Celebrating the 42nd Student Research Conference (ToBE)
May 26, 2026
On May 25, 2026, the Institute of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Toronto hosted the 42nd annual Toronto Biomedical Engineering Conference (ToBE) at Hart House. As one of Canada’s longest-running student-organized conferences in biomedical engineering, ToBE brought together students, faculty, clinicians, and industry professionals for a day of research exchange, professional development, and interdisciplinary engagement.
Since its founding in 1985, ToBE has provided a platform for emerging research in biomedical engineering while fostering collaboration across academia and industry. The 2026 program featured keynote lectures from three leaders in the field. Professor John A. Rogers of Northwestern University spoke on bioelectronics and the development of biocompatible and bioresorbable devices for medical applications. Professor Gordana Vunjak‑Novaković of Columbia University presented advances in tissue engineering and organ‑on‑chip systems for disease modelling and drug development. The final keynote was delivered by Professor Amy Herr, whose work focuses on microscale tools for studying biological systems.
Workshops and panel discussions complemented the keynote sessions. A morning industry panel examined pathways from research to industry, with perspectives from professionals in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and venture development. An afternoon workshop addressed responsible artificial intelligence in healthcare, focusing on considerations for safe and effective clinical deployment.
Student-led research remained central to the conference. Oral presentation sessions were organized into molecular, cell and tissue, and clinical themes, alongside a poster session that enabled discussion and feedback between presenters and attendees. These sessions provided opportunities for trainees to share their work and engage with a broader research community.
Award winners:
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Best Podium Award (1st): Margarita Savguira (MASc)
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Best Podium Runner-up (2nd): Houyou Fan (PhD)
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Best Podium Runner-up (3rd): Breana Shehetila (MASc)
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Best Poster Award (1st): Elijah Birley (MASc)
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Best Poster Award (1st): Ben Kozlowski (PhD)
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Best Poster Runner-up (2nd): Lauren Toy (MASc)
The conference was organized by a student committee within the Institute of Biomedical Engineering. The 2026 conference was chaired by Amy Huang (MASc), who oversaw program development and coordination of the event. She was supported by a team of graduate student volunteers responsible for publications, sponsorship, programming, workshops, marketing, and logistics. Their efforts contributed to the delivery of a structured and well-attended conference.
The event concluded with a dinner and awards ceremony recognizing student presentations and contributions.
The conference was supported by a range of sponsors from across industry, healthcare, and the academic community. As the Gold sponsor, the Medical Innovation Xchange (MIX) played a central role in enabling the event. MIX is closely involved in advancing Canada’s medtech ecosystem by connecting researchers, clinicians, and industry partners, and its support reflects an ongoing commitment to innovation and student engagement in biomedical engineering.
Silver sponsors included Fujifilm VisualSonics, Boston Scientific, and BD Biosciences, organizations that represent key areas of biomedical engineering including imaging technologies, medical device development, and life sciences research. Their participation highlights the continued relationship between industry and the academic research community.
Bronze sponsors included Lumira Ventures, the University Health Network (UHN) KITE Research Institute, the Graduate Engineering Council of Students at the University of Toronto (GECOS), and Orthotics Prosthetics Canada. These groups support activities ranging from health innovation and rehabilitation research to student advocacy and clinical practice, and their contributions helped support the broader conference experience.
"The success of this year’s conference reflects the strong engagement of the student community and the quality of the research presented." says Professor Milos Popovic, Director of the Institute of Biomedical Engineering, "It highlights the value of bringing together different perspectives across biomedical engineering.”
