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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Professor Freeman Lan Awarded Federal NFRF Grant to Advance Rapid Infection Diagnostics
Professor Freeman Lan has been awarded a $250,000 grant through the Government of Canada’s New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF) to support a project aimed at transforming how infectious diseases are diagnosed and treated.
U of T Engineering professor honoured nationally for excellence in training Canada’s next generation of regenerative medicine leaders
Professor Milica Radisic has been named a recipient of the Talent Builder Award as part of the Stem Cell Network’s 25 for 25 Silver Anniversary Awards, a national initiative recognizing 25 individuals and organizations whose contributions have shaped Canada’s regenerative medicine ecosystem over the past 25 years.
Two BME professors receive 2026 Connaught Innovation Awards
Two professors from the University of Toronto Institute of Biomedical Engineering have received 2026 Connaught Innovation Awards, a competitive internal research funding program. Professors Paul Yoo and Daniel Franklin are among 14 award recipients selected this year for innovations with strong potential for societal impact.
Bridging engineering, healthcare, and ventures through the IEEE EMBS One Mind Fellowship
Meet Amy Huang, an MASc student at the Institute of Biomedical Engineering and one of two selected fellows for the 2nd IEEE EMBS x One Mind Accelerator Fellowship. Over three months, she explored healthcare innovation and industry‑driven biomedical solutions, culminating in an invitation to attend the OMA Closing Week in San Francisco. Amy shares what she learned from engaging with leaders in biomedical engineering, clinical innovation, and health technology.
Improving rehabilitation through neurotechnology | José Zariffa Lab
At the Adaptive Neurorehabilitation Systems Lab, Professor Jose Zariffa and his team are developing technologies to support recovery after spinal cord injury and stroke. Using wearable sensors, neural interfaces, deep learning, and computer vision, the lab studies movement and nervous system activity to improve rehabilitation therapies and assistive technologies.
Professor Luka Milosevic awarded $1.65 million NSERC CREATE grant to advance neuromodulation training
Professor Luka Milosevic awarded $1.65 million NSERC CREATE grant to advance neuromodulation training Professor Luka Milosevic has received a $1.65 million award from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) […]
Tiny immune cell particles help blood vessels grow in lab-made human heart tissue
University of Toronto researchers (left: Karl Wagner, right: Milica Radisic) found that tiny particles released by immune cells help blood vessels form in lab grown human heart tissue, offering new insights into heart repair and tissue engineering.
Professor Leo Chou awarded the 2026 McCharles Prize for Early Career Research Distinction
Professor Leo Chou awarded the 2026 McCharles Prize for Early Career Research Distinction Professor Leo Chou of the Institute of Biomedical Engineering has been named the recipient of the 2026 […]
U of T researchers improve maturity of lab-grown heart cells for disease modelling
Professor Craig Simmons and his collaborators have developed a new way to mature lab-grown heart cells so they more closely mimic adult human heart tissue, improving their structure, electrical signaling, and contraction for better heart disease research and drug testing.
Gary Hoang joins BME as Teaching Lab and Design Studio Coordinator
We are pleased to announce that Gary Hoang has joined the Institute of Biomedical Engineering (BME) as the Teaching Lab and Design Studio Coordinator, effective April 8, 2026.
Professor Elaine Biddiss Awarded Kids Brain Health Network Funding to Advance Innovative Supports for Children and Youth with Neurodisabilities
Professor Elaine Biddiss, Associate Professor at the University of Toronto’s Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Senior Scientist at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, is among the project leads for one of 14 initiatives receiving national funding from Kids Brain Health to improve outcomes for children and youth with neurodisabilities and their families across Canada.
Q&A: Why MIX invests in future biomedical engineers
As a major sponsor of this year’s Toronto Biomedical Engineering Conference (ToBE), Medical Innovation Xchange (MIX) continues its commitment to strengthening Canada’s MedTech and healthtech ecosystem while engaging directly with students and emerging researchers.
Recently we chatted with Parisa Fataei, the Manager, Strategic Partnerships and Programs at MIX, where she shared more about its mission, impact, and why supporting academic initiatives matters.
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.