication will lead the department into an exciting new chapter.

Thank you for your trust and support, even through a pandemic! I’m deeply grateful for this community and look forward to cheering on the department's continued success.

Warm regards,

Brenda Ogle
Professor and Head
Department of Biomedical Engineering

Biomedical Engineering Spring 2025 Update

Research Highlights

$3.8 million grant for developing cell therapy to combat Alzheimer’s

BME professor, student receive PhRMA Foundation awards

Student and Postdoc Highlights

Neuroengineering strength, fellowships draw Ph.D. student

BME postdoc wins best new investigator poster presentation award

Melissa Walsh advances in three-minute thesis competition

Faculty and Staff Highlights

NSF ATP-Bio awarded bioengineering medal

Best practices for promoting teaching-focused BME faculty

Johnson inducted into 2025 class of AIMBE College of Fellows

Kyoko Yoshida honored with Award for Excellence in Academic Unit Service

Erin Flathmann receives CSE Outstanding Service Award

Alumni Highlight

BME alum receives international award for dissertation