Connecting with Clinicians
Our researchers work closely with clinicians and researchers in the , giving them inside knowledge into the needs to patients and medical professionals.
Research Areas
Research in the department covers a broad spectrum, ranging in scale from molecular to whole body dynamics, and encompassing a wide variety of physiological systems and experimental approaches. Because of the interdisciplinary nature of biomedical engineering and the close proximity of the medical center and other labs and facilities, faculty and students have countless opportunities for collaboration.
Biomechanics
Biomechanics is the study of how the body moves and how various parts function together, from the molecular level in our cells to larger systems like muscles, bones, and organs.
Biomedical Acoustics
Biomedical acoustics is the study of how the properties of sound affect the human body. Biomedical engineers leverage acoustical properties in many ways to develop new technologies and improve medical care, ranging from advanced ultrasound techniques to new forms of hearing aids.
Biomedical Nanotechnology
Nanotechnology is developed by manipulating matter at 1 to 100 nanometers in size—bigger than what scientists normally consider molecules but smaller than bulk materials. As a result of their size, these nanomaterials have unique properties with a broad range of applications in medicine and basic biological research.
Biomedical Optics
Biomedical optics uses the physical properties of light to design and apply advanced techniques to solve pressing problems in medicine and biology.
Cell and Tissue Engineering
Cell and tissue engineering seeks to understand and control the behavior of cells and tissues, focusing on how environmental factors—such as chemical and physical influences—affect cell growth, differentiation, and behavior.
Medical Imaging
Medical imaging uses advanced technologies like X-rays, ultrasound, computerized tomography (CT) scans, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to look inside the human body. These tools help doctors and technicians diagnose, monitor, and treat illnesses or injuries.
Neuroengineering
Neuroengineering combines the principles of engineering and neuroscience to develop new technologies to enhance function and treat neurological diseases that affect the brain and nervous systems.
From Research to Industry
For decades, the ÌìÃÀÊÓƵ has successfully supported faculty and students looking to take the research they’ve developed into the real world, either through industry partnerships or the creation of their own companies.
University organizations that help support this transition include the:
- : provides resources and funding for students looking to start their own companies
- : supports the translation of multidisciplinary applied research to product development to improve patient care
- : plays a central role in bringing ideas from the lab to the market
A few start-up companies biomedical engineering primary or secondary faculty members helped to launch include SiMPore Inc., Phlotonics, and VirtualScopics.
SiMPore Inc.
was founded by biomedical engineering faculty members James McGrath and Philippe Fauchet, PhD student Tom Gaborski, and other colleagues when they recognized the opportunities for a development of a novel membrane filter. This technology offers unparalleled precision in separation and purification with applications ranging from drug development to nanotechnology.
Phlotonics
was founded by biomedical engineering faculty member and biophysics alumni Daniel Steiner ’21 PhD and Mickey Bryan ’21 PhD. The company integrates photonic sensors with microphysiological systems for research and drug development.
Born from the COVID-19 pandemic, the technology was developed by a consortium of academic and industrial collaborators to combat the virus by rapidly screening immune response to viral infection to further our understanding of vaccine efficacy.
VirtualScopics
was founded in 1999 by BME faculty members Saara Totterman, and Kevin Parker, along with José Tamez, and Edward Ashton. Their technology enables faster and more reliable detection of disease progression or therapeutic benefit, and accelerates the clinical trial process.
VirtualScopics utilizes its patented suite of image analysis algorithms to detect, measure, and analyze specific biological structures from CT, MRI, PET, and ultrasound data. In 2016, VirtualScopics was sold to the 16,000-employee company BioTelemetry, and was acquired twice more before becoming part of ICON PLC, which currently employs 44,000 people.