Research Overview

Two students, one female and one male, look at vial full of material. They are in a lab space.

Biomedical Engineering Research

Research in the department of biomedical engineering is largely focused on six themes: cancer, cardiovascular and regenerative engineering as well as pediatrics, accessible health and biomedical engineering education. Towards impacting health outcomes, a hallmark of our research is the focus on entrepreneurship and translation to the clinic.

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Cancer Engineering

Cancer Engineering aims to apply diverse tools, technologies and concepts to understand fundamental mechanisms for improved diagnosis, monitoring and therapy.

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Engineering for Accessible Health Care

Engineering for Accessible Health Care research develops breakthrough, affordable, high-performance technologies that can be translated and commercialized for better diagnosis, therapies, monitoring and prevention.

Cardiovascular Engineering

Cardiovascular Engineering research efforts range from basic to translational and focus on new methods of study, related diseases, diagnosis, treatment and computational modeling.

Side view of plastic model of baby inside uterus

Pediatric Technologies

Pediatric Technologies focus areas span the care pathway from early detection of diseases and congenital defects, minimally invasive interventions, and devices for monitoring & management of chronic life-long disorders.

Regenerative Engineering

Regenerative Engineering seeks to restore healthy tissues and organs damaged or lost due to disease, trauma, age, or congenital defects.

Biomedical Engineering Education

Biomedical Engineering Education research aims to develop, assess, and promote transformational teaching and evidence-based learning practices and technologies that enhance student learning.

A microscopic view of a lymph organ-on-a-chip. The image shows a cylindrical shape made from small red and blue dots with green tendrils all around it.

Introducing organs-on-chips to the lymph system

Dr. Abhishek Jain is using his expertise in organs-on-chips to develop a new way to model conditions that impact the lymph system. This research is in collaboration with the Texas A&M University College of Medicine.

A female professor demonstrates how to connect a small clear box with a cable for a group of students.

Supporting the cells that build tissue

Dr. Feng Zhao specializes in tissue vascularization (where a capillary network capable of delivering nutrients to the cells is formed within the tissue). One of her newest projects could help reduce lymph damage after surgeries for diseases like cancer.

Engineering faculty named National Academy of Inventors Senior Members

The National Academy of Inventors has named Drs. Melissa Grunlan, Andreas Polycarpou and Taylor Ware to its 2022 class of NAI Senior Members for demonstrating remarkable innovation-producing technologies that have brought real impact to the welfare of society.

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Precise Advanced Technologies and Health Systems for Underserved Populations

Funded by an NSF Engineering Research Center grant, PATHS-UP is working to develop revolutionary and cost-effective technologies and systems at the point-of-care.

Southwest National Pediatric Device Innovation Consortium

The SWPDC is a virtual accelerator that supports pediatric device innovators throughout the pediatric device life cycle and is supported by a grant from the FDA.

Other Resources

The Department of Biomedical Engineering regularly collaborates with members of the below groups of both on-campus and external partners.