Faculty & Research
Faculty & research are integral components of BME. With a strong focus on research, BME is located in the heart of Canada’s largest health-care research hub. Our graduate students receive their training from 14 departments at U of T, 10 partner hospitals, and 7 research institutes & commercialization centres.
At BME, our cross-disciplinary approach in biomedical and clinical engineering enables our researchers to cover a diverse set of topics. Find out what our research publication are saying about our research focus.
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Faculty directory
Core Faculty
We have 30+ core faculty members that span across cell & tissue engineering, clinical engineering, and molecular engineering disciplines.
Cross-Appointed Faculty
BME currently hosts cross-appointed faculty members across more than 30 academic units, partner hospitals, research institutes, and commercialization centres.
Emeriti
Learn about some of our retired faculty members
Research streams
Clinical
BME’s clinical engineers design technologies, devices and strategies for people with chronic disease, traumatic injury, disabilities and mobility limitations to help them integrate more fully with their environment.
Cell & Tissue
Research that has the potential to change how we think about disease and aging is happening at BME. Regenerative medicine uses stem cells and biomaterials to repair, replace or regenerate damaged tissue, organ structures and function.
Molecular
BME researchers are advancing disease detection, customizing drug delivery and improving health-care outcomes with faster and more precise technologies and systems.
Latest news
Discover how cells heal and build tissues | Rodrigo Fernandez-Gonzalez Lab
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 Milica Radisic featured in CBC news
Professor Milica Radisic has recently been featured in CBC News for her pioneering work in bioengineering and personalized medicine. With a focus on organ on a chip, these lab-grown models using a patient’s own cells to simulate organ function and tumor response. These devices offer a promising alternative to traditional drug testing methods, potentially improving the accuracy of cancer treatment predictions and reducing reliance on animal testing.
Using nature to guide engineering | Eli Sone Lab
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.
Engineering stem cell therapies for diseases | Michael Garton Lab
Dr. Michael Garton leads a research lab integrating generative AI, protein design, and stem cell biology to develop new gene and cell therapies. His team is engineering stem cell-derived tissues with enhanced survival and therapeutic functions, with the long-term goal of creating curative treatments for thousands of currently untreatable diseases.
Droplet microfluidics and microbiome research at the Lan lab
At the Lan Lab, led by Professor Freeman Lan, tiny droplets are unlocking big breakthroughs. Using ultrahigh-throughput droplet microfluidics, the team can run millions of experiments in parallel, transforming how we study cells, microbes, and the human microbiome.
Dr. Noor Abu Jarad awarded a Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship
Dr. Noor Abu Jarad awarded a Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship Dr. Noor Abu Jarad has been awarded a Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship, […]
Faculty startups
The following list highlights some of the startup companies that have been launched by these forward-thinking faculty members, demonstrating their commitment to translating academic knowledge into real-world applications and making a significant impact on the biomedical industry.
| Faculty Member | Commercialization Venture | Focus | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan Andrysek | LegWorks | Prosthetic Knee Joint | San Francisco |
| John E. Davies | Tissue Regenerative Therapeutics Inc. | Mesenchymal Stem Cells | Toronto |
| Milos Popovic | MyndTech Inc. | Medical Tech Company | Mississauga |
| Milica Radisic | Tara Biosystems | Cardiac Drug Discovery | New York |
| Jonathan Rocheleau | QuantM3 | Microfluidics Technology Diabetes Treatment | Toronto |
| Paul Santerre | Interface Biologics | Drug Delivery and other technologies | Toronto |
| Paul Santerre and Eli Sone | Cohesys Inc | Bone Tape to replace plate and screws in craniofacial repair; Angel investment | Toronto |
| Paul Santerre | Ripple Therapeutics | Non-polymeric anti-inflammatory drug delivery systems for ophthalmology; venture invested | Toronto |
| Molly Shoichet | AmacaThera | Injectable hydrogel platform technology | Toronto |
| Aaron Wheeler | Miroculus (formerly Kappex) | Digital Microfluidics Platform | Toronto |