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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Three cool virtual labs: How U of T Engineering instructors are getting creative with remote active learning
During the COVID-19 pandemic, instructors and teaching assistants (TAs) across U of T Engineering have had to get creative in finding new, engaging and equitable ways to conduct labs — a traditionally hands-on and collaborative in-person learning experience — without on-campus equipment, software or space.
How one U of T Engineering educational program kept thriving during COVID-19
Davenport Huyer is the co-founder and Logistics Director of Discovery, an educational initiative that originated within U of T’s Institute of Biomedical Engineering. Since it launched in 2016, the program has engaged with hundreds of students from selected Toronto-area high schools to build critical thinking skills through inquiry focused learning.
BME Alumni Profile – Zhamak Abdi
Alumnus Zhamak Abdi, is a senior biomedical device engineer at ChipCare, a Toronto-based start-up company which is developing accessible and affordable multiplex point-of-care diagnostics for infectious diseases.
U of T researchers develop a new tool for scooping contents of individual cells from their local environment
Scientists can now select individual cells from a population that grows on the surface of a laboratory dish and study their molecular contents. Developed by U of T researchers, the new tool will enable a deeper study of stem cells and other rare cell types for therapy development.
University of Toronto professor Molly Shoichet wins $1 million Gerhard Herzberg Canada Gold Medal
Molly Shoichet, professor of chemical engineering and applied chemistry and Canada Research Chair in Tissue Engineering at the University of Toronto, has won this year’s $1 million Gerhard Herzberg Canada Gold Medal, the country’s top science prize.
How to ace a grad school interview
The CGS-D and PGS-D application deadline is rapidly approaching. Check out some extensive best practices and mistakes to avoid offered by Joseph Sebastian, a previous award winner.
‘Our very first biotech win’: How U of T’s discovery of insulin made it a research and innovation powerhouse
Paul Santerre, a professor in the Faculty of Dentistry and the Institute of Biomedical Engineering, says the extent of progress on diabetes and insulin will partly depend on how well research breakthroughs from scholars like Brubaker can be married with efforts at commercialization and innovation.
Collective Impact: Barbara and Frank Milligan continue to nurture the next generation of biomedical engineering leaders
Two students from Institute of Biomedical Engineering (BME) were awarded the Barbara and Frank Milligan award this year.
Skin-care product based on U of T Engineering research donated to health-care workers fighting
A U of T Engineering spinoff company has donated its entire stock of skin-care product to health-care workers fighting the global pandemic.
Medicine by Design invests $1 million to advance bold new ideas in regenerative medicine
Medicine by Design is supporting research aimed at advancing new concepts expected to be important to regenerative medicine in the coming years. The funded projects will have potential impacts in diseases and conditions such as vision loss, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), intestinal disease in premature babies and more.
Ofer Levi inducted into The Optical Society (OSA)
Dr. Ofer Levi has been inducted into The Optical Society (OSA) as a fellow. As one of more than 2,500 fellows, Dr. Levi will be able to contribute to the advancement of optics and photonics through education and research.
2020 Yip Awards Recognize Early Graduate Research in Cross-Disciplinary Biomedicine
2020 Yip Awards Recognize Early Graduate Research in Cross-Disciplinary Biomedicine
How to approach professors when applying to graduate school
How to approach professors when applying to graduate school Interview with Professor Leo Chou Transcript Expand Leo Chou: My name is Leo Chou. I’m an assistant professor in the Institute of Biomedical […]
From researcher to product engineer
Graduated in 2019 with a PhD in biomedical engineering, Peter Aldridge continued his passion in developing and engineering novel therapeutics for stem cell therapies at BlueRock Therapeutics in Toronto. Here he shares some of his insights on applying biomedical engineering concepts in an industry position.
Re-engineered enzyme could help reverse damage from spinal cord injury and stroke
A team of researchers from U of T Engineering and the University of Michigan have redesigned and enhanced a natural enzyme that shows promise in promoting the regrowth of nerve tissue following injury.
New evidence on factors that promote bone mineralization – U of T researchers find
A research team led by Dr. Eli Sone (BME, MSE, Dentistry) has discovered a new role in mineralization played by a class of molecules, glycosaminoglycans (GAGs)
Six U of T Engineering projects receive funding boost for state-of-the-art research tools
Six U of T Engineering researchers to receive funding through the Canada Foundation for Innovation’s (CFI) John R. Evans Leaders Fund (JELF).
Common thread – from sewing to developing wearable technologies
Dr. Amanda Fleury took up sewing as a hobby during her undergraduate years, not knowing it would become the common thread that would connect her PhD research to her job prospects. Graduated in 2018 from Dr. Tom Chau’s lab at BME, Amanda spent majority of her PhD researching brain-computer interfaces and various cloth materials that could be applied to commercial products. Now, Amanda is leveraging her biomedical engineering skills to develop wearable technologies for meditation.
U of T Engineering researchers develop cell injection technique that could help reverse vision loss
U of T Engineering researchers have developed a new method of injecting healthy cells into damaged eyes. The technique could point the way toward new treatments with the potential to reverse forms of vision loss that are currently incurable.
How to get more cancer-fighting nanoparticles to where they are needed
U of T Engineering researchers have discovered a dose threshold that greatly increases the delivery of cancer-fighting drugs into a tumour.
From Biomedical Engineering to Wall Street
A graduate from the Institute of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Toronto (2008), Dr. Rahul Sarugaser took an unconventional step away from benchtop science and ventured into the world of investment. Now, he is evaluating investment prospects in healthcare, biotech, and cannabis at a tier-1 investment bank in Toronto. We sat down with Rahul at his office at Raymond James Ltd. to reflect on how he began his journey in Biomedical Engineering, and his transition into a seemingly adjacent field.
Credit-card sized tool provides new insights into how cancer cells invade host tissues
A group of researchers from the University of Toronto have developed a new tool to study breast cancer metastasis. By using a device that’s the size of a credit card, researchers can produce various biological environments to mimic the progression of cancer cell invasion.
Two BME faculty promoted to associate professor
On July 1st, Dr. Azadeh Kushki and Dr. Elaine Biddiss were both promoted to Associate Professor at the Institute of Biomedical Engineering (BME). This promotion was based on their research excellence, teaching mandates, and community based contributions
Five U of T Engineering grad students awarded Vanier Scholarships in recognition of research impact and leadership
Five U of T Engineering graduate students have been recognized with Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships, worth $150,000 each. The funding will support doctoral research addressing a diverse range of challenges, from treating retinal degenerative diseases to fighting climate change.