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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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.
Then and now: identities of biomedical engineering
As the Institute of Biomaterial and Biomedical Engineering (IBBME) changes its name to the Institute of Biomedical Engineering (BME), it is time to revisit some of the previous identities the Institute has taken on.
Five U of T engineers elected into the Canadian Academy of Engineering
Five members of the U of T Engineering community have been elected into the Canadian Academy of Engineering (CAE). Dr. Emily Moore, Director of Troost ILead, along with professors Baher Abdulhai (CivMin), Geoff Fernie (IBBME), Reza Iravani (ECE), and Charles Jia (ChemE), are among the CAE’s 52 new fellows for 2020. The CAE is a national institution through which Canada’s most distinguished and experienced engineers provide strategic advice on matters of critical importance to the country.
Robotics for elder care: New joint centre fosters global collaboration
The new joint centre on robotics for elder care is led by professors Alex Mihailidis (IBBME, Medicine) and Yan Fu at the Huazhong University of Science and Technology.
Milica Radisic receives Killam Fellowship
Professor Milica Radisic is among the recipients of this year’s Killam Research Fellowships.
IBBME student partners with Toronto makers to aid in COVID19 equipment production and hospital R&D projects
IBBME student partners with Toronto makers to aid in COVID19 equipment production and hospital R&D projects May 15, 2020 | Kate Kazlovich After COVID-19 was officially declared a pandemic and […]
U of T Engineering set to host first-ever virtual research conference
Brandon Rufino (IBBME MHSC candidate) will be presenting in the human health category as a lightning lecture speaker. Under the supervision of Professor Elaine Biddiss (IBBME), he and his fellow grad students develop and evaluate technologies to allow young people with disabilities to participate more meaningfully in arts, music, physical activities and therapies.
Abdullah Syed Wins 2020 Donnelly Thesis Prize
Syed is the latest winner of the Donnelly Centre Research Thesis Prize, awarded annually for the best doctoral research completed at the Centre. An engineer by training, he studied how tiny nano-scale particles travel through the body to deliver drugs directly to tumours under the supervision of Warren Chan, a principal investigator at the Centre and the director of U of T’s Institute for Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering.
Omar F. Khan joins IBBME as assistant professor
Dr. Omar F. Khan officially joined the Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering (IBBME) on May 1st, 2020.
New ‘rock candy’ approach could lead to simpler, faster tests for COVID-19
Testing for viruses is not a new science, but the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the bottlenecks in established methods. Now, a team led by Professor Leo Chou (IBBME) is pursuing a non-traditional approach that, if successful, could lead to simpler, faster tests.
U of T researchers develop ‘piggyback’ vehicle to escape the endosomal trap and deliver RNA therapeutics
U of T researchers develop ‘piggyback’ vehicle to escape the endosomal trap and deliver RNA therapeutics
Meet Donnelly Centre Team Developing on-the-go Test for COVID-19
While most people are sheltering at home, for a team led by Professor Warren Chan it’s business as usual as they continue to develop an automated, more sensitive and rapid test for COVID-19 to help curb the pandemic.
U of T precision medicine initiative launches task force to fight COVID-19
The PRiME Task Force on Advanced Diagnostics and Therapeutics for COVID-19 brings together U of T researchers with expertise in a variety of fields to develop new diagnostic tools and therapeutics
COVID-19: ECE team programs single-board computers to remotely monitor patients and protect health care workers
A U of T Engineering team, led by Professor Willy Wong (ECE/IBBME) has created a simple, scalable solution to remotely monitor the vital signs of COVID-19 patients. This technology could help preserve vital personal protective equipment (PPE) for health-care workers.
U of T startup develops technology that encourages hand hygiene to prevent the spread of COVID19
Dr. Geoff Fernie is developing a wearable technology that reminds first-line responders to wash their hands despite their busy schedules. This technology could significantly reduce the spread of Hospital-Acquired Infections (HAIs) including COVID19.
How does COVID-19 invade our bodies so easily? U of T Engineering team uses ‘organ-on-a-chip’ model to find out
Milica Radisic (ChemE, IBBME) is working with Axel Guenther and Edmond Young (both MIE) to create tiny models of the nose, mouth, eyes and lungs to better understand how COVID-19 infects organs
Review paper summarizes diagnostic tools and surveillance for COVID19
Prof. Warren Chan, Dr. Samira Mubareka, Dr. Jonathan Gubbay and their trainees have summarized current diagnostic tools for detecting and surveilling COVID-19 in the journal ACS Nano. This article aims to guide researchers in developing COVID19 diagnostics by discussing current and emerging diagnostic tools.
As COVID-19 protective supplies dwindle, U of T Engineering grad students are stitching face masks for Toronto
U of T Engineering graduate students Kramay Patel (IBBME MD/PhD candidate) and Chaim Katz (IBBME PhD candidate) are temporarily trading in their electrodes and amplifiers for sewing machines and cotton threads.
Engineering alumni startup Nanoleaf to source more than one million masks amid COVID-19 shortages
Engineering alumni startup Nanoleaf to source more than one million masks amid COVID-19 shortages
Paul Santerre receives lifetime achievement award from Canadian Biomaterials Society
Paul Santerre receives lifetime achievement award from Canadian Biomaterials Society