Bruce J. Tromberg, Ph.D.

UC Irvine biomedical engineering Professor Emeritus Bruce Tromberg has been elected to the National Academy of Engineering, one of the highest professional distinctions accorded to an engineer. Tromberg, director of the NIH National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, was recognized for “U.S. diagnostics innovation initiatives, resulting in advanced SARS-CoV-2 testing capacity and performance.” Tromberg helped launch the Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics (RADx®) initiative that created a fast review process to enable widely accessible COVID-19 testing.

A founding member of UCI’s Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tromberg has been on the UCI faculty since 1990. He served as director of the Beckman Laser Institute and Medical Clinic for more than 15 years… Continue reading.

A new at-home testing and treatment program for COVID-19 is on its way to selected communities.

The program, called the Home Test to Treat program, is being launched by the National Institutes of Health, in collaboration with the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). It will provide free COVID-19 health services, including at-home rapid tests, telehealth sessions and at-home treatments. The program was first introduced in September 2022 by the White House and aims to make antiviral treatment available for eligible individuals who receive a positive test result to help prevent severe illness, hospitalization or death.

The program launch comes as the United States is grappling with a “tripledemic,” with rising cases of COVID-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). There are currently more than 470,000 new weekly cases of COVID-19 in the United States, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention… Continue reading.

Engineering and physical science play an essential role in the development of new tools and technologies that drive biomedical discoveries and save lives. The election of NIBIB director Bruce J. Tromberg, Ph.D., on Oct. 17, 2022, to the National Academy of Medicine (NAM), underscores this deep connection. His work includes pioneering research contributions to the technical fields of biophotonics and biomedical optics, as well as extensive leadership in the biomedical engineering and imaging communities.

“I am honored and delighted to be named to the 2022 class of National Academy of Medicine members,” Tromberg said. “I’ve been fortunate to work with so many generous and talented colleagues, both as a professor at the University of California, Irvine for nearly 30 years, and Director of the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering at the National Institutes of Health since 2019. It is a constant source of inspiration and pride for me to be part of a community that develops cutting-edge technologies to improve the lives of patients… Continue reading.

National Institutes of Health Director Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D., has selected Bruce J. Tromberg, Ph.D., as director of the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB). A pioneering leader in the field of biophotonics, Dr. Tromberg is currently a professor at the University of California at Irvine (UCI), with dual appointments in the Departments of Biomedical Engineering and Surgery. He is also director of UCI’s Beckman Laser Institute and Medical Clinic, an interdisciplinary research, teaching and clinical center for optics and photonics in biology and medicine. He is expected to join NIH in the new year.

“Bruce brings substantial experience in biophotonics, and demonstrated his commitment to state-of-the-art imaging and bioengineering technologies through his research and leadership on numerous advisory committees, including the NIBIB National Advisory Council,” said Dr. Collins. “We look forward to having him join the NIH to guide NIBIB in the development and testing of biotechnologies to advance human health.”

In his new role, Dr. Tromberg will oversee NIBIB’s annual budget of approximately $378 million. While a portion of the research budget is allocated to laboratories at NIH, the majority supports a portfolio of more than 800 active grants awarded to universities around the nation and internationally… Continue reading.