AIMBE
Fellowbook News
AIMBE Fellowbook collects news stories highlighting the members of the AIMBE College of Fellows. Read the latest stories, jump to the College Directory, or search below to find the newest research, awards, announcements and more for the leaders of the medical and biological engineering community.
Ultrafast Pulses Coherently Control Function in a Living Cell
Stephen A. Boppart | Via Photonics Media | November 17, 2017Researchers have used light to excite a light-sensitive channel in the membrane of optogenetic mouse neurons. When the channels were excited, they allowed ions through, which caused the neurons to fire. The researchers say the same technique could be used on cells that are naturally responsive to light, such as retina cells. Previous research has […]
Molly Shoichet named Ontario’s first Chief Scientist
Molly Shoichet | Via University of Toronto | November 17, 2017University Professor Molly Shoichet (ChemE, IBBME) has been appointed Ontario’s Chief Scientist. “[Shoichet] is one of the top biomedical scientists in the country, with in-depth knowledge of Ontario’s research community,” said Reza Moridi, Ontario’s Minister of Research, Innovation and Science. “As Chief Scientist, she will help us continue a proud tradition of science and research […]
Shining a light on the nervous system to thwart disease
E. Duco Jansen | Via Vanderbilt University | November 16, 2017Vanderbilt University researchers are teaming with peers from two other universities to develop ways to fight disease with light with the promise of minimally invasive, drug-free treatments for cardiac arrhythmia, high blood pressure, asthma, sleep apnea, diarrhea and other diseases. They’re testing infrared neuromodulation, which targets specific areas of the nervous system and even single […]
Rebuilding spinal cords with an engineer’s toolkit
Treena Arinzeh | Via Medical Xpress | November 16, 2017Like an earthquake that ruptures a road, traumatic spinal cord injuries render the body’s neural highway impassable. To date, there are neither workable repairs nor detours that will restore signal flow between the brain and limbs, reversing paralysis. “The problem with spinal cord injuries is that nerve cells do not regenerate,” explains Treena Arinzeh, director […]
Torque, a Flagship Pioneering Company, Launches Platform to Develop a New Class of Deep-Primed Immune Cell Therapies, Financed with $25M Series A and Led by a Veteran Management Team
Darrell Irvine | Via PR News Wire | November 14, 2017Torque, an immuno-oncology company developing Deep Primed™ cell therapies that direct and evoke immune responses in the tumor microenvironment, today announced the launch of its technology platform to create a new class of immune cell therapeutics to treat cancer, financed with $25 million in Series A capital by Flagship Pioneering. The Torque platform makes it […]
How to build better silk
Markus Buehler | Via MIT | November 9, 2017When it comes to concocting the complex mix of molecules that makes up fibers of natural silk, nature beats human engineering hands down. Despite efforts to synthesize the material, artificial varieties still cannot match the natural fiber’s strength. But by starting with silk produced by silkworms, breaking it down chemically, and then reassembling it, engineers […]
Remarkable U of T Engineering alumni honoured
Tom Chau | Via University of Toronto | November 9, 2017Tom Chau (IBBME) – 2017 2T5 Mid-Career Achievement Award recipient Ten exemplary members of U of T Engineering’s alumni community were recognized on Thursday, Nov. 2 at the Engineering Alumni Network (EAN) Awards. The ceremony, held annually at the Great Hall at Hart House, celebrates alumni for their outstanding contributions to the Skule™ community as […]
Texas A&M Engineering, Health Science Center to lead groundbreaking EnHealth Initiative
Roderic Pettigrew | Via Texas A&M | November 8, 2017Dr. Roderic I. Pettigrew, a physician-scientist and internationally recognized leader in biomedical imaging and bioengineering, will join Texas A&M University to lead Engineering Health (EnHealth), the nation’s first comprehensive educational program to fully integrate engineering into all health-related disciplines. EnHealth will be an innovative, multicollege engineering health initiative based in Houston, Texas, designed to educate […]
Nanoparticles can limit inflammation by distracting the immune system
Lola Eniola-Adefeso | Via Phys.org | November 8, 2017A surprise finding suggests that an injection of nanoparticles may be able to help fight the immune system when it goes haywire, researchers at the University of Michigan have shown. The nanoparticles divert immune cells that cause inflammation away from an injury site. Inflammation is a double-edged sword. When it works, it helps the body […]
Using Advanced MRI to Detect and Accurately Target Disease
Daniel Vigneron | Via UC San Francisco | November 7, 2017Daniel B. Vigneron, PhD, wears a lot of hats: professor of radiology and biomedical imaging, professor of bioengineering and therapeutic sciences, director of the Advanced Imaging Technologies Specialized Resource Group, director of the Hyperpolarized MRI Technology Resource Center, associate director of the Surbeck Laboratory for Advanced Imaging. But all of these roles have something in […]
Fighting a giant foe at a tiny scale
Paula Hammond | Via MIT | November 7, 2017Paula Hammond’s research focuses on using nanoscale biomaterials to attack cancer, which she calls “a supervillain with incredible superpowers.” Using targeted nanoparticles, she is attempting to turn off the natural defenses of mutant genes and deliver a deadly punch to the cancer cell. Her work will soon be translated into clinical practice through partnerships with […]
Stanford creates gel for neural stem cell regeneration: 6 things to know
Sarah Heilshorn | Via Becker's Healthcare | November 6, 2017Sarah Heilshorn, PhD, a Stanford (Calif.) University associate professor of materials science and engineering, authored a paper in Nature Materials about growing and preserving neural stem cells, according to Stanford News. Here are six things to know: 1. The task of growing neural stem cells so they can mature in various cell types proves challenging. […]
Dr. George Christ | Growing Organs, Limbs and More
George Christ | Via WINA News Radio | November 6, 2017UVA’s George Christ, PhD, professor of biomedical engineering and orthopedic surgery, talks with Les Sinclair about the Advanced Biomanufacturing Symposium. It’s hosted by The University of Virginia’s Center for Advanced Biomanufacturing will bring together experts from academia, private industry and the government to share their expertise and help chart the future of this tremendously important […]
3D Mammograms and Breath Test Represent Advances in Breast Cancer Detection Technology
Etta Pisano | Via AJMC | November 5, 2017Doctors and researchers around the world are looking to improve the prevention, detection, and treatment of breast cancer. In recent years, the advancements in technology, specifically in detection methods, have demonstrated significant improvement in how early patients are diagnosed and treated. Mammograms are the most common and well-known breast cancer detection method; however, they are […]
Williams Named 2017 Inventor of the Year
Robert Williams | Via The University of Texas at Austin | November 3, 2017Robert O. (Bill) Williams III, Ph.D., professor and head of The University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy’s Division of Molecular Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery, was named the 2017 Inventor of the Year by the university’s Office of Technology Commercialization. The prestigious award honors a researcher whose discoveries have made a significant impact in […]
Guillermo Ameer Elected Fellow of AIChE
Guillermo Ameer | Via Northwestern University | November 2, 2017Northwestern Engineering’s Guillermo Ameer has been elected as a fellow of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), the world’s leading organization for chemical engineering professionals. An expert in biomaterials and regenerative engineering, Ameer was recognized for his valuable contributions to the field. He officially received the award on October 31 at the AIChE Fellows […]
Advances in Microphysiological Systems
John Wikswo | Via PR News Wire | October 30, 2017The latest issues of Experimental Biology and Medicine (Volume 242, Issues 16 and 17, October and November, 2017) highlight recent advances in microphysiological systems (MPS). The issues were guest edited by Dr. John P. Wikswo, founding Director of the Vanderbilt Institute for Integrative Biosystems Research and Education in Nashville, TN, and contain 15 articles by scientists and engineers from […]
Portable Microscope Makes Field Diagnosis Possible
Bahram Javidi | Via University of Connecticut | October 30, 2017A portable holographic field microscope developed by UConn optical engineers could provide medical professionals with a fast and reliable new tool for the identification of diseased cells and other biological specimens. The device, featured in a recent paper published by Applied Optics, uses the latest in digital camera sensor technology, advanced optical engineering, computational algorithms, […]
Making an impact with STEM
Gilda Barabino | Via SciTech Now | October 30, 2017Biomedical Engineer, Gilda Barabino talks about diversity in STEM Fields. As a Biomedical Engineer, Gilda Barabino utilizes engineering principals to find solutions to health problems. Outside of the lab, she continues to make an impact in her community as an advocate for diversity in science and engineering.