News Archives

Temporary Tattoo Brings Hospital Care to the Home

November 25, 2016

Todd Coleman, UC San Diego Bionengineering professor, shares his quest to develop wearable, flexible electronic health monitoring patches that promise to revolutionize healthcare and make medicine less invasive

Bioengineering Professor David Gough Named 2016 AAAS Fellow

November 21, 2016

The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the nation’s largest general science organization, has awarded the distinction of fellow to 391 members, including five from the University of California San Diego.

UC San Diego School of Medicine Researchers Receive $5 Million in Type 1 Diabetes Grants

October 24, 2016

1.25 million people in the U.S. live with type 1 diabetes. Past research has led to treatments that make type 1 diabetes a manageable disorder but there are still unanswered questions. Researchers at UC San Diego School of Medicine hope to answer some of them with two Type 1 Diabetes Special Statutory Funding Program grants from the National Institutes of Health totaling more than $5 million.

Four UC San Diego Physician-engineer teams receive the 2016 Galvanizing Engineering in Medicine awards

October 12, 2016

Four physician-engineer teams from UC San Diego have been selected to receive the 2016 Galvanizing Engineering in Medicine (GEM) awards, which were created to bring engineers and clinicians together to develop innovative technology solutions to challenging problems in medical care.

2016 Alternative Muscle Club (AMC) Meeting

September 30, 2016

The AMC organizing committee is calling for young investigators in skeletal muscle and cardiovascular research to participate in a free one-day meeting! Click the title for more details!

UC San Diego Nanoengineer Makes Popular Science's 'Brilliant 10' List

September 12, 2016

Popular Science magazine has named Liangfang Zhang, a nanoengineering professor at the UC San Diego, in its 15th annual “Brilliant 10” list, a lineup of “the 10 most innovative young minds in science and engineering.”

Call for Innovative Multi-Disciplinary Research Grant Proposals

August 12, 2016

The Center for Healthy Aging solicits proposals for the support of innovative interdisciplinary research and education projects during 2016-17.

Nanobowls Offer a Way to Magnetically Deliver Drugs in the Body

August 3, 2016

Researchers at UC San Diego have developed nano-sized vessels that could be filled with drug molecules and controlled with magnets for guided delivery to specific tissues and organs.

UC San Diego Bioengineering Ranked First by National Research Council Since Founding 50 Years Ago

May 26, 2016

Bioengineering researchers celebrated their achievements over the past five decades and looked to the future during a three-day 50th anniversary celebration May 19 to 21.The department is the coordinating entity for all bioengineering efforts within the University of California. Two faculty have received the National Medal of Science—program founder YC Bert Fung, a legend in the field, and department founding chair Shu Chien. 

Engineers take first step toward flexible, wearable, tricorder-like device

May 23, 2016

Engineers at the University of California San Diego have developed the first flexible wearable device capable of monitoring both biochemical and electric signals in the human body. Click the title to find out more.

Tzyy-Ping Jung elevated to IEEE Fellow for contributions to blind source separation for biomedical applications

May 2016

"Recognizing the achievements of its members is an important part of the mission of the IEEE. Each year, following a rigorous evaluation procedure, the IEEE Fellow Committee recommends a select group of recipients for elevation to IEEE Fellow. Less than 0.1% of voting members are selected annually for this member grade elevation...." -J. Roberto B. de Marca

Stem Cells Regenerate Human Lens After Cataract Surgery, Restoring Vision

February 10, 2016

Researchers at UC San Diego School of Medicine and Shiley Eye Institute, with colleagues in China, have developed a egenerative medicinal approach to remove congenital cataracts in infants, permitting remaining stem cells to regrow functional lenses.

Transcriptional Regulation of Arterial Venous Differentiation and its Role

February 10, 2016

Dr. Dai will illustrate his research effort in the arterial venous differentiation of embryonic stem cells and the transcriptional mechanisms that lead to the distinct functional phenotypes of arteries and veins and their different susceptibility to vascular diseases.

Engineers 3D-print a new lifelike liver tissue for drug screening

February 8, 2016

A team led by engineers at the University of California, San Diego has 3D-printed a tissue that closely mimics the human liver’s sophisticated structure and function. The new model could be used for patient-specific drug screening and disease modeling.

Why the Flu Vaccine Is Less Effective in the Elderly

December 15, 2015

Around this time every year, the flu virus infects up to one-fifth of the U.S. population and kills thousands of people, many of them elderly. A study published by Cell Press on Dec. 15 in Immunity now explains why the flu vaccine is less effective at protecting older individuals. Shankar Subramaniam, IEM associate director, co-senior study author of this journal.

Peter Mage: Breaking The Wall Of Guesswork In Medicine at Falling Walls Lab Berlin 2015

December 09, 2015

Competing in the Falling Walls Lab at UC San Diego was a great chance to hear about some of the excellent research being done across Southern California. It was an honor to win the San Diego competition and a privilege to go to Berlin and compete in the Falling Walls Lab Finals.

Tod Coleman Featured in Top-100 List on Influential Site

November 17, 2015

Bioengineer Todd Coleman, from the University of California, San Diego, has been named one of 100 outstanding individuals for 2015 by The Root, a premier news, opinion and culture site for African-American influencers.

Dr. Shu Chien wins Franklin Award

November 12, 2015

Founding Chair of UC San Diego Department of Bioengineering, Dr.Shu Chien, receives prestigious Franklin Award for contributions to the understanding of the physics of blood flow, and for applying this knowledge to better diagnose cardiovascular disease.

NIH Awards $20 million grant to IEM to establish the 4D Nucleome Organizational Hub at UC San Diego

October 05, 2015

The NIH has updated their website about this fund and it’s awards.
NIH 4D Nucleome page
$25 million has been awarded to 29 research teams NIH Press Release

La Jolla Immunology Conferece

September 29 – October 1, 2015

Conrad T. Prebys Auditorium, Salk Institute for Biological Sciences Abstract Submission Due September 1st Inaugural symposium of the IEM Vaccine Engineering Center will be on Wednesday, September 30 in the SALK Auditorium.

Two UC San Diego Scientists Receive Stem Cell Technology Grants

Febuary 3, 2015

The governing board of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) has awarded two University of California, San Diego researchers almost $3 million in combined funding to pursue new technologies intended to accelerate advances moving stem cell therapies out of the lab and into the clinic.

Stomach Acid-Powered Micromotors Get Their First Test in a Living Animal

January 26, 2015

Researchers at the University of California, San Diego have shown that a micromotor fueled by stomach acid can take a bubble-powered ride inside a mouse. These tiny motors, each about one-fifth the width of a human hair, may someday offer a safer and more efficient way to deliver drugs or diagnose tumors.

NSF grant to improve visualization capabilities for the biosciences and geosciences

December 17, 2014

The National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) is partnering with the University of California, San Diego (UC San Diego), to expand and enhance visualization capabilities in the bio- and geosciences through a grant from the National Science Foundation. The collaboration builds on existing software capabilities developed at NCAR and UC San Diego, and it will combine them to produce new open source tools for scientists to explore large data sets.

The 8th Annual Bilateral Symposium between the University System of Taiwan and UC San Diego

June 19, 2014

The 8th Annual Bilateral Symposium between the University System of Taiwan (UST) and UCSD was held in the Fung Auditorium of the Powell-Focht Bioengineering Hall on November 13 and 14, 2014. IEM was responsible for organizing this event in collaboration with NYMU and NCTU.

Dr. Shu Chien Receives the Roger Revelle Medal

June 19, 2014

In the study of how blood flow and pressure affect blood vessels. His research has led to the development of better diagnostic tests and treatments for atherosclerosis as well as other diseases. Chien played a crucial role in forming the Jacobs School’s department of bioengineering and building it into a world-class institution that is ranked No. 1 for biomedical engineering by the National Research Council.

UC San Diego Neonatal Neurologist Awarded Grant from The Hartwell Foundation

June 13, 2014

MJ Harbert, MD, assistant clinical professor in the Department of Neurosciences at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, has been named a recipient of an Individual Biomedical Research Award by The Hartwell Foundation for her project “Brain Activity During Birth for Prediction of Newborns at Risk for Brain Injury.” The award will support Harbert’s research in the field of neonatal neurology for three years at $100,000 per year.

Bioprinting a 3D Liver-Like Device to Detoxify the Blood

May 13, 2014

Nanoengineers at the University of California, San Diego have developed a 3D-printed device inspired by the liver to remove dangerous toxins from the blood. The device, which is designed to be used outside the body -- much like dialysis – uses nanoparticles to trap pore-forming toxins that can damage cellular membranes and are a key factor in illnesses that result from animal bites and stings, and bacterial infections. Their findings were published May 8 in the journal Nature Communications.

Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of UCSD Department of Bioengineering

May 11, 2014

On April 11th, members of the UCSD community gathered to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Department of Bioengineering, which was founded in 1994. Albert P. Pisano, Dean of the Jacobs School of Engineering, provided introductory remarks to kick-off the event, followed by a welcome by the Chair of Bioengineering, Geert Schmid-Schoenbein. Professors Shu Chien, Shankar Subramanian, Gabriel Silva, Karen Christman and Todd Coleman recounted the history of the department over the past twenty years.

IEM Member Karen Christman Engineers a New Biomaterial Therapy for Treating Heart Attack

April 9, 2014

University of California, San Diego bioengineer Karen Christman's new injectable hydrogel, which is designed to repair damaged cardiac tissue following a heart attack, has been licensed to San Diego-based startup Ventrix, Inc, which is planning the first human clinical trials of the technology. Christman is a co-founder of Ventrix.

Cell Art Exhibit at San Diego Airport features IEM Researchers' Work

April 5, 2014

The image entitled "Nanointerface", shows neurons (brain cells) from the cortical region of a rat brain growing on nanowires -- tiny wires on the order of a billionth of a meter in diameter that interface with neural tissue. Taken by Dr. Massoud Kraiche during his postdoctoral tenure in Professor Gabriel Silva's lab, it was selected for display at the Cell Art Exhibit at the San Diego Airport in conjunction with Biocom.

IEM Member Adah Almutairi’s lab discovers new light-triggered release mechanism

April 5, 2014

Researchers in the Center for Nanomedicine and Engineering (CNME) have introduced a new means of using light to control the activity of molecules that relies on the ability of water to absorb energy at a particular wavelength. This discovery represents a major innovation because only a handful of strategies for light-triggered release from nanoparticles have been reported.

IEM Member's Neuroengineering Research highlighted by Science Nation

April 2, 2014

IEM member Professor Gert Cauwenberghs and his colleagues study how brain activity results in movement. Their NSF sponsored work uses EEG, virtual reality and motion tracking to understand the brain dynamics of human motor control. Recently their work was covered by Science Nation, a video series commissioned by the National Science Foundation.

Galvanizing Engineering in Medicine (GEM) Project Phase II begins, looking for engineering solutions

February 26, 2014

Galvanizing Engineering in Medicine (GEM) is a new collaboration between the UCSD Clinical and Translational Research Institute (CTRI) and the Institute of Engineering in Medicine (IEM) that is facilitated by the Division of Innovation and Industry Alliances (DI2A) in the UCSD Office of Research Affairs (ORA).

20th Anniversary of Bioengineering Celebration

February 14, 2014

Plan to join us in celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Department of Bioengineering at UCSD on Friday, April 11, 2014. Connect with classmates, colleagues, faculty and friends for a celebration highlighting the contributions of students and alumni to the success of your UCSD Bioengineering Department!

Bose and IEM hold Technology Forum

February 14, 2014

On January 22, 2014, Bose Corporation and the Institute of Engineering in Medicine (IEM) jointly held a one-day technology forum at UC San Diego featuring speakers and participants from both industry and academia. The intent of the forum is to develop collaborations between Bose and UCSD faculty and students to foster innovation and facilitate the translation of research to industry.

San Diego Festival of Science and Engineering

February 13, 2014

For more info, see the San Diego Festival of Science and Engineering website.

8th Annual UCSD Bioengineering Day

January 14, 2014

"Foundations and Futures of Bioengineering". Held on Saturday, April 12th 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM at Sanford Consortium. More information can be found at the official website.

Dr. Mary Harbert named finalist for San Diego Business Journal's 2013 Women Who Mean Business Award

December 13, 2013

Dr. Mary Harbert, Co-Director of the Center for Perinatal Health (CPH) in IEM and Assistant Clinical Professor at UCSD, was selected as one of the finalists of the 2013 Women Who Mean Business (WWMB) award by the San Diego Business Journal. IEM wishes to congratulate the four UCSD award winners Drs. Connie Benson, Kelly Frazer, Maria Elena Martinez, and Linda Zangwill, as well as and finalists, Drs. Mary Harbert, Razelle Kurzock and Candis Morello.

Galvanizing Engineering in Medicine Project: Entering Phase II

December 12, 2013

The Galvanizing Engineering in Medicine (GEM) Project, where clinically active UCSD faculty propose clinical challenges in need of engineering solutions, is entering Phase II. In Phase I, clinicians submitted proposals for problems. This phase invites engineers to propose solutions to these problems. The deadline for submitting proposals for Phase II is 5:00 PM on February 14, 2014.

Advanced Imaging Equipment and Services Available through CMILS

December 7, 2013

The La Jolla Institute for Allergy & Immunology has several cutting-edge technologies and world-class services available for researchers. MRI machines and confocal microscopes are available including optional assistance for use. The following Excel documents outline the available items and rates.

CMILS Member's Directory & Areas of Imaging Expertise

December 7, 2013

Download the Directory of CMILS Members & Areas of Imaging Expertise

2013 I-RiCE Advisory Committee Meeting held at UCSD

December 5, 2013

On November 21, 2013, the annual advisory committee for the International Research-intensive Center of Excellence in Taiwan (I-RiCE) on Advanced Bioengineering took place at UCSD. The Center is an international research partnership between UCSD and the University System of Taiwan (UST), composed of National Yang-Ming University (NYMU) and National Chiao-Tung University (NCTU) as well as two other universities, with the common goal of advancing bioengineering research.

IEM Associate Director, Shankar Subramaniam, named AAAS Fellow

December 2, 2013

Shankar Subramaniam, Professor of Bioengineering and Associate Director of the Institute of Engineering in Medicine (IEM), has been named 2013 Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), along with five other UCSD Professors. IEM congratulates the distinguished Fellows for their tremendous achievements and is grateful for their contributions to science.

UCSD Computer Science Student Develops App for Balboa Park Advised by IEM's Dr. Jason Haga

November 19, 2013

UCSD undergraduate, Jesus Rios, developed an Android app, Haiku Hunt, taking the user through a riddle-filled journey through the Japanese Friendship Garden in Balboa park. Mr. Rios developed the app while studying in Japan under the Pacific Rim Experiences for Undergraduates (PRIME) program. He was advised by his Japanese host, Professor Shinji Shimojo, and UCSD Research Scientist Jason Haga in the Institute of Engineering in Medicine.

Announcing the Center for Perinatal Health

November 2, 2013

The Institute of Engineering in Medicine (IEM) is excited to announce the establishment of the Center for Perinatal Health (CPH), co-directed by Drs. Todd Coleman and Mary Harbert. Coleman, a professor of bioengineering, and Harbert, a clinical professor of neuroscience and neonatal neurologist, teamed-up to form the CPH as a collaborative effort between physicians, engineers and scientists to produce innovative medical solutions for pregnant mothers and babies.