Biomedical Engineering Fall 2020 Update

Advancing healthcare in our global society

Brenda Ogle

Dear BME friends,

I had the good fortune of participating in a virtual lunch and learn with more than 150 of our treasured alumni in August. As everyone chimed in on the chat, one could see the national and international representation tuning in and appreciate the length of our reach as a department!

That tradition continues as we welcomed 18 new Ph.D. students this fall representing 11 states and four countries as well as 430 undergrads representing 19 states and 12 countries. Disparate life experiences are coming together to train in the latest technological advances, generate new paradigms, and advance healthcare for our global society.

In this issue of our newsletter, I share many of these new advances from our students and faculty including a:

  • Clinical trial for using ultrasound to reduce inflammation associated with COVID,
  • $26 million NSF-funded Engineering Resource Center, which will develop protocols to preserve tissues and organs, and
  • 3D bioprinted human muscle pump.

With exciting new technologies comes an opportunity to consider their utilization and impact on significant health care disparities in our field. On the heels of a recent University of Minnesota study featured in the Star Tribune, our partners in the Medical School are championing a large effort to standardize and improve the collection and accuracy of patient sociodemographic data to ultimately inform improvement efforts focused on health outcomes across patient populations.

We will track these and other outcomes across the world to consider how our technologies can positively impact all global citizens.

Take care and be well,

Brenda Ogle
Professor and Head
Department of Biomedical Engineering

University of Minnesota sign

Professor John Bischof and collaborators receive $26M for new NSF center

The National Science Foundation awarded the University of Minnesota and Massachusetts General Hospital $26 million to create a new engineering research center for developing and deploying breakthrough bioengineering technology.

Faculty Spotlight

Rendering of Hubert Lim's hearing device

Hubert Lim advances new wearable technologies

Associate Professor Hubert Lim’s lab develops better devices to treat health disorders ranging from hearing loss to arthritis. For example, a recent clinical trial is using noninvasive ultrasound stimulation to treat rheumatoid arthritis and, more recently, severe symptoms of COVID-19 associated with the “cytokine storm.”

Student News

Dominic Marticorena

Student spotlight: Q&A with Dominic Marticorena

BME senior Dominic Marticorena shares his experiences creating a student group called Charosa Research Group that gives undergrads the opportunity to pursue projects they’re passionate about.

CIC fellows Taylor Berger, Michael Bielecki, Maggie Chiu, and Huzefa Husain

Creating Inclusive Cohorts (CIC) fellows chosen

The department received a Creating Inclusive Cohorts (CIC) Training grant to provide fellowships to students from underrepresented communities. The fellowship program will support four incoming students: Taylor Berger, Michael Bielecki, Maggie Chiu, and Huzefa Husain.
 

NIH T32 trainees Sam Boland, Angelica DaSilva, Carly Donahue, Molly Kaissar, Casey Kraft, and Matt Lawler.

NIH T32 cardiovascular engineering trainees selected

To meet the increasing demand for cardiovascular disease solutions, our cardiovascular engineering program educates and trains select Ph.D. students. Trainees include Sam Boland, Angelica DaSilva, Carly Donahue, Molly Kaissar, Casey Kraft, and Matt Lawler.

NSF Graduate Research Fellow Efrain Torres

Torres receives NSF Graduate Research Fellowship

Efraín Torres has earned the prestigious NSF graduate research fellowship, and will be mentored by Michael Garwood.

Minneapolis Biotech Industry: Andrew Baldys (Boston Scientific), Tessa Burrows (3M), Amanda DeVos (Medtronic), Zach Haigh (Boston Scientific), Tobey Haluptzok (Abbott), Brian Lim (Abbott), Noah Nathan Kochen (Abbott), Leo Sutter (Abbott), and Zhihe Zhao (Medtronic).

Minneapolis Biotech Industry fellows announced

Thanks to a long-standing partnership between our local companies and the Department of Biomedical Engineering, this year’s industrial fellows include Andrew Baldys (Boston Scientific), Tessa Burrows (3M), Amanda DeVos (Medtronic), Zach Haigh (Boston Scientific), Tobey Haluptzok (Abbott), Brian Lim (Abbott), Noah Nathan Kochen (Abbott), Leo Sutter (Abbott), and Zhihe Zhao (Medtronic).

Alumni Spotlight

Illustration of healthcare workers

Recent BME alumnus honors the heroes of COVID-19

Alumnus Anant Naik (‘19) saw the need to honor the brave individuals fighting COVID-19 despite personal risk. So, he wrote and illustrated a book to inspire children and raise money for charity.

3D printed heart pump

Faculty and students 3D print a heart pump with real cells

In a groundbreaking new study, University researchers have 3D printed a functioning centimeter-scale human heart pump in the lab with real human cells. This will allow researchers to introduce disease and damage into the model and then study the effects of therapeutics.

Claire Kaiser

Ph.D. student helps design wearable arthritis device and create start-up

Claire Kaiser knew she wanted to work at a medical device company, but never imagined she’d have the opportunity to help form one as a second-year biomedical engineering Ph.D. student.

BlueCube Bio mCube product in a box

Biopreservation company with BME ties wins high-profile startup competition

The all-female founding team created the first-ever safe, non-toxic means for preserving therapeutic cells by mimicking the way trees survive Minnesota winters.