News and Events

In the 77 years since chemotherapy has been used to treat cancer, it has extended the lives of many patients. Yet some patients develop resistance to chemotherapy, and this remains a clinical challenge. Associate Professor Amy Brock’s work focuses on analyzing individual cancer cells within tumors to gain insights into the reasons some of them become resistant to chemotherapy, in an effort to find more effective treatment methods for more patients.

Yin-Jui (Derek) Chang, a second-year graduate student advised by Dr. Samantha Santacruz, has received a 2020 Trainee Professional Development Award from the Society for Neuroscience. The award is given to trainee graduate students or postdoctoral researchers who demonstrate scientific merit and excellence in research.

The Department of Biomedical Engineering and Dell Medical School (DMS) have partnered to launch robust new hands-on training experiences in the Clinical Innovation Design (CID) program, which was implemented this fall. Participants in the CID program practice design thinking and are involved in all aspects of medical device development and innovation, from needs assessment and analysis of current solutions to prototyping and business plan development.

Two faculty members and one alum from the UT Austin Department of Biomedical Engineering were inducted as Fellows of Biomaterial Science and Engineering (FBSE) at the World Biomaterials Congress held virtually from Glasgow, Scotland, on December 11, 2020. This honorary status recognizes them for excellence in the global community of biomaterials science.

A team of biomedical engineering students took fourth place and won the audience choice award at the DisrupTexas Undergraduate Pitch Competition. The recognition included a $1,100 cash prize.

Nicholas Peppas has been honored with the 2020 Oesper Award from the University of Cincinnati’s Chemistry Department and the Cincinnati Section of the American Chemical Society for his outstanding accomplishments in and contributions to science.

Cancer remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide. While advances in cancer diagnoses and treatments are promising, more is needed to address this devastating disease.

Wade Zeno knew he wanted to work in academia after tutoring for most of his undergraduate career at University of Nevada, Reno. Now, he’s achieved that goal. After getting a PhD in chemical engineering from University of California, Davis and spending four years as a postdoctoral researcher working with Associate Professor Jeanne Stachowiak at UT Austin, he accepted a job as an Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science at University of Southern California, starting in August 2020.

The National Institutes of Health renewed the Department of Biomedical Engineering’s Comprehensive Training Program in Imaging Science and Informatics. The goals of this fellowship program are to train participants to become comprehensive imaging scientists and gain the necessary skills to identify clinically relevant problems. The $800,000 five-year grant provides support to four graduate student fellows each year.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has approved the R00 phase of Bo Zhao’s Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00).