Posts Categorized: Stories
The Craig Simmons Lab at the University of Toronto investigates how biomechanical forces shape the behavior of cells, driving regeneration, repair, and disease in cardiovascular tissues. By integrating experimental and computational cell mechanics with state-of-the-art molecular biology, the lab uncovers how heart valve calcification develops, how stem cells can be guided to rebuild tissue, and how lab-on-a-chip technologies can accelerate drug testing. Their work is redefining the future of cardiovascular medicine through mechanobiology and engineering innovation.
Vrushali Guruji is a fourth-year PhD candidate in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Toronto, where she studies how aortic valve disease influences blood flow and molecular changes in the aorta. Her work spans fundamental research and collaborations aimed at developing new treatments, while her commitment to STEM outreach supports programs that mentor and inspire future scientists. Discover how her research and advocacy are contributing to a more inclusive and innovative scientific community.
In Professor Alison McGuigan’s lab at the University of Toronto, researchers are creating artificial tissues that mimic the complexity of the human body. These engineered tissues help scientists discover new drugs, predict how patients might respond to treatment, and even reveal who might be at higher risk for certain diseases. By combining tools from biomaterials, microfabrication, and synthetic biology, the McGuigan Lab is pioneering a new frontier in regenerative medicine and personalized health care.
Meet Abigail Cave, a 2025 graduate of the Master of Engineering in Biomedical Engineering program at the University of Toronto. She recently participated in the Medventions fellowship at Sunnybrook Research Institute, where her multidisciplinary team focused on improving code blue response in interventional cardiology. Their solution integrates real-time guidance and data-driven insights to enhance clinical workflows and documentation. Currently, Abigail is a Fulbright Student at Georgia Tech, pursuing a thesis-based master’s in biomedical engineering. She continues her research at Emory University’s Candace Fleischer Lab, studying brain temperature in healthy individuals to support future neurological studies.
Meet Alex Schneider, a recent graduate of the University of Toronto’s Biomedical Engineering MEng program, now working full-time as a biomedical applications scientist. Here, Alex shares how the program helped her pivot from academic research to industry, build a broader skill set, and discover a passion for optomechanics and biomodulation.
Wummy Meng shares her journey through the Master of Engineering in Biomedical Engineering program. From a formative research experience at the KITE Rehabilitation Institute to an internship at a medical device start-up, Wummy highlights the program’s academic strengths and hands-on opportunities. She also offers advice to future students on making the most of their time in the program.
The 2025 Toronto Biomedical Engineering (ToBE) Conference is organized by a team of graduate and undergraduate students from the University of Toronto’s Institute of Biomedical Engineering, who are responsible for planning and executing Canada’s longest-running student-led biomedical engineering conference.
Meet members of the leadership team from the Biomedical Engineering Student Association (BESA) at the University of Toronto. BESA oversees student engagement within the graduate biomedical engineering community, organizing extracurricular activities, professional development opportunities, and events that support academic and career growth.
Professor Rodrigo Fernandez-Gonzalez and his team study how cells coordinate to shape and repair tissues. Using live imaging and bioengineering tools in fruit fly embryos, they uncover how cells move, communicate, and generate forces to heal wounds and form organs like the heart. Their discoveries could lead to new ways to promote healing and improve regenerative medicine.
Professor Eli Sone and his team study how nature builds and bonds, from the way bones form to how mussels stick to surfaces, to inspire new technologies for healthcare and the environment. Their research spans bone-regenerating biomaterials, next-generation medical adhesives, and innovative ways to protect ecosystems.
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