News

Professor Mycek officially appointed as BME chair

September 22, 2023

Professor Mary-Ann Mycek has been appointed the William and Valerie Hall Department Chair of Biomedical Engineering (BME), effective September 1, 2023, through August 30, 2028. U-M Regents voted on September 21, 2023, to confirm her appointment.  Professor Mycek has served as interim chair of BME since July 1, 2021. As interim chair, she was responsible […]

AI tool helps optimize antibody medicines

September 11, 2023

Machine learning points out why antibodies fail to stay on target, binding to molecules that aren’t markers of disease—and suggests better designs. BY: DEREK SMITH Antibody treatments may be able to activate the immune system to fight diseases like Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and colorectal cancer, but they are less effective when they bind with themselves and other molecules that […]

Surgeon uses academic development time to collaborate with Biomedical Engineering

September 10, 2023

Drew Braet is a fourth-year resident in Vascular Surgery and is taking his two-year academic development time to work with C. Alberto Figueroa, the Edward B Diethrich M.D. Research Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Vascular Surgery, professor of surgery, Medical School and professor of biomedical engineering, Medical School and College of Engineering. Dr. Braet’s goal […]

Student Innovator Team ‘Enginuity’ Selected for Honorable Mention at the 2023 DEBUT Challenge

September 6, 2023

U-M’s student innovator team, Enginuity, was recently selected for an honorable mention at the 12th annual Design by Biomedical Undergraduate Teams (DEBUT) Challenge. Enginuity was selected for their innovation’s ability to create a positive impact by addressing health and clinical challenges. Millions of people in the U.S. have neurogenic bladder disorder. Treated through clean intermittent […]

U-M BME alum credits family, education as inspiration for decision to attend Medical School

August 31, 2023

Devak Nanua (BSE, MSE) entered the world at Michigan Medicine and credits the life-saving leukemia treatment his mother received there while pregnant with him as part of the foundation for his desire to pursue Medical School.  Nanua, whose parents emigrated from India, described the excitement with which his father and mother arrived in Ann Arbor […]

U-M BME Hosts Orientation to Welcome Grad Students

August 23, 2023

U-M BME held its annual graduate student orientation on Tuesday, August 22, to welcome Master’s and PhD students to the new academic year and provide an overview of their respective programs. One of the session’s goals was also to build a sense of community; more than 120 students attended.  “The best predictor of your success […]

BME alum blends her personal, professional passions to advocate for equity and accessibility in healthcare and medical devices

August 23, 2023

Nicole Bettè (BME BSE, 2016) is a Senior Human Factors Engineer whose personal experiences have informed and inspired her professional goals. In addition to her position with Kaleidoscope Innovation and Product Design, where she works as part of a team based at Eli Lilly in Indianapolis, Indiana, Bettè is Ms. Wheelchair New Hampshire USA 2023 […]

U-M BME-led study reveals the key role of anti-tumor neutrophils in suppressing lung metastasis of breast cancer

August 21, 2023

A U-M BME-led study published in Nature Communications on August 8 reveals the multifaceted roles of neutrophils in regulating lung metastasis in breast cancer and underscores the key role of neutrophils with anti-tumor phenotypes in suppressing breast cancer cell growth in the lungs.  This study was led by Dr. Lonnie Shea, the U-M BME Steven […]

Researchers share advances in vision research during BME Summer Workshops @ Michigan meeting

August 15, 2023

More than 65 researchers participated in the first BME Summer Workshops @ Michigan meeting on August 11-12. The Biomedical Engineering Department partnered with Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences to co-host the workshop on imaging and therapy in vision research, which featured 25 speakers highlighting their latest research. The small-group setting provided a forum for the exchange […]

BME launches new Advanced Medical Product Engineering and Development (AMPED) Master’s program in Fall 2023

August 15, 2023

U-M BME is excited to launch a new Master of Engineering (MEng) degree designed for those who want to make an impact in the medical technology industry. The Advanced Medical Product Engineering and Development (AMPED) program offers an experiential product realization practicum (design-build-test) with a focus on quality systems, risk management and regulatory structures. It […]

BME student wins first place in poster competition in computational biological systems

August 12, 2023

Congratulations to U-M BME PhD student Javiera Jilberto Vallejos, who received first place in the category of computational biological systems in a student poster competition, held in conjunction with the 17th U.S. National Conference of Computational Mechanics. The biennial congress, which happened in New Mexico in late July, is the premier U.S. venue for showcasing […]

Histotripsy researchers receive Distinguished University Innovator Award

August 9, 2023

Histotripsy, a term coined by University of Michigan researchers, is a technique that uses sound waves to break down diseased tissue. Designed as a noninvasive alternative to surgical procedures, the novel technology uses focused ultrasound to mechanically disrupt target tissue, as opposed to thermal ablation. The technology holds promise to permit patients with diseased tissue, […]

BME advisor hosts Code Maize podcast episode

August 8, 2023

This Code Maize episode, produced by Newnan Advising, features two current students at the University of Michigan Medical School. Piroz Bahar and BME alum Devak Nanua discuss their pathways to medicine, as well as the importance of creating bonds with faculty and fellow students as a meaningful part of defining success as an M1 student. […]

In Memoriam–Professor Raoul Kopelman

August 4, 2023

U-M BME is saddened to learn about the passing of Professor Raoul Kopelman. Professor Kopelman (1933 to 2023) passed away in Ann Arbor on July 20 at the age of 89. He was a jointly appointed professor of biomedical engineering from 2006 until 2014 and remained an active member of our faculty until his passing. […]

‘IMAGING AND THERAPY IN VISION RESEARCH 2023’ COMING THIS WEEK

August 2, 2023

The BME Summer Workshop @ Michigan, titled “Imaging and Therapy in Vision Research 2023,” is happening August 11-12, 2023, at the NCRC Building 10, South Atrium.  This event, which is co-hosted by U-M BME and Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, will provide a platform for discussing common research interests in diagnosis and treatment of pathologic conditions […]

New kind of superresolution explores cell division

July 20, 2023

A new way to see details smaller than half the wavelength of light has revealed how nanoscale scaffolding inside cells bridges to the macroscale during cell division. Unlike earlier superresolution techniques, the one developed and tested at the University of Michigan doesn’t rely on molecules that wear out with prolonged use.

BME Faculty, Research Staff Honored With 2023 EBS Awards

July 19, 2023

This Endowment for the Basic Sciences (EBS) award honors the advancement of research and teaching.

BME Student Receives 2023-2024 J. Robert Beyster Computational Innovation Graduate Fellowship

July 19, 2023

BME PhD student Lauren Madden to receive fellowship

BME Faculty Receive 2023 MICHR Distinguished Clinical and Translational Research Mentor Award

July 19, 2023

The Michigan Institute for Clinical & Health Research selects individuals who meet the highest standard for clinical and translational research mentorship.

Tracking radiation treatment in real time promises safer, more effective cancer therapy 

January 3, 2023

The ability to accurately detect where X-rays land and in what dose could reduce the collateral damage from radiation therapy.

Radiation, used to treat half of all cancer patients, can be measured during treatment for the first time with precise 3D imaging developed at the University of Michigan.

Century-old question on fluid in lungs answered

December 9, 2022

A “new physiological flow” modeled in the body could aid in treatment of lung infections and pulmonary edema.
Pulmonary edema, a buildup of fluid in the lungs that can be fatal, presents a 125-year-old medical puzzle—one that has now been solved by researchers at the University of Michigan and Arts et Métiers ParisTech. 

Shutting down backup genes leads to cancer remission, in mice

September 30, 2022

Cancer cells delete DNA when they go to the dark side, so a team of doctors and engineers targeted the “backup plans” running critical cell functions.

A view into what’s really happening during gene editing for Precision CRISPR

September 26, 2022

Gene editing is one of the hottest new techniques being explored by scientists and medical doctors alike, with the most typical applications including improved food production and treatment of serious diseases. Expected to reach a market size of  $18.5M by 2028, the most popular method relies on the technique known as CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats). 

U-M Weil Institute, College of Engineering & Michigan Medicine Awarded $5.7M Grant for Wearable Sensor that Detects Diseases through Body Odor

August 24, 2022

ANN ARBOR, MI – Researchers from the University of Michigan’s Max Harry Weil Institute for Critical Care Research and Innovation, College of Engineering and Michigan Medicine have received a $5.7 million grant from the NIH Screening for Conditions by Electronic Nose Technology (SCENT) program to develop a portable sensor that uses body odor to detect over 20 acute and chronic, inflammatory, metabolic, respiratory, cardiovascular and skin diseases in both adults and children.

Rackham Welcomes David Sept as Associate Dean

August 11, 2022

Rackham Graduate School welcomes David Sept as associate dean for academic programs and initiatives. As associate dean, he will be responsible for building and maintaining relationships with Rackham programs in engineering and the physical sciences.

Tumors partially destroyed with sound don’t come back, in rats

April 25, 2022

Non-invasive sound technology developed at the University of Michigan breaks down liver tumors in rats, kills cancer cells and spurs the immune system to prevent further spread—an advance that could lead to improved cancer outcomes in humans. By destroying only 50% to 75% percent of liver tumor volume, the rats’ immune systems were able to clear away the rest, with no evidence of recurrence or metastases in more than 80% of animals.

Recovery from muscle loss injuries hindered by immune cell conflicts

April 14, 2022

Studies in mice show how the two of the body’s natural injury responders conflict following traumatic muscle injuries.

Tissues often fail to regenerate from traumatic muscle-loss injuries such as gunshot wounds and car accidents, and new research in mice from the University of Michigan sheds light on why. The findings suggest new treatment strategies that could eventually restore function and prevent limb loss.

How well do boosters work? Depends on your genes

February 24, 2022

Computer modeling links a person’s genes to whether producing more antibodies will help them fight off the disease.

Genetics play an important role in how our bodies respond to vaccines and booster shots, suggesting that certain protective responses elicited by vaccination could be more effective with personalization, according to a new study led by University of Michigan researchers.

New $13.8M center at U-M will study infectious disease, pandemic preparedness

December 20, 2021

The multidisciplinary research team ​​will synergize efforts across the University.

As researchers around the world continue to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, most agree on one issue: If history is any indication, there’s another pandemic coming.

BME Led Team Receives 2021 Precision Heath Investigators Award

December 8, 2021

A team of researchers led by BME and EECS professor Zhongming Liu, PhD, and BME/fMRI Research Scientist, Scott Peltier, PhD, received one of seven Precision Health Investigators Awards for 2021 for their project titled, “Deep Learning for Prediction of Mild Cognitive Impairment and Dementia of the Alzheimer’s Type.” The awards— each of $200k over 2 years—support […]

Individual finger control for advanced prostheses demonstrated in primates

September 30, 2021

In a first, a computer that could fit on an implantable device has interpreted brain signals for precise, high-speed, multifinger movements in primates. This key step toward giving those who have lost limb function more natural, real-time control over advanced prostheses—or even their own hands—was achieved at the University of Michigan.

Predicting how well a vaccine will work for you

September 3, 2021

A conventional approach to HIV vaccination does not induce immune responses in everyone equally, and a new computer model shows why. by James Lynch, Michigan Engineering In an advance that sheds light on why certain vaccines may influence people differently, a new computational approach developed at the University of Michigan may predict how individual patients […]

Low levels of electrical current can block pain

August 27, 2021

A team from King’s College London, University of Michigan and Presidio Medical Inc., have published a study in Science Translational Medicine, demonstrating that low levels of electrical current can be used to inhibit pain signals in nerves from ever reaching the brain, resulting in a marked decrease in the levels of pain experienced by participants.

Wearable temperature sensor provides early warning for complications in cancer patients

August 16, 2021

The device, which takes measurements every two minutes, was able to detect infection and cytokine release syndrome events several hours sooner than routine monitoring. by Ian Demsky A simple, wearable temperature sensor was able to detect dangerous complications in hospitalized cancer patients hours earlier than routine monitoring, a team from the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer […]

Mary-Ann Mycek named next BME Chair

July 15, 2021

Mary-Ann Mycek has been named the new interim chair of the Department of Biomedical Engineering, effective July 1, 2021.

Mycek, who joined U-M’s BME faculty in 2003, will be the sixth chair of the department.

Carbon fiber brain-implant electrodes show promise in animal study

July 14, 2021

A tiny, implantable carbon fiber electrode developed at the University of Michigan and demonstrated in rats has the potential to provide a long-term brain-computer interface that can capture the scope and nuance of electrical signals over lengthy periods of time.

Blood test shows promise for predicting treatment response in metastatic HPV-positive throat cancer

June 24, 2021

A sensitive blood test being developed by a team of researchers at the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center shows promise for predicting whether patients with metastatic HPV-positive throat cancer will respond to treatment months earlier than standard imaging scans.

Ultrasound Technology Developed at U-M Now in Clinical Trials for Liver Cancer

June 7, 2021

The University of Michigan is one of eight sites around the country that will enroll patients in a clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a technology that uses ultrasound to treat liver tumors.

The #HOPE4LIVER trial will employ the noninvasive technique to mechanically destroy primary and metastatic liver tumors.

Incoming BME Assistant Professor Aaron Morris’ ‘TED Talk’ released

May 24, 2021

by Brandon Baier Aaron Morris, Ph.D., an incoming BME assistant professor and current research fellow in the Shea Lab, was selected as a 2020 TED fellow and will participate in a first-ever fellows takeover of TED.com starting on Monday, May 24, 2021. Morris’ talk, titled “The future diagnostic lab inside your body“, will be published […]

Immunotherapy: The Next Generation

March 8, 2021

BME recently hosted a virtual seminar for alumni and friends on February 23rd, 2021, presented by Professor Lonnie Shea, William and Valerie Hall Chair of Biomedical Engineering, and Dr. Jacqueline Jeruss, Associate Dean for Regulatory Affairs and professor on “Immunotherapy: The Next Generation.” The event was hosted by William Hall, Michigan Engineering Alumnus and Supporter, […]

New Non-Contact Technique Allows for Quantitative Characterization of Soft Biomaterials

February 18, 2021

Conventional rheology methods face limitations that can now be bypassed through the application of Resonant Acoustic Rheometry (RAR,) a new ultrasound-based technique that is helpful in identifying properties of soft biomaterials, such as hydrogels. Hydrogels are commonly used as a model of the extracellular matrix and help to recapitulate the structure and function of a […]

Method of Immunomodulation at Biomaterial Scaffolds Can Help Detect Early Pancreatic Cancer

February 16, 2021

Individuals with pancreatic cancer face a worse disease prognosis than those diagnosed with other forms of cancer, as stage IV pancreatic cancer has a five year survival rate of 1 percent. The survival rate of localized pancreatic cancer is around 33%, while many other cancers have a rate exceeding 90%. This is largely a result […]

Open BME Seminar Series

February 1, 2021

We are thrilled to announce that The University of Michigan will be a part of the Open BME Seminar Series this Winter and Spring. This virtual series is being coordinated by seven of the leading BME departments across the country. The goal is to expose our graduate students to cutting edge ideas in the field of biomedical […]

How to end discrimination in health research funding

January 27, 2021

by Kate McAlpine | Michigan Engineering Network of U.S. biomedical engineering researchers calls to end funding disparities between Black and white scientists. White researchers are nearly twice as likely to be awarded a grant than Black scientists of similar academic achievement, studies of National Institutes of Health funding programs show—and a group of 19 biomedical engineering […]

Research Team Awarded $2M NIH Grant for Breath Analyzer that Detects and Monitors COVID-19, COVID-19 Induced Lung Injury

January 26, 2021

Across the United States, there has been a marked increase in COVID-19 cases as many states tentatively reopen. This has resulted in a critical need for screening, diagnosing, and monitoring technologies that can process results quickly and can be used in both clinical and everyday settings.  In December of 2020, a research team led by […]

Treating autoimmune disorders with an inhaler, rather than an IV

December 7, 2020

Research in mice shows efficacy for multiple sclerosis. Nanoparticles continue to find wider use in medical treatments in everything from drug delivery to diagnosing disease. In nearly every case, these ultrafine particles are delivered to patients via injection or through an IV. Biomedical engineers at the University of Michigan are exploring how nanoparticles that are […]

Undergrads awarded by NASA, European Space Agency for project predicting COVID hotspots

November 11, 2020

The team earned the Best Use of Science award at the NASA Space Apps COVID-19 Challenge for their machine learning model that can predict hotspots for COVID outbreaks Five undergrad students majoring in computer science and biomedical engineering were recognized at a global 48-hour hackathon hosted by NASA to tackle the many challenges surrounding the […]

Researchers Argue for a More Systematic Use of Mathematical Models To Study Neurotechnologies

November 10, 2020

Study calls into question rush to use brain stimulation technology to treat Parkinson’s and pain disorders. Electrical stimulation or neurostimulation technologies work for treating a wide range of neurological disorders, like chronic pain and Parkinson’s disease. In these technologies, electrical pulses are delivered from electrodes placed inside the brain or outside the skin to generate […]

Lab-on-a-chip offers faster means of identifying best plasma donors in COVID fight

October 1, 2020

University of Michigan collaboration with Hackensack Meridian CDI offers new pathway to identify antibodies. A new, portable lab-on-a-chip used by University of Michigan researchers can identify the presence of COVID-19 antibodies in blood with greater speed and efficiency than the current standard “enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay” or ELISA technology. With assistance from U-M startup Optofluidic Bioassay and Hackensack Meridian […]

New treatments for deadly lung disease could be revealed by 3D modeling

September 11, 2020

Traditional 2D research may rule out better treatment options. A 3D bioengineered model of lung tissue built by University of Michigan researchers is poking holes in decades worth of flat, Petri dish observations into how the deadly disease pulmonary fibrosis progresses.  The causes of pulmonary fibrosis are not fully understood, but the condition is marked […]