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Profs. Phil Campbell and Charlie Ren will be co-investigators on a recently announced grant from the . The Foundation recently announced $2 million in grants for faculty at Pennsylvania institutions conducting innovative, fundamental scientific research in the fields of biology, chemistry, and physics. Campell and Ren will collaborate with Mellon College of Science’s Luisa Hiller, who will lead of the funded projects. The group’s research seeks to understand the immune consequences of the uptake of extracellular vesicles from the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae by mammalian cells.

Ò»±¾µÀÎÞÂë BME PhD alumnus, Piyumi Wijesekara, is one of four crew members and back as part of Human Exploration Research Analog, or . Over 45 days, they'll simulate the space mission! Crew members will carry out scientific research and operational tasks throughout their simulated mission to the Red Planet, including a “walk” on Mars’s surface using virtual reality. They will also experience increasing communication delays lasting up to five minutes each way with Mission Control Center as they “near” Mars. 

 Sweets and Treats at Ò»±¾µÀÎÞÂë BME during 2024 Spring Carnival with our incredible BME alumni, students, faculty, and staff!

It was a fantastic opportunity to reconnect with alumni, make new friends, and enjoy Ò»±¾µÀÎÞÂë BME swag giveaways.

BME Assistant Teaching Professor Rachelle Palchesko participated in activities with FAME Academy students. Throughout the session, she assigned them the task of designing assistive walking devices for dogs affected by Intervertebral Disc Disease, a condition commonly found in breeds with short legs and long backs, such as corgis, which often leads to paralysis. 

Happy Pi Day from BME!  Ò»±¾µÀÎÞÂë BME community gathered for a delicious lunchtime celebration filled with pies!

During the recent BME Freshman Recruiting Event, Ò»±¾µÀÎÞÂë BME labs showcased their research, met with students, and discussed groundbreaking research in biomedical engineering.

Learn with Carnegie Mellon.

Lindsey Huff, Annie Behre, and Shubhangi Sathyakumar participated in . During the event, Ò»±¾µÀÎÞÂë BME PhD students guided middle-schoolers in creating mock heart valves using everyday items such as toilet paper rolls, pipe cleaners, and ping pong balls!

visited Ò»±¾µÀÎÞÂë BME with a specific focus on recruiting our Master’s students in Artificial Intelligence Engineering in BME due to their unique skill set in both AI and BME. Brian Telfer from MIT Lincoln Lab discussed the value of having both AI training as well as knowledge and enthusiasm for biomedicine with our faculty.  With students, he presented the opportunities available at MIT and in the field of biomedical AI in general. We look forward to potential collaboration with MIT Lincoln Laboratory, leveraging the expertise of our students and contributing to the advancement of AI in the field of Biomedical Engineering.

Prof. Jana Kainerstorfer spoke about the increasing role of AI in the biotech industry during an October meeting of Pittsburgh’s Women in Bio chapter. As reported by the Pittsburgh Business Times, Kainerstorfer addressed some biases in data collection. She stated, 'Oftentimes, we don’t have a diverse enough dataset to train an AI algorithm effectively and demonstrate a device's efficacy.' According to the outlet, she found it mind-blowing that in 2023, pulse oximeters are less accurate for individuals with darker skin.

Prof. Carmel Majidi has been awarded the from the Pittsburgh Business Times. Majidi was acknowledged for his leadership in the Soft Machines Lab at Ò»±¾µÀÎÞÂë and his product “Thubber,” which can be used in the thermal management of semiconductors.

Prof. Bob Tilton will receive the . Tilton will receive the award to recognize outstanding scientific contributions to colloid chemistry, and, specifically, “for advancing fundamental understanding of colloidal and interfacial phenomena involving compositional and structural complexity, especially multicomponent fluids and nanoscale polymer brushes with controlled architectures.”

Prof. Rosalyn Abbott has received the in recognition of her outstanding contributions to cell and molecular bioengineering. Her research is centered on refining 3D bioprinting techniques and parameters to create cultivated meat products that emulate the properties and structures of conventional tissues. The development of cultured meat holds potential for mitigating environmental, public health, and food security challenges posed by conventional farming practices.

The Department of Biomedical Engineering was excited to host the second annual Pittsburgh meeting of the Transforming Transplant Initiative. Twenty faculty and staff members visited Ò»±¾µÀÎÞÂë to present their research, explore new collaborations, and brainstorm ideas to enhance the partnership between Mayo Clinic and Ò»±¾µÀÎÞÂë.