Department of Bioengineering Annual Report 2023-2024

Shaping the Future:

Department of Bioengineering
Annual Report 

2023 - 2024

Dear Bioengineering Community, 

 As we reflect on another remarkable year, we are proud to share the progress and achievements that continue to define our department. Our commitment to academic excellence, programmatic growth, and research innovation remains unwavering. 

None of this progress would be possible without the generous support of our alumni, friends, and partners. As we look to the future, we invite you to continue supporting our mission. Your contributions enable us to invest in initiatives that will transform the student experience, drive world-changing research, and promote equity and social justice in engineering education and research. 

Thank you for being an essential part of our journey. 

Warm regards,
Mark A. Anastasio
Department Head
Donald Bigger Willett Professor in Engineering

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Our First in the Nation Neural Engineering Program

At the University of Illinois we aren't just on the cutting edge; we're forging new ground. Our Neural Engineering undergraduate program is the very first of its kind. We're training the next generation of innovators in this still-developing field. 

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Our Innovative Blended Computer Science + Bioengineering Program

Bioengineering is at the forefront of a big data revolution, and we’re committed to equipping our students with the cutting-edge tools they need to lead the charge. That’s why the Department of Engineering is thrilled to present our CS+BIOE program—a groundbreaking curriculum where students can master the essential skills of tomorrow, from artificial intelligence and computational modeling to the creation of innovative mobile applications. Dive into hands-on training that prepares you to excel in a rapidly evolving landscape.

   

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Tumor removal done right, the first time: An up to $33 million ARPA-H award to bring a new standard of care for precision in surgical interventions

Bioengineering professor Dr. Stephen Boppart is spearheading a groundbreaking project which has been awarded $33 million from ARPA-H. In partnership with Mayo Clinic, the Margin Diagnostics (MarginDx) initiative aims to revolutionize cancer surgery by using advanced imaging and AI to ensure tumors are fully removed in real time. Under Dr. Boppart’s leadership, this interdisciplinary effort is poised to dramatically improve surgical outcomes and set new standards in precision medicine.

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ARPA-H project to pioneer rapid manufacturing of tumor models

Dr. Rohit Bhargava, Grainger Distinguished Chair in Bioengineering and Director of the Cancer Center at Illinois, is co-leading a $21 million ARPA-H project with Dr. Bill King to transform cancer research. This groundbreaking initiative will integrate advanced chemical imaging with AI and robotics to automate the production of 3D tumor models. By enabling scalable and precise manufacturing, the project aims to make these models widely available for research and personalized medicine, marking a significant advancement in the fight against cancer.

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Seeing the unseen: How butterflies can help scientists detect cancer

Inspired by the enhanced visual system of the Papilio xuthus butterfly, a team of researchers have developed an imaging sensor capable of “seeing” into the UV range inaccessible to human eyes. Using the spectral signatures of biomedical markers, such as amino acids, this new imaging technology is even capable of differentiating between cancer cells and normal cells with 99% confidence.

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Tracking the traffic between our cells

Professors Marni and Stephen Boppart have developed a novel way of imaging EVs label-free and in vivo – while they are still in the fluids, tissues or body. They are launching a new project with the goal of not only visualizing EVs in living tissue, but also tracking their dynamics, and have been named 2023 Allen Distinguished Investigators by the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation for this purpose.

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Predicting the response of fungal genes using FUN-PROSE

In a new study, researchers including bioengineering professor Sergei Maslov have developed a machine learning approach called FUN-PROSE to predict how genes react to different environmental conditions.

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Professors Bradley and Golecki publish article on ethical capstone courses 

Professors Joe Bradley and Holly Golecki received recognition for their work in ethical engineering instruction when they were awarded for their presentation “Experiential Learning: Exploring Nuances when Making Ethical Decisions” at the most recent Biomedical Engineering Educating Community (BEEC) Conference. Their work has also been published in Biomedical Engineering Education.

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$14.8M grant supports Singapore partnership on precision fermentation 

Bioengineering professors Ting Lu, Christopher Rao and Huimin Zhao are part of a groundbreaking project funded by a $14.8 million grant to develop microbial cell engineering technologies. This initiative aims to enhance food supply chain resilience and reduce environmental impacts.

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Bringing cells to life ... and to Minecraft: $30 million NSF grant to support whole-cell modeling at the Beckman Institute

Beckman researchers and collaborators received $30 million from the U.S. National Science Foundation to establish the NSF Science and Technology Center for Quantitative Cell Biology. The center will develop whole-cell models to transform our understanding of how cells function and share that knowledge with diverse communities through the popular computer game Minecraft.

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Rashid Bashir elected to National Academy of Medicine

Rashid Bashir, dean of The Grainger College of Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, was elected to the National Academy of Medicine.

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Rebecca Reck named 2023 Engineering Unleashed Fellow

In recognition of her hard work in engineering education, bioengineering professor Rebecca Reck was named a 2023 Engineering Unleashed Fellow. This fellowship, made possible by the Kern Family Foundation, is designed to recognize outstanding engineering educators and give them the opportunity to work on an educational project of their own design. 

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Investiture of Professor Rohit Bhargava

Bioengineering professor and Cancer Center at Illinois Director Rohit Bhargava was officially named the Grainger Distinguished Chair in Engineering during an investiture ceremony on Friday, September 29, at the Beckman Institute. “Professor Bhargava has had an interdisciplinary impact on our campus that is exceptional and goes far beyond his own scholarship,” said Bioengineering Department Head Mark Anastasio. 

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Professor Mark Anastasio elevated to IEEE Fellow

Bioengineering department head Mark Anastasio has been elevated to IEEE Fellow for his impactful contributions to the field of computational imaging. This prestigious honor is a testament to Anastasio’s dedication and groundbreaking work in medical imaging technologies.

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Noah Simon

Noah Simon, B.S., 2020

"During my time in Bioengineering at Illinois, I really enjoyed learning from and working with a diverse group of faculty, which helped me gain experience in a wide variety of bioengineering areas. I was always extremely interested in the therapeutics field and genetic engineering coursework. Currently, I am working as a Senior Quality Control Analyst at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia in the Clinical Vector Core department, which manufactures gene therapies. My department even manufactured Phase I Kymriah, the first FDA approved CAR-T cell therapy!"

Kodchakorn (Sydney) Khemtonglang

Kodchakorn (Sydney) 

Khemtonglang, M.S., 2024

"The Department of Bioengineering at Illinois provides exceptional resources that have enabled me to conduct my research seamlessly. Expert faculty offer invaluable guidance, while the warm and welcoming student community has been a source of friendship and shared joy. During challenging times, these strong support systems have empowered me to persevere and succeed, making my experience in Bioengineering truly enriching." Sydney will join the department of Materials Science and Engineering at the National University of Singapore as a Ph.D. student this fall.

<span data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Janet Sorrells</span>

Janet Sorrells, Ph.D., 2024

"I am incredibly thankful for my time in the Bioengineering Department at Illinois, and especially thankful for the many mentors I found while I was there. One of the reasons I chose Illinois for my PhD was that the people I met there were incredibly kind and supportive. Having a strong support system helped me thrive throughout my PhD and provided the help encouragement that I needed to secure a faculty job after graduation. I had so much fun working in the Biophotonics Imaging Laboratory that I was inspired to devote the rest of my career to working in biophotonics research." Janet Sorrells will join the Department of Electrical & Systems Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis this fall.

Carle Illinois College of Medicine

The first steps towards the Carle Illinois College of Medicine (CI MED) officially came in 2014, when leaders from UIUC and Carle Health Systems recognized the need for a new kind of medical education. They visualized the world’s first engineering-based medical school, where students would receive an education that could combine traditional medical training with engineering and technology, with the potential to produce a new generation of physician-innovators.

CI MED and the Department of Bioengineering share a commitment to improving the future of healthcare; to making medical advancements more accessible, more functional, and more impactful, all while promoting the increasingly important union of engineering and health care. It’s a partnership that promises to leave a mark on not only Illinois, but the world beyond.

<!--StartFragment--><span data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Carle Illinois College of Medicine students practice their skills at the Jump Simulation Center </span>
Carle Illinois College of Medicine students in the state-of-the-art Jump Simulation Center 

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Cancer Center at Illinois

The Cancer Center at Illinois (CCIL) began in 2011 as the Cancer Community, led by current CCIL Director and bioengineering professor Rohit Bhargava. The community consisted of over 50 Illinois faculty and several prominent bioengineering researchers, including professors Rashid Bashir, Stephen Boppart, Joseph Irudayaraj, and Michael Insana. This group saw the critical importance of developing a space to focus on cancer research, and worked toward that goal by organizing regular events and promoting interactions between faculty through symposiums, workshops, research groups, and more. 

The faculty and research overlap between the Department of Bioengineering and CCIL represents a mutual passion for exceptional research and the promotion of human health, with a bright future of shared, boundary-breaking medical innovation.

Bioengineering professor and CCIL Director Rohit Bhargava 
Bioengineering professor and CCIL Director Rohit Bhargava 

Learn more about the Cancer Center at Illinois

News | July 29, 2024

Bioengineering researchers selected for inaugural Biohub Cohort

Bioengineering faculty among the inaugural group selected to participate in the prestigious Chan Zuckerberg Biohub Chicago Investigators, which focuses on immunology, inflammation, and other critical issues.  

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2023 SURF participants conclude their ten weeks with Mayo Clinic

This summer, eight bioengineering undergraduates had the chance to participate in the Mayo Clinic's Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program. Now that the program is over, students had an opportunity to celebrate and reflect on their experiences. 

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Bioengineering capstone design course connects students and sponsors

This year's bioengineering capstone design course gave undergraduates and M.Eng students the opportunity to work with industry members to design and develop practical medical devices with real-world impact.

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BIOE 306: Putting theory into hands-on practice in Biofabrication Lab

Professor Megan Griebel is teaching the same BIOE 306 course that inspired her as an undergraduate, and sharing the unique benefits of the course with current BIOE students. 

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Lim receiving his award

PhD student Jongwon Lim is SLAS Innovation Award winner

Bioengineering PhD student Jongwon Lim recently received the 2024 SLAS Innovation Award, which recognizes outstanding achievements in the development of technologies with significant impact on laboratory automation, screening, and drug discovery.

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Four students receive Beckman Institute Graduate Scholarships

Four students received Beckman’s newest scholarship for graduate researchers, including bioengineering students Isabelle Guerra and Jimoh Igbalaye.

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Student spotlight: Mia Takekawa

Mia Takekawa, a bioengineering M.Eng. student and standout gymnast, has expertly balanced the demands of competitive sports and engineering throughout her time at Illinois. With multiple perfect 10s on the balance beam and a strong support system from both athletics and engineering, Takekawa credits Illinois for shaping her passions and future.

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Donate to the Bioengineering Priority Fund

Your gift to the Bioengineering Priority Fund provides vital support that allows the Department of Bioengineering to strategically invest in critical initiatives that will transform the student experience and drive world-changing research.

For more information, contact: engineering-alumni@illinois.edu (217) 244-2364

Mail your gift to: University of Illinois Foundation P.O. Box 734500 Chicago, IL 60673-4500

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