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.

BME alumnus Dr. Amir Manbachi honoured with Research & Innovation Award

September 6, 2024

This prestigious accolade recognizes U of T engineering graduates who have developed, implemented, or discovered an innovative research program, process, or product that has made a significant impact on the profession, community, or society.

Three BME faculty members awarded Connaught New Researcher Fund

August 22, 2024

Professors Aereas Aung, Daniel Franklin, and Caitlin Maikawa were awarded the Connaught New Researcher Awards, which support early-career faculty members in establishing their research programs. They are among 8 researchers from the U of T Engineering who received support in the latest round.

2024 Dorrington Award recognizes graduate students innovating myopathy research, mapping the liver and advancing personalized medicine

August 19, 2024

Heta Lad, a PhD candidate conducting research under the supervision of Professor Penney Gilbert, is one of the recipients of the award.

Five BME faculty members & collaborators receive a combined $2.6mil+ funding from CIHR

July 29, 2024

Professors Hai-Ling Margaret Cheng, Leo Chou, Daniel Franklin, Naomi Matsuura, and Cari Whyne and their collaborators have received a combined funding of $2.6mil+ from the Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR) as a part of the 2024 Spring CIHR Project Grant. The CIHR Project Grant program funds innovative health research projects with the potential to significantly advance health knowledge, healthcare, health systems, and health outcomes.

Eight BME graduate students receive a combined funding of $227,500 from CIHR

July 18, 2024

Eight graduate students from the Institute of Biomedical Engineering (BME) at the University of Toronto have been awarded a combined funding of $227,500 through the Canada Graduate Scholarship program for doctoral and master’s students. This prestigious scholarship program, funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), supports and promotes research excellence across a wide range of disciplines, including health, natural sciences and engineering, and social sciences and humanities.

Dr. Lindsey Fiddes joins BME as Teaching Lab and Design Studio Coordinator 

July 8, 2024

Dr. Lindsey Fiddes will join the Institute of Biomedical Engineering (BME) as the Teaching Lab and Design Studio Coordinator on July 8, 2024. Dr. Fiddes, who previously served as the Teaching Lab Coordinator in 2017, brings extensive experience in lab protocols, health and safety, and supply management. She holds a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Toronto, where she also worked as a Technology Specialist and Lab Manager, gaining expertise in microscopy, CAD, and prototyping. Please join us in welcoming Dr. Fiddes back to BME.

Three BME graduate students awarded Connaught PhDs for Public Impact Fellowship

July 4, 2024

Three graduate students from the Institute of Biomedical Engineering (BME) have been awarded the prestigious Connaught PhDs for Public Impact Fellowship for the 2024-2025 cohort. Mohammadamir (Amir) Moghaddam, Nicolas Ivanov, and Lily Takeuchi have each received this honour in recognition of their projects aimed at bridging the gap between academic research and public engagement.

Professor Alison McGuigan awarded Senior Scientist Award at 7th TERMIS World Congress

July 3, 2024

Professor Alison McGuigan has been honored with the prestigious Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society Americas Chapters (TERMIS-AM) Senior Scientist Award. This esteemed award was presented to Professor McGuigan on the final day of the 7th TERMIS World Congress Conference, held from June 25-28 in Seattle, Washington. The Senior Scientist Award is conferred upon individuals who have made significant contributions to the fields of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

BME alumna promoted to Chief of St. John’s Rehab Program

June 21, 2024

Dr. Amanda Mayo will be promoted to the new Chief of the St. John’s Rehab Program, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, effective July 1, 2024. Dr. Mayo is a graduate of the University of Toronto. She completed five years of residency training in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Toronto. Prior to entering medical school, Dr. Mayo obtained MSc in Clinical Engineering, Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering from the University of Toronto.

Jamie Wu wins 2024 Jennifer Comyn Graduate Award for Cancer Research

June 21, 2024

The Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research recognizes outstanding graduate students conducting cancer research in its labs with the Jennifer Comyn Graduate Award for Cancer Research. The inaugural recipient of the award is Jamie Wu, a recent PhD graduate in biomedical engineering at the University of Toronto.

11 BME faculty members receive a combined $500,000+ funding from NSERC 

June 20, 2024

The Discovery Grant program is dedicated to supporting researchers as they venture into new territories to find solutions to pressing issues such as environmental protection, food security, and sustainable construction in cold climates. It aims to promote and maintain a diverse and high-quality research capability in the natural sciences and engineering at Canadian universities, foster research excellence, and provide a stimulating environment for research training.

Molly Shoichet named inaugural Pamela and Paul Austin Chair in Precision and Regenerative Medicine

June 19, 2024

University Professor Molly Shoichet (ChemE, BME) has been named the inaugural Pamela and Paul Austin Chair in Precision and Regenerative Medicine. The chair, situated within the Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry, was created in November 2023 via a gift from the The P. Austin Family Foundation.

Seven BME members receive Joint Seed Program funding for interdivisional research

June 11, 2024

Initiated in 2015, the Joint Seed Program is an interdivisional research funding program designed to promote multi-disciplinary research and catalyze new innovative partnerships between researchers from the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering and those from outside of Engineering. The recipients for this year will undertake unique and innovative research initiatives ranging from developing bioinoculant strategies to equitable healthcare and advanced imaging techniques.

CIHR awards grant to training program integrating sex, gender, and intersectionality in health research

June 7, 2024

A team of researchers has been awarded an operating grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). The team, led by Dr. Tatyana Mollayeva, Dr. Milos Popovic, and Dr. France Légaré, is set to improve the landscape of health research by integrating sex, gender, and intersectionality into scientific inquiry.

Dr. José Zariffa appointed KITE Chair in spinal cord injury research at UHN

June 5, 2024

Dr. José Zariffa will be the holder of the KITE Chair in Spinal Cord Injury Research at UHN, a joint Hospital-University Named Chair between the University Health Network and the University of Toronto (UofT), for a five-year term, effective April 1, 2024. The KITE Chair in Spinal Cord Injury Research was initially established in December 2007 thanks to the kind and thoughtful generosity of a variety of donors to Toronto Rehabilitation Institute.

BME student receives 2024 Teaching Assistant Teaching Excellence Award

May 30, 2024

Shaghayegh (Shay) Chavoshian has won a 2024 TA Teaching Excellence Award from the University of Toronto’s Teaching Assistant Training Program (TATP). Shay, a PhD student at the Institute of Biomedical Engineering (BME), is one of the five recipients this year. This prestigious award acknowledges the remarkable contributions of teaching assistants who inspire and challenge undergraduate students, significantly enhancing their learning experience.

Two Institute of Biomedical Engineering graduate students awarded prestigious Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships in 2024

May 29, 2024

The Institute of Biomedical Engineering (BME) at the University of Toronto is proud to announce that two of its doctoral candidates, David Li and Erica Floreani, have been awarded the prestigious Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships for the 2024 cycle.

U of T Engineering Dean, professor and alumni elected to the Canadian Academy of Engineering

May 13, 2024

U of T Engineering Dean Christopher Yip and Professor Natalie Enright Jerger (ECE) have been elected fellows of the Canadian Academy of Engineering (CAE). Alumni Benoit Boulet (ElecE PhD 9T6), Susan Doniz (IndE 9T3) and Alfred Yu (BME MASc 0T4, PhD 0T7) are also among the CAE’s 54 new fellows.

U of T Engineering professor and alumni receive 2024 Ontario Professional Engineers Awards

May 10, 2024

Serena Mandla (EngSci 1T7, BME MASc 1T9) received the Young Engineer Award for an engineer no older than 35 years old who has demonstrated excellence in their career, community and professional service.

Club for Undergraduate Biomedical Engineering Awarded the University of Toronto Student Life “Program of the Year” for Promoting Innovation and Collaboration 

April 19, 2024

The Club for Undergraduate Biomedical Engineering (CUBE) at the University of Toronto continues to garner recognition for its exceptional achievements and contributions to the university community. Recently, CUBE was honoured to receive the 2024 “Program of the Year” Award from U of T Student Life for its commitment to excellence and innovation in promoting biomedical engineering at the campus. In 2023 – 2024 academic year, CUBE hosted a total of 10 events and 11 workshops.

Accelerate Seed Grant recipient aims to improve delivery of drugs that treat brain diseases using self-driving lab technology

April 17, 2024

Professor Leo Chou have received Acceleration Consortium Seed Grant funding for his research on building DNA origami as a delivery vehicle for therapeutic agents

Dr. Omar F. Khan honoured with the McCharles Prize for early career research distinction 

April 16, 2024

Professor Omar F. Khan has been awarded the prestigious McCharles Prize for Early Career Research Distinction for his contributions to the fields of biomedical and immune engineering. 

Professor Warren Chan joins Nanyang Technological University of Singapore as Dean of Engineering

April 11, 2024

Professor Warren Chan, a world-renowned expert in nanobiotechnology, has been recruited as the next Dean of the College of Engineering at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore. Professor Chan will oversee one of the largest Engineering schools in the world with over 14,000 students and has been ranked among the top 15 Engineering schools in the world according to QS World University Rankings. He will provide leadership for the strategic, academic, intellectual, and administrative endeavours at NTU.

BME Professor secures CIHR funding to improve autism medication selection

March 28, 2024

Dr. Azadeh Kushki (BME) has been awarded funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) for her work in improving medication selection for autistic children. Along with Dr. Danielle Baribeau, Dr. Melanie Penner, and Marlee Vandewouw at the Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, this funding provides operational support to perform research.