Bioengineering

From spinal cord stimulation to cryopreservation, our experts are finding solutions for human health issues.

Bioengineering

Biomechanics

Our experts investigate biomechanics at the molecular, cellular, and human body scales.

Their work includes exploring myosin protein for synthetic muscle, using DNA origami for nanomechanics of multiprotein systems, developing robotic interfaces for microsurgery, and making bio-inspired robots. They pair wearable medical devices with advanced analytics and machine learning to personalize rehabilitation for joint injuries and pathologies. They investigate the physiological mechanisms underlying sensory perception, feedback control of movement, and neuroplasticity in sensorimotor systems.

Faculty involved: Noelia Grande Gutiérrez, Eni Halilaj, Aaron Johnson, Philip LeDuc, Rebecca Taylor, Douglas Weber, Victoria Webster-Wood, Inseung Kang, Ophelia Bolmin

Neurotechnology

Our faculty work collaboratively with neuroscientists to understand the neurophysiology of sensory and motor systems in the body. They are inventing new strategies and devices to transform the treatment of neurological disorders.

Faculty involved: Philip LeDuc, Douglas Weber, Vickie Webster-Wood, Burak Ozdoganlar, Jessica Zhang, Ding Zhao, Rahul Panat, Inseung Kang

Biomedical manufacturing

From implantable medical devices for neural probing and wireless temperature sensing to dissolvable transdermal drug delivery systems, our faculty and students develop and analyze manufacturing processes for bioinert, effective medical tools.

Examples include tissue engineering, a gluten sensing device, bio-micro fluidic device fabrication, 3D printed bones for surgical training, repairing and replacing damaged tissues and organs, and wearable devices for enhancing sensory, motor, and cognitive functions.

Faculty involved: B. Reeja Jayan, Philip LeDuc, Burak Ozdoganlar, Rahul Panat, Yoed Rabin, Rebecca Taylor, Kenji Shimada, Douglas Weber

Learn more ... Scalable manufacturing unlocks potential of soft electronics

Computational modeling

Researchers develop models and simulations with computational geometry, mesh generation, finite element method, and isogeometric analysis for applications like micro-scale computer simulations of the circulatory system and biomedical imaging. They use patient-specific geometry from musculoskeletal imaging and real-world movements captured by wearable sensors to design assistive devices and ergonomic products.

They are combining molecular dynamic simulations, machine learning, and statistical learning to understand and predict the properties and interactions of biomolecules such as DNA and proteins.

Faculty involved: Amir Barati Farimani, Noelia Grande Gutiérrez, Eni Halilaj, Yoed Rabin, Kenji Shimada, Victoria Webster-Wood, Yongjie Jessica Zhang, Inseung Kang

Biothermal technology

Our experts develop sensors, surgical hardware, and physical modeling for the field of thermal energy in biology and medicine.

They apply their research to areas such as cryopreservation of tissue, cryosurgery, and heat and mass transfer in biological systems.

Faculty involved: Yoed Rabin

Learn more... New modeling approach helps advance cryopreservation

People

Learn who in Mechanical Engineering is working in bioengineering.

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Improved muscle mapping could aid neurological treatment Opens in new window

Carnegie Mellon researchers are using high-density surface electromyography (HD-sEMG) with spatial filters and ultrasound to reduce crosstalk and enhance muscle activity localization. This approach aims to achieve precise mapping of muscle activity, particularly in complex structures like the forearm.

Pressure control, the key to liver preservation Opens in new window

Yoed Rabin builds upon his legacy in the field of cryopreservation with a new project aimed at preserving one of the most complex, and in-demand organs.

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A new computer aided design tool from the labs of Jon Cagan and Rebecca Taylor enables scientists to rapidly generate and manufacture novel DNA origami structures within designer-defined constraints.

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Making way for a digital twin of the human placenta Opens in new window

A computational model of the basic functional unit of the placenta enables researchers to simulate placenta blood flow, realistically.

Biological neural circuits critical for neurodegenerative disease therapy and biohybrid robot control Opens in new window

To support the development of new therapies for neurodegenerative disease and advance biohybrid robots, Jessica Zhang and Victoria Webster-Wood will lead a project to develop computational tools to predict neuron growth and transport regulation.

Engineering entrepreneurs find their way Opens in new window

When faculty and students in the College of Engineering create intellectual property, our culture supports their efforts to form startups.

Carnegie Mellon lands ARPA-H award for implantable bioelectric medicine project Opens in new window

A CMU-led project team secured an award of up to $42M from ARPA-H to accelerate the development of implantable bioelectronic devices that deliver patient-specific therapy and monitor disease status.

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Sea slugs: what can we learn from them? Opens in new window

Studying Aplysia californica, or sea slugs, can tell us a lot about neuromuscular systems and open up avenues for more controlled animal experiments.

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CMU, Meta seek to make computer-based tasks accessible with wristband technology Opens in new window

In collaboration with Meta, Doug Weber’s lab is exploring how sEMG signals can enable people with spinal cord injuries to interact with computer and mixed reality systems.

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Undergraduates present research at Meeting of the Minds 2024 Opens in new window

Engineering undergraduate students had a wonderful showing at Meeting of the Minds, displaying posters, giving presentations, and demonstrating projects they have worked on this past academic year.

LeDuc named 2023 AAAS Fellow Opens in new window

Philip LeDuc has been named a Fellow in the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) for 2023 due to his research in the mechanics of cellular and molecular systems.

Safety first: DNA armor protects regenerative medicine Opens in new window

Using DNA origami, researchers in Carnegie Mellon University’s College of Engineering have developed a synthetic cell armor to protect cells during the stress of clinical practice.

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Tackling concussions Opens in new window

New research identifies genetic effects of traumatic brain injury using an artificial brain.

Boosting oxygenation for transplanted cell-based therapies Opens in new window

To advance cell-based therapies, researchers have identified a novel device that makes on-site oxygen for biological cells transplanted inside the body.

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ARPA-H fast tracks development of new cancer implant tech Opens in new window

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Branching out: Modeling neurons in new ways Opens in new window

Predicting neuron cell growth just got a little bit easier, thanks to CMU researchers.

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Student works on tiny bio robots Opens in new window

Lameck Beni, an undergraduate student in mechanical engineering and biomedical engineering, conducted research on small biodegradable robots that have important medical applications.

So tricky, a robot can do it Opens in new window

Carnegie Mellon Researchers have taken inspiration from geckos to create a material that adheres to wet and dry surfaces, even on an incline.

2023 Dean’s Early Career Fellows announced Opens in new window

Xi (Charlie) Ren, Victoria Webster-Wood, and Ding Zhao have received the honor for their contributions to their respective fields.

Multi-university team building actuators for next gen bio-bots Opens in new window

Multi-university team, led by Mechanical Engineering’s Vickie Webster-Wood, is building actuators for next generation sustainable bio-bots.

New hope for people living with paralysis after stroke Opens in new window

Spinal cord stimulation technology developed by Douglas Weber in collaboration with the University of Pittsburgh offers new hope for people living with impairments that would otherwise be considered permanent.

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Jon Cagan named head of Mechanical Engineering Opens in new window

Jon Cagan will be the new head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University, effective November 1, 2022.

Microneedles unlock curcumin’s therapeutic potential Opens in new window

Researchers engineer a hybrid system that stabilizes curcumin to target skin diseases.

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Nanoprinting electrodes for customized treatments of disease Opens in new window

Researchers pioneer the CMU Array—a customizable, 3D nano-printed, ultra-high-density microelectrode array platform for next-generation brain-computer interfaces to treat neurological disorders.

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Hydrogels pave way for future of soft robotics Opens in new window

Wenhuan Sun, Victoria Webster-Wood, and Adam Feinberg have created an open-source, commercially available fiber extruder to benefit future research with hydrogels and soft robotics.

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NIH awards Halilaj $2.7M

Eni Halilaj will collaborate with UPMC to predict the onset of post-traumatic osteoarthritis after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction surgery.

Review of microfluidic tools shows flow of innovation

Collaborative research between doctoral students from Biological Sciences and Mechanical Engineering yields findings published in Nature Communications.

New modeling approach helps advance cryopreservation Opens in new window

Cryopreserving tissues and organs without damaging them requires a delicate dance through thermodynamic principles. CMU’s Biothermal Technology Laboratory has a new modeling approach for it.

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Halilaj and Ren receive NSF Career Awards Opens in new window

College of Engineering’s Eni Halilaj and Charlie Ren have received National Science Foundation CAREER Awards for their research.

Machine learning gets smarter to speed up drug discovery Opens in new window

This self-supervised learning framework is better at predicting molecular properties than other machine learning models because it can use large amounts of unlabeled data that other models can’t.

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When biology influences technology: using bread to desalinate water Opens in new window

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Faculty projects awarded DURIP funding Opens in new window

Three College of Engineering faculty members have been selected to receive funding for their projects through the Defense University Research Instrumentation Program (DURIP): Marc De Graef, Anthony Rollett, and Rebecca Taylor.

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Precision rehabilitation to prevent osteoarthritis Opens in new window

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Bridging campuses, increasing opportunities in STEM

CMU and Pitt will offer a joint MS-to-PhD program focused on AI, robotics, and neural engineering to increase the participation of underrepresented students in science and engineering.

Simulating fluid flow to study disease

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Tuning synthetic collagen threads for biohybrid robots Opens in new window

Researchers in Victoria Webster-Wood’s Biohybrid and Organic Robotics Group are using techniques from tissue engineering to refine tendon-like collagen threads for a new generation of robots.

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Using deep learning to research material transport in the brain

Understanding the causes of degenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, Huntington's, and Parkinson's will require the meticulous investigation into the complex, branch-like neurite networks of the brain. Machine learning can be an efficient, highly accurate part of this process.

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Biomechanics for teens

National Biomechanics Day is a worldwide celebration that strives to bring the complex world of biomechanics to high school students through hands-on activities, demonstrations, and Q&A sessions with real-world professionals.

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A passion for invention

Mechanical Engineering alumnus and Harvard medical student Brian Chang has earned The Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans.

Virtually awarded

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Scalable manufacturing for novel, painless vaccine delivery

Collaborators are developing a novel approach to inoculation that addresses both immunological effectiveness and manufacturing efficiency.

Under the sea Opens in new window

A team of researchers from Carnegie Mellon’s Soft Machines Lab has created a soft robot inspired by the quick and agile brittle star, the first mobile and untethered underwater crawling robot.

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Improving a vaccine delivery system for COVID and beyond Opens in new window

To impact COVID-19 vaccination in the developing world, collaborators develop and test a new hybrid microneedle array platform capable of delivering vaccines directly into the skin.

The fusion of human and machine

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Imagine a 10-second COVID-19 antibody test—we’re on our way Opens in new window

Carnegie Mellon University researchers reveal fastest known COVID-19 antibody test with high sensitivity due to a unique, 3D printing technology and an electrochemical reaction.

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Sea slugs to provide clues in understanding the brain Opens in new window

As the co-principal investigator on an NSF NeuroNex project, Victoria Webster-Wood will investigate the impact of neuromodulators on muscle actuation and modeling biological motor control in engineering frameworks.

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Zhang receives NSF funding for brain research

Yongjie Jessica Zhang is researching brain biomechanics with funding from the National Science Foundation's Engineering for America's Prosperity, Health, and Infrastructure (LEAP HI) program.

Unlocking PNA’s superpowers Opens in new window

Rebecca Taylor and her research team have developed a method for self-assembling nanostructures with gamma-modified peptide nucleic acid, a synthetic mimic of DNA.

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Making innovation count

Undergraduate research support empowers Miguel Martinez to engineer surgical training solutions.

Outsmarting a virus Opens in new window

Can machine learning help us to accelerate the antibody discovery process to fight highly infectious viral diseases like COVID-19 and save thousands of lives?

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An alternative to the syringe Opens in new window

Carnegie Mellon University will provide microneedle drug delivery patches to support COVID-19 vaccination and treatment research.

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Engineering faculty receive CAREER awards Opens in new window

Four College of Engineering faculty members have been awarded CAREER awards by the National Science Foundation (NSF).

Producing hydrogen peroxide when, and where, it’s needed Opens in new window

Does a material exist that can be used to selectively, reliably, and efficiently form hydrogen peroxide whenever and wherever it’s needed?

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3D printing nanoparticle neural probes Opens in new window

Rahul Panat has received a R01 grant from the NIH to use a low-cost, rapid additive manufacturing method to create a new class of high-density neural probes to record neurological data.

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Where mechanics meets artificial intelligence

Amir Barati Farimani is bringing state of the art machine learning algorithms to mechanical engineering and exploring research topics in physical phenomena, materials discovery, robotics, bioengineering, and more.

The root of the matter Opens in new window

A team from the College of Engineering has used the natural architecture of the mangrove tree to unlock a better method of desalination.

Biothermal pursuits

Introduced to cryopreservation of organs and tissues as a master’s student, Purva Joshi decided to pursue a Ph.D. to continue this research in the Biothermal Technology Laboratory.

Collaborators’ creation reveals how mechanical forces control genes

A LeDuc/Minden collaboration in mesofluidics—a medium-sized twist on microfluidics—was featured on the cover of the journal Lab on a Chip. The research team merged expertise in biomechanics, biology, and engineering to develop a new device.

Step by step

New Mechanical Engineering faculty member Eni Halilaj applies biomechanics to treat and prevent musculoskeletal injuries and diseases.

Step by step

New Mechanical Engineering faculty member Eni Halilaj applies biomechanics to treat and prevent musculoskeletal injuries and diseases.

From bioinspired to biohybrid

Victoria Webster-Wood uses organic materials to build robotic devices for future applications in medicine and environmental science.

Mapping the brain’s traffic Opens in new window

Engineering Professors Ge Yang and Jessica Zhang are using complex geometric analysis to learn about neuron function and unlock the mysteries of the human brain.

Measuring macro with micro Opens in new window

College of Engineering’s Rebecca Taylor earns funding from the U.S. Air Force’s Young Investigator Research Program to develop next generation sensors with DNA and PNA.

A 3-D approach to stop cancer in its tracks Opens in new window

Although cell analysis traditionally occurs in a plastic petri dish, researchers created a 3-D model scientists can use to analyze the complexities of cancer cells in an environment that more closely mimics the human body.

Synthetic muscle gets its punch from design method Opens in new window

Carnegie Mellon researchers design building blocks for synthetic muscle using computational method.

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Jayan wins Berkman Faculty Development Fund for gluten sensor

MechE Professor Reeja Jayan was awarded the Berkman Faculty Development Fund for her work in developing a sensor that quickly scans food for potential allergens, namely gluten.

Saving lives through advanced cryopreservation Opens in new window

Professor Yoed Rabin received a $1.6 million award from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health to develop technology for cryopreservation, the preservation of tissues and organs at extremely low temperatures.

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CMECS

Center for the Mechanics and Engineering of Cellular Systems

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