Implants like pacemakers and insulin pumps often fail because of immune attacks − stopping them could make medical devices safer and longer-lasting

From breast implants to prosthetic knees, implants can trigger a foreign body response that results in your body rejecting them. Suppressing an immune cell gene could reduce this risk.

Kellen Chen, Assistant Professor of Surgery, University of Arizona • conversation
Sept. 25, 2023 ~7 min

Why do fingers get wrinkly after a long bath or swim? A biomedical engineer explains

Recent research suggests blood vessels are the key to why fingers and toes turn pruny and pale after being submerged for a while.

Guy German, Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Binghamton University, State University of New York • conversation
Aug. 28, 2023 ~6 min


Babies almost all try crawling to get from Point A to Point B, but CDC says it's not a useful developmental milestone

Revisions to the CDC’s developmental milestone checklists removed crawling as a skill that babies pick up at a typical age. A biomedical engineer describes how more research may clarify its role.

Mark Geil, Associate Dean for Research and Professor of Biomechanics, Kennesaw State University • conversation
Aug. 9, 2023 ~9 min

A new treatment helped frogs regenerate their amputated legs – taking science one step closer to helping people regrow their body parts, too

Unlike humans, many animals are able to regenerate their limbs after losing them. Giving the body the right conditions for regrowth might allow people to recover lost limbs as well.

Nirosha Murugan, Assistant Professor of Biology, Algoma University • conversation
Jan. 28, 2022 ~7 min

The promise of repairing bones and tendons with human-made materials

A biomedical engineer explains how human-made materials inserted in the body hold hope to repair painful injuries more efficiently than bone grafts.

Brittany Taylor, Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida • conversation
Jan. 4, 2022 ~7 min

Mechanical forces in a beating heart affect its cells' DNA, with implications for development and disease

Heart disease can change the genetic structure of heart cells. Understanding the role that mechanical forces play in these changes could lead to improvements in artificial tissue design.

Corey Neu, Professor of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder • conversation
Dec. 21, 2021 ~5 min

'Frugal design' brings medical innovations to communities that lack resources during the pandemic

Engineering students in Malawi and Tanzania have used the materials and tools available to them to build ventilators, personal protective equipment and UV disinfection systems.

Theresa Mkandawire, Associate Professor of Civil Engineering, University of Malawi • conversation
March 29, 2021 ~11 min

A tiny circular racetrack for light can rapidly detect single molecules

An optical sensor that can detect individual molecules promises early detection of diseases and environmental contamination.

Judith Su, Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Optical Sciences, University of Arizona • conversation
Oct. 22, 2020 ~5 min


Diabetics break bones easily – new research is figuring out why their bones are so fragile

Researchers are starting to understand why the bones of diabetic people are more prone to fractures.

Lamya Karim, Assistant Professor of Bioengineering, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth • conversation
May 11, 2020 ~7 min

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