BU Wins $20M for NSF Engineering Research Center
Goal is personalized heart tissue for clinical use A cardiac patch. The ERC’s ultimate goal is to advance nano-bio-manufacturing methods that could lead to large-scale fabrication of functional heart tissue, which could replace diseased or damaged muscle after a heart attack. Illustration courtesy of Jeroen Eyckmans. Boston University has won a $20 million, five-year award […]
MED Gives High Schoolers a Jump on Health Careers
Enrichment program for Boston’s underrepresented minorities Danny Truong (left), a British International School of Boston senior, and Brandon Hector, a Boston Latin Academy senior, work on a sickle cell experiment as part of the Youth to Health Careers (Y2HC) program at the School of Medicine. Photo by Jackie Ricciardi. Although he is more cheerful and […]
Move Over, Iron Man
A soft, wearable robot could help people walk farther and faster after a stroke Powered by a chunky robotic suit, Iron Man can leap from buildings and soar into space. The superhero’s gold and titanium getup might look great when taking down villains, but it’d be overkill for spending a morning with the grandkids. For […]
New Leader for Technology Development Office
Mike Pratt will aid faculty in collaborations with industry Mike Pratt has been promoted to managing director of the Technology Development Office after being interim managing director since August 2015. Photo (right) by Jackie Ricciardi. Talk about taking one for the team. In 2008, BU researcher Ed Damiano needed a couple of healthy adults as controls for […]
ENG Alum Bob Hines Is NASA Astronaut Candidate
Elite group of 12 chosen from 18,000-plus who applied Bob Hines (ENG’97) earned one of 12 astronaut candidate slots this year, with help from 76 combat missions and 5 years as a NASA research pilot. Photo (right) courtesy of NASA. BU has many alumni in high places, but Bob Hines is bound for greater heights. He […]
Neurophotonics Center: Advancing Understanding of the Brain
New BU entity will have faculty from both campuses David Boas, founding director of the Neurophotonics Center and an ENG professor, comes to BU from Mass General Hospital. Photo (left) by Scott Nobles. The understanding of the human brain has leaped forward in recent years, with the help of the emerging field of neurophotonics, a […]
Emphysema: A New Way to Predict Treatment Outcomes?
Computer model may lead to more personalized, optimized treatment Boston University researchers Béla Suki (left) and Jarred Mondoñedo have developed a computer model of emphysema that could help predict patient survival and quality of life following treatment. Photo by Jackie Ricciardi. Emphysema is a long-term and devastating lung disease. As it progresses, the body’s own […]
New Sensors for Smart Lighting
Responsive sensors aim to improve human health and lighting efficiency By Caitlin Bird. Photos by Jackie Ricciardi Thomas Little, professor of electrical and computer engineering and associate director of the Center for Lighting Enabled Systems & Applications (LESA), in his laboratory at the BU Photonics Center. Imagine sitting in a secluded corner of a college […]
BU Joins Federal Effort to Engineer Human Tissue
New national institute will develop innovative, life-saving industry Human-made tissue for healing wounds and preserving organs for transplantation won’t be science fiction if a new consortium, including BU, can develop the technology. Photo by BeholdingEye/iStock. Imagine this: a new factory opens in the United States after years of dwindling manufacturing jobs. Unlike the great factories […]
Finding Lung Cancer in the Nose
MED researchers’ genetic test may open door to easy diagnosis The work of Avrum Spira and his group may eventually lead to a simple screening for lung cancer. Photo by Cydney Scott. Lung cancer is the deadliest form of cancer in the United States—and in the world. According to the National Cancer Institute, it accounts for […]