Awards & Achievements
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 Craig Simmons receives the Engineers Canada Medal for Distinction in Engineering Education
Professor Craig Simmons (MIE, BME) has received the 2026 Engineers Canada Medal for Distinction in Engineering Education. This national award recognizes exemplary contributions to the education and development of engineering students and to engineering education in Canada.
Two U of T Biomedical Engineering students named 2026 Connaught PhDs for Public Impact Fellows
Ferdinand (Reke) Avikpe and Sajida Chowdhury are among the University of Toronto doctoral students selected for this year’s cohort. The fellowship program, offered through the School of Graduate Studies, provides funding and training to support projects that engage audiences beyond academia and communicate the broader impact of research.
Four U of T Engineering Biomedical Engineering Students Awarded 2026 CIHR Doctoral Scholarships
Four doctoral students in the University of Toronto’s Institute of Biomedical Engineering (BME) have been awarded the highly competitive Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Doctoral (CGRS D).
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.
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) […]
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 […]
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
IBET Momentum Fellow Paige McFarlane aims to use microfluidics to design faster, more accurate medical tests
Paige McFarlane, a PhD student in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Toronto, has been awarded the 2025 Indigenous and Black Engineering and Technology (IBET) Momentum Fellowship. This prestigious fellowship supports her direct entry into a PhD program, bypassing a master’s degree, and provides her with financial aid, mentorship, and research opportunities.
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.
Two BME Professors Awarded Canadian Foundation for Innovation Funding
Professors Aereas Aung and Freeman Lan from the Institute of Biomedical Engineering have been awarded funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation’s John R. Evans Leaders Fund in recognition of their innovative research in vaccine development and microbiome analysis.
Professor Tom Chau inducted into the Canadian Disability Hall of Fame
Professor Tom Chau, a leading innovator in pediatric rehabilitation and assistive technology, has been inducted into the Canadian Disability Hall of Fame in the Builder category at the 32nd Annual Induction Luncheon held in Toronto today.
Professor Milos Popovic honoured with Dejan B. Popovic award at IFESS conference
On September 17th, Professor Milos Popovic has been awarded the prestigious Dejan B. Popovic Award at the annual conference of the International Functional Electrical Stimulation Society (IFESS), held in Vienna. This award recognizes exceptional contributions to the field of electrical stimulation technologies, with a particular emphasis on translating research into clinical practice and industry impact.
Five Mastercard Foundation Scholars Join University of Toronto’s Institute of Biomedical Engineering This Fall
Five Mastercard Foundation Scholars Join University of Toronto’s Institute of Biomedical Engineering This Fall The University of Toronto’s Institute of Biomedical Engineering (BME) is proud to welcome five exceptional Mastercard […]
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, one of Canada’s most prestigious postdoctoral awards. The Banting Postdoctoral […]
Professor Milica Radisic elected fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences
Professor Milica Radisic (BME, ChemE) has been elected a fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences (CAHS), one of Canada’s three national academies. The CAHS leverages the expertise of Canada’s leading health sciences researchers to evaluate our most urgent and complex health challenges and recommend solutions. To be named a CAHS Fellow is considered one of the highest distinctions for academics in the health sciences in Canada.