News & Stories
Explore the latest news, stories, and groundbreaking research happening at the Institute of Biomedical Engineering. Stay updated on innovative projects, impactful discoveries, and the achievements of our talented students, faculty, and alumni shaping the future of biomedical science and engineering.
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Rebuilding the injured brain | Cindi Morshead Lab
The human brain has only a limited ability to repair itself after injury, but scientists are working to change that. In Professor Cindi Morshead’s lab, researchers study neural stem cells: the rare cells capable of generating new neurons and support cells in the brain. Her team investigates how these stem cells grow, migrate, and specialize, and how they can be guided to help repair damage caused by stroke, spinal cord injury, and childhood brain injuries.
Advancing musculoskeletal research at the Holland Bone and Joint Research Program
The Holland Bone and Joint Research Program at Sunnybrook Research Institute continues to drive progress in musculoskeletal science through collaborative, translational research. Drs. Cari Whyne and Michael Hardisty are contributing to meaningful advancements in patient care.
Quagga mussel protein offers new source of inspiration for medical-grade adhesives that work in wet conditions
Researchers at the University of Toronto have identified a protein from the quagga mussel that can stick to surfaces underwater, even though it lacks a chemical feature long thought to be essential for this kind of adhesion. The protein, called Dbfp7, is the first freshwater mussel adhesive protein to be functionally characterized.
Mining the dark transcriptome: U of T Engineering researchers create the first potential drug molecules from long noncoding RNA
A team from U of T Engineering is the first to synthesize long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) outside the cell — a new approach to drug discovery that has already yielded some promising anti-inflammatory molecules.
How I balance engineering & varsity sports | Sara White | Student Spotlight
Sarah is a 5th‑year Engineering Science student majoring in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Toronto, where she also competes on the Varsity Cross Country and Track & Field teams. A USports Academic All‑Canadian and recipient of both the OUA and USports Cross Country Community Service Awards, she is recognized for her excellence in athletics, academics, and community impact. She is completing her senior thesis in Professor Leo Chou’s lab, developing chemical strategies to attach antigens to DNA-based nanostructures to enhance their stability and immunogenicity, contributing to the advancement of next‑generation DNA-based immunotherapies.
Improving mobility after spinal cord injury | Kei Masani Lab
In the Motion and Adaptation Science Laboratory at the University of Toronto, Professor Kei Masani and his team study new ways to improve balance and movement for people with neurological impairments. By combining functional electrical stimulation with real-time visual feedback and motion tracking tools such as depth cameras, the lab is developing better ways to assess and support standing, walking, and adapted exercise.
PhD Researcher Samantha Unger Helps Drive Cross-Border Health Innovation
As part of a cross-sector collaboration between U of T Engineering, the Reach Alliance, and Mexico-based GSE Biomedical, BME PhD student Samantha Unger contributes to a social impact market analysis aimed at improving access to self-sampling diagnostic devices across regions with limited health infrastructure. Her work helps bridge research and practical implementation, an essential step in closing critical care gaps.
PhD student Karim Mithani awarded University of Toronto Alumni Association graduate scholarship for research on impulsivity disorders
Karim Mithani, a PhD student at the University of Toronto Institute of Biomedical Engineering, has received a graduate scholarship from the University of Toronto Alumni Association (UTAA) in recognition of his research on the neural basis of impulsive behaviour and the development of new neuromodulation therapies.
MRI technique enables long-term tracking of transplanted stem cell–derived heart cells
Dr. Keyu Zhuang (left, currently a Specially Appointed Research Fellow at Clinical Cardiovascular Research Institute at Shanghai University School of Medicine ) and Professor Hai-Ling Margaret Cheng (right) at the Institute of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Toronto have developed an MRI method to track transplanted stem-cell-derived heart cells over time, enabling scientists to monitor their survival and improve therapies for heart damage such as that caused by heart attacks (Photo: KITE Studio, Tim Fraser).
Graduate Research Day 2026
We were delighted to host more than 20 prospective students at our annual Graduate Research Day on Friday, February 20th at Hart House.
Advancing pediatric rehabilitation through technology | Elaine Biddiss Lab
Discover how the Possibility Engineering and Research Lab (PEARL), led by Professor Elaine Biddiss, is advancing pediatric rehabilitation through innovative, evidence-based technologies. Leveraging gamified therapy systems like Bootle Blast to interactive platforms such as ScreenPlay and Bootle Band, PEARL’s interdisciplinary team develops tools that make rehabilitation more engaging, accessible, and personalized for children and youth with disabilities.
2025-2026 BME Magazine Cover Explainer
The Last Breath (2025), a digital artwork created in Adobe Fresco by biomedical engineering Master of Engineering student Dinuri Punchihewa, was selected as the cover image for this year’s annual Biomedical Engineering magazine.
Multiple BME faculty secure CIHR project grant funding in fall 2025 competition
Several core faculty members from the Institute of Biomedical Engineering (BME) have received Project Grant funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) in the Fall 2025 competition. These awards support research across all areas of health, from early‑stage discovery to clinical application.
Engineering RNA nanotechnology for better health | Omar F. Khan Lab
How do you control disease at the genetic level without changing DNA? In this research highlight, discover how Professor Omar Khan and his team at the University of Toronto are building nanotechnologies that deliver RNA directly to cells to control gene expression with precision.
Meet the BESA 2025-2026 Team
The Biomedical Engineering Students’ Association (BESA) is led by a passionate and diverse group of students committed to building community, advocating for student interests, and creating meaningful academic, professional, and social opportunities. We are excited to introduce the BESA 2025-2026 team.
Meet Dr. Lindsey Fiddes: Building hands‑on skills in biomedical engineering
Meet Dr. Lindsey Fiddes, who joined the Institute of Biomedical Engineering in January 2026 as an Assistant Professor (Teaching Stream). She brings over a decade of expertise in microfabrication, microfluidics, microscopy, and training highly qualified personnel at the University of Toronto. Dr. Fiddes develops hands‑on, research‑focused curricula that build strong practical lab skills, and her pedagogical research explores data integrity and biases in bioimaging.
Designing smarter drug delivery for precision medicine | Caitlin Maikawa Lab
In this research highlight, discover how Professor Caitlin Maikawa and her team are engineering dynamic polymer materials that adapt to biological changes, enabling more precise, responsive drug delivery.
Researchers highlight “regenerative healing” as a holistic framework for future health innovations
A new paper by Professors Michael V. Sefton (University of Toronto) and Malcolm King and Alexandra King (University of Saskatchewan) introduces the term “regenerative healing” as a complementary, more holistic concept to regenerative medicine. The authors suggest the framework may better reflect Indigenous perspectives on health and wellness and support more inclusive conversations about emerging biomedical therapies.
Inaugural BESA 3-Minute Thesis Competition Highlights Research Excellence and Communication
The Biomedical Engineering Students Association (BESA) proudly hosted its inaugural 3-Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition, celebrating graduate research excellence and the ability to communicate complex scientific ideas to a broad audience. The competition was held over two stages, with the semi-final round taking place on November 14, 2025, followed by the final round on November 28, 2025, bringing together graduate students from across the Department of Biomedical Engineering.
U of T researchers show that fractal geometry can help kidney cells grow in a more mature form
Researchers at the Institute of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Toronto have developed a new way to grow specialized kidney cells in the lab so that they look and behave more like they do in the body.
Imaging, Microfluidics, and Diabetes Studies | Jonathan Rocheleau Lab
Discover how the Rocheleau lab investigates communication between pancreatic islets, beta cells, and vascular endothelial cells, and how these interactions are altered in Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Research approaches include two-photon and confocal microscopy, microfluidics, and live-cell fluorescence imaging to study islet metabolism and tissue function.
University of Toronto Professor Paul Santerre elected fellow of the National Academy of Inventors
Professor Paul Santerre has been elected as a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI), the highest professional distinction awarded to academic inventors. This honour recognizes individuals whose patented innovations have made a significant and lasting impact on quality of life, economic development, and the advancement of society.
Ashley Miles Honoured with 2025 BME Unsung Hero Award
The Institute of Biomedical Engineering (BME) is proud to announce that Ashley Miles, Project Coordinator, has been named the recipient of the 2025 BME Unsung Hero Award.
Decoding the brain’s hidden rhythms | Berj Bardakjian Lab
Discover how Professor Berj Bardakjian and the Neural Systems Lab at the University of Toronto are uncovering the electrical “alphabet” of the brain. This research explores the hidden rhythms behind how we think and move, with a focus on predicting seizures, improving diagnosis, and advancing machine learning tools for brain disorders such as epilepsy, Alzheimer’s, dementia, and depression.