biomedical innovation capstone project ideas

Main navigation

• Office Hours
• McGill Design Day 2023

2021/2022 Medical Technology Capstone Projects

Our capstone projects have a focus on medical technologies and devices, as well as health and multidisciplinary projects. Projects come from academics and companies, thereby giving students the opportunity to work on and provide solutions to relevant issues and questions.

Project List

1—clemex microscope enclosure.

Clemex Technologies Inc.

matthieug [at] clemex.com (Matthieu Guihard)

Clemex is presently building its own microscope dedicated to specific needs, the objective being to reduce the overall cost of such system for a particular industry.

As seen in the image, the system involves a X/Y stage, a light path (objective, lens and tube, camera, ring light) and a motorized Z-Axis, all assembled on a common plate.

The proof of concept has been done and works. Only the motorized Z-axis will be changed during the summer rendering the system more compact.

Next step of the project will be to design and build an appealing enclosure that merges functionalities such as hardware settings, stage mobility, sample accessibility, visual appearance and other requirements as described in a future specifications document.

2—Development of a Test Load for Whole Body Plethysmography

taylor.wilson [at] scireq.com (Taylor Wilson)

Introduction

SCIREQ Inc. is a recognized world leader in the respiratory research community as a producer of innovative tools that help scientists acquire novel insights into the lungs. The use of rodents and other small animals in respiratory research has been vital in leading to scientific discovery and development benefitting humankind. Whole body plethysmography (WBP) is a standard method for studying pulmonary function in conscious, spontaneously breathing laboratory subjects. The barometric plethysmography technique measures flow and pressure changes that occur while the subject is breathing, before and after exposure to a pharmaceutical or other challenges. WBP is the least invasive method of studying pulmonary function and consists of placing the subject in a chamber, where they can move freely and explore while a pressure transducer measures the flow and pressure changes caused by their breathing. It is often used for longitudinal studies where the subjects are studied for multiple hours on successive experiment days.

Why a Test Load?

In plethysmography, it is difficult to troubleshoot some issues because the signals generated by the subjects can be noisy due to a number of factors such as the lab environment, movement of the subject etc. A test load is used to model the the expected usage of equipment, by simulating the signals the equipment is designed to measure. For the case of WBP, the test load would need to simulate a small animal’s breathing patterns. Currently, we are using a 1 mL syringe to simulate a signal for our WBP by oscillating the plunger rapidly, which is not very accurate. It is difficult to accurately test the system when the signal itself is not consistent. Having a characterized test load will help with in-house testing, calibration and trouble shooting at customer sites.

Capstone Project

The goal of the CAPSTONE project is to develop a test load for use with WBP systems. The test load should be able to generate flows using an actuator at various frequencies. The design must meet a specific set of criteria in the areas of size, flow generation, system integration, manufacturability, cost, and ease of use. Your design will be tested by SCIREQ engineers and has the potential for becoming a standard product that is shipped with every WBP sale.

You will get to work with our team of engineers in a collaborative Agile work environment and be able to leverage our manufacturers’ capabilities to make your design a reality. As your mentors, we are available to you for questions, discussion, and regular project meetings. We are looking for an innovative, motivated team who want to make a global impact with this practical research application. Working with SCIREQ, you will gain valuable hands-on experience, joining a diverse and inclusive team whose philosophy is rooted in courtesy, honesty, integrity, and fairness.

3—Development of Rat "Soft Restraint" for Use in Inhilation/Exposure Tower

taylor.wilson [at] scireq.com (B) ben [at] scireq.com (en Urovitch)

SCIREQ Inc. is a recognized world leader in the respiratory research community as a producer of innovative tools that help scientists acquire novel insights into the lungs. The vital use of rodents and other small animals in respiratory research has led to scientific discovery and development benefitting humankind. One typical application is inhalation/exposure, where subjects are exposed to a controlled atmosphere, exploring the effects of external compounds (e.g., toxins, pharmaceuticals). Controlled inhalation/exposure is used to research asthma, pulmonary disorders, infectious disease, air pollutants, tobacco, cannabis, vaping, pharmaceutical development, among others. One method of controlled delivery is via a nose-only inhalation setup. Subjects are restrained, limiting exposure to their snout and allowing for more accurate results due to limited body exposure, more control, and lesser quantities of pharmaceuticals or toxins being used.

Restraints in Mice

An industry standard for exposure studies involves nose-only inhalation restraining devices which are typically rigid, fully enclosed, and include a plunger that forces the subject forward. This form of restriction may result in the subject producing irregular body heat or abnormal breathing. In extreme cases, the subject may attempt to retreat within the restraint, causing itself harm.

SCIREQ has developed SoftRestraints for mice to minimize some of the negative effects of typical restraints. The open mesh has proven to be gentler yet secure, imposing little-to-no compression to the torso and therefore does not impede chest movements. Subjects body is also exposed to the environment allowing for better heat dissipation.

The goal of the CAPSTONE project is to develop a soft restraint for rat use. Rats have unique challenges for restraining; their size, weight, and temperament being some. The restraint may follow SCIREQ’s pre-existing technology or could be an entirely new design. The approach and strategy is up to you. The design must meet a specific set of criteria in the areas of subject sizes, system integration, ability to sterilize, manufacturability, and ease of use. Consequently, your design will be tested by the technicians that work with live subjects and the researchers who use SCIREQ’s equipment.

4—Design and Optimization of Thought Technology eVu-TPS Physiological Sensor

Thought Technology Ltd.

hal [at] thoughttechnology.com (Dr. Hal Myers)

eVu-TPS was initially designed in 2007 and was one of the first Bluetooth-enabled finger-worn physiological monitoring devices. The unit monitors heart rate/HRV, finger temperature, skin conductance, and respiration from one fingertip and uses apps on Android, iPhones and PC’s to acquire and provide Biofeedback. It has been designed, along with all our equipment, to comply with medical regulatory requirements in many countries.

We are seeing an uptake by clinicians in the use of the devices to remotely train their patients, mostly because of Covid-19, because of the relatively low cost and ease of use compared to our general line of products.

Currently, our manufacturing cost with all packaging and isolated charger costs is too high compared to desired market retail price. Our engineering team believes this cost is achievable with some of the following changes:

• Change the design from an architecture incorporating front end signal monitoring and a separate analog to digital converter and microprocessor to using the capabilities of some BLE Bluetooth chips to perform these functions, thereby eliminating a significant amount of circuitry.
• Since the original design incorporated a standard Bluetooth module, it required a battery capable of significant power. The new design will use BLE, so the size and cost of the battery can be reduced.
• Change the PPG (photoplethysmograph) monitoring from discrete Infrared LED/photocell components to an inexpensive all-in-one module that monitors not only PPG, but also oximetry.
• Consider incorporating EKG monitoring using a finger on the opposite hand touched to a conductive part of the case.
• Redesign the printed circuit board layout and finger plate electrodes to be easily manufacturable in quantity.
• Redesign the case to be thinner and less obtrusive.
• Redesign the charging technique. The goal is to charge directly from a 5v USB-type source to a case that would isolate the fingers from the electrodes.

Preferable Qualifications of ECE Students

• Electronic design experience, ideally for low-level biologic signals
• Firmware experience
• Some app development skills - although the app is already developed, we may need to add the extra EKG signal.

Preferable Qualifications of MECH Students

Industrial design to make the case smaller and easier to manufacture

• Parts for prototypes
• Guidance by an experienced team of electrical, mechanical, and firmware engineers. The exciting opportunities for those working on this project includes the opportunity to design a product for real-world applications, thus preparing them to move easily into companies requiring these skills.

Non-Disclosure Agreement Requirement

Since this project is a currently sold product, we require a non-disclosure agreement from students and faculty working on the project, and the requirement that if students want to present the project to others, that circuitry be shown only in block diagram form without schematics or specific components or firmware.

Links to Some of Thought Technology’s History and Products

eVu-TPS: Triple-Physiology Sensor

Reward and Signal view of eVu-Senz App on Android

How to work remotely using ZOOM

MyOnyx 4-Channel Encoder System: 1 minute overview

Dr. Hal Myers presenting about Biofeedback and Neurofeedback at a McGill EE lecture

History of Thought Technology

5—Design and Implementation of State-of-the-art Medical Device MEMS Sensor Interface

nizar.kezzo [at] nxtsens.com (Nizar Kezzo)

An emerging field of microscopic devices that combine both mechanical and electrical components is seen across a wide range of industries including the biomedical field. These devices are known as Micro Electro-Mechanical System or MEMS. MEMS are able to sense, control and actuate on the micro scale and generate effects on the macro scale [1]. The highly miniaturized and integrated MEMS devices are used to add ‘eyes and ears’ to medical equipment. The ability to actively monitor biometric patient data in real-time can provide great benefit to physicians, first responders, and medical professionals everywhere in their mission to improve patient outcomes.

Our flagship product, the MY01 device, is one such example. MY01 is an FDA approved biomedical pressure monitor, which functions by inserting an active pressure sensor into the patient’s muscle. Continuous pressure readings serve as an aide to diagnosis of Acute Compartment Syndrome (ACS) [2], which is dangerous and difficult-to-detect condition prevalent in patients suffering from high-energy trauma such as bone fractures.

The MY01 device uses a MEMS sensor to measure pressure in the patient’s muscle. MY01 Inc. is seeking to further improve the accuracy and reliability of the MEMS element to deliver next generation ACS diagnostic tools to the hands of physicians. The scope of the project includes designing a MEMS sensor interface development board alongside a user application. The development board shall explore different MEMS sensor and interface architectures. This will involve an embedded system design.

We are seeking a team to work with us in developing new and improved ways of interfacing technology with the human body. This project aims to further unlock the potential of modern sensors in the biomedical field by offering enhanced visibility in difficult-to-access areas of our anatomy.

[1] "An Introduction to MEMS (Micro-electromechanical Systems)," PRIME Faraday Partnership, 2002.

[2] C. P. M. Osborn and A. Schmidt, "Management of Acute Compartment Syndrome," JAAOS - Journal of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeos, vol. 28, no. 3, pp. e118-e114, 2020.

6—Conceptual Design of Cutting-Edge Insertion Methods for Modern Biomedical Sensors

christopher.agellon [at] nxtsens.com (Christopher Agellon)

Advancements in modern sensing technology creates the need for new and innovative methods for in-vivo implantation of biomedical sensing elements. The ability to actively monitor biometric patient data in real-time can provide great benefit to physicians, first responders, and medical professionals everywhere in their mission to improve patient outcomes.

MY01 Inc. is seeking to design and prototype safe and effective tools to “introduce” or “insert” our cutting-edge sensors into patients in need of enhanced monitoring capabilities. The envisioned system should be portable, light-weight, intuitive to use, and can be administered with a high degree of reliability.

Our flagship product, the MY01 device, is one such example. MY01 is an FDA approved biomedical pressure monitor, which functions by inserting an active pressure sensor into the patient’s muscle. Continuous pressure readings serve as an aide to diagnosis of Acute Compartment Syndrome (ACS) [1], which is dangerous and difficult-to-detect condition prevalent in patients suffering high-energy trauma such as bone fractures.

To learn more, visit our website .

[1] C. P. M. Osborn and A. H. Schmidt, "Management of Acute Compartment Syndrome," JAAOS - Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, vol. 28, no. 3, pp. e108-e114, 2020, doi: 10.5435/jaaos-d-19-00270.

7—Design of an Ophthalmic Imaging Device with Data Processing Algorithms

Remote Optical

oliver.wumartinez [at] mail.mcgill.ca (Oliver Wu Martinez) , jeremy.zwaig [at] mail.mcgill.ca (Jeremy Zwaig) , angela.wong2 [at] mail.mcgill.ca (Angela Wong) , athithan.ambikkumar [at] mail.mcgill.ca (Athy Ambikkumar) , leonard.levin [at] mcgill.ca (Dr. Leonard Levin)

The Motivation

Currently in North America, there is a lack of ophthalmologists. We are creating a remote and asynchronous eye exam to assist ophthalmologists and help patients. Patients will access our imaging device at their local medical centers. The captured data will then be sent to an ophthalmologist who can diagnose the patient equivalently to an in-person slit lamp exam.

Hardware component (2 MECH students): Students will be tasked to build a state-of-the-art imaging device utilizing pre-existing imaging technology that has not been exploited in the field of ophthalmology. Students will use their experience and creativity to design, build and optimize an optical system with this new technology for front of the eye diagnosis.

Software component (2 ECE students): Develop a data processing method for the raw data collected by the novel imaging device. Downstream goals for the software will be to manipulate and transform imaging data to allow for a dynamic eye exam with a user interface equivalent to the slit lamp exam.

Requirements: Looking for students with an interest in domain-specific data compression, use of GPU, field logic array, mathematics, Python or C, and/or miniaturization (previous experience in any of these fields is an asset).

8—Design and Integration of an Automatic Sash Positioning System

rrivera [at] bedco.ca (Robert Rivera)

Bedcolab is a manufacturer of laboratory casework systems and fume hoods for research centers. We service universities, the pharma and biotech industries as well as government and other industrial labs.

We are looking to update our Vanguard line of fume hoods. Our objective is twofold. Technically, we wish to design and integrate a more cost-effective sash positioning and closing system that would involve motion detection and possibly electro-magnetic applications. From a design perspective, our objective is to give our hood facing a more technical appearance. Because the sash positioning system will be integrated in the sash, and will impact the esthetics of the hood facia, we feel that both objectives will need to be addressed simultaneously.

The project will involve two teams: Mechanical Engineering and Electrical and Computer Engineering. Both teams should work in close collaboration and coordination.

Deliverables

• To design a sash positioning mechanism and integrate it into existing fume hood (MECH);
• To modify existing design of the fume hood, as needed, to accommodate the new positioning system without altering the performance of the fume hood (MECH);
• To select and integrate sensors needed for the position control (MECH, ECE);
• To develop control algorithms for sash positioning with motion detection feedback (ECE);
• To design and integrate electrical/electronic control system (ECE).  

9—Design and Validation of a Minimally Invasive Hallux Valgus Correction System

Pega Medical

melinda.a [at] pegamedical.com (Melinda Ayvazian, Eng.)

Under the supervision of Pega Medical, the engineering team will be challenged to develop and optimize the design of implants and instruments necessary for the minimally invasive treatment of Hallux Valgus, based on the Bosch percutaneous technique, and device idea presented by Dr. Gdalevitch, MD, FRCS(C).

The objectives of the project are to work within ISO13485 requirements to build the DHF/DMR of the product, complete the design of a minimally invasive implant, with possible IP protection, complete the design of a functional external fixator system and all annex instrumentation, and validate the design in the operating theater with the collaborating surgeon.

Description of Design Component

PHASE 1: Design Inputs and Schedule

• Development of design inputs for the implant and instruments
• Establishing a project schedule

PHASE 2: Preliminary Design of Implants

• Development of ideas for the implant (brainstorming)
• Preliminary evaluation of risks/ potential harms
• Design Review for selection of preliminary concept and refinement of selected concept
• Patent research and preliminary drafting

PHASE 3: Preliminary Design of Instruments

• Development of ideas for the instrumentation (brainstorming)
• Drafting of preliminary Surgical Technique

PHASE 4: Preliminary Prototype Manufacturing and Verifications

• Design and Development of 3D functional models
• Establishing the validation plan for verifications (FEA, Calculations, etc) and bench testing validations (design and quoting of simplified prototypes, design of testing jigs, development of testing protocols)
• Rapid prototyping of parts (if applicable)
• Testing of preliminary implant models and instrument models
• Clinical validation of system with collaborating surgeon

PHASE 5: Final Concept of the Implant

• Optimization of final concept of the implant
• Preparation of engineering drawings
• Update to risk management

PHASE 6: Final Concept of the Instruments 

• Update to risk management  

Economic and Societal Impacts

The current market for Hallux Valgus correction proposes over a hundred different techniques, but no clear consensus on the best approach to treatment. The majority of techniques are open techniques with either plate or screw devices being used for fixation of the bone’s segments after correction of the IM and HV angles. The objective of the new medical device would be to offer a unique percutaneous device that will correct the deformity by application of translation and rotation around the CORA, maintain the ROM of the first toe, reduce affect on surrounding soft tissues, reduce pain of the patient, and reduce the risk of reoccurrence of the deformity.

Requested or To Be Developed Skills of the Student Team

Creativity, problem-solving skills, mechanical CAD design (Solidworks), organizational approach, structural analysis, teamwork, communication skills

10—OpSens Guidewire Shaping Tool

maxime.pdeland [at] opsens.com (Maxime Picard-Deland) , Medical Technology Specialist

OpSens Inc. is a manufacturer of interventional guidewires instrumented with fiber-optic sensors. One application of such wire is to support the delivery of heart valve prosthesis in a patient by a transcatheter approach, i.e. by guiding the prosthesis in the blood vessels. This minimally invasive procedure allows to replace a diseased heart valve through a small incision in the patient skin, instead of an open-chest surgery. The pressure sensor at the tip of OpSens guidewires allows to measure the pressure drop induced by the diseased valve, and to compare it with that of the new prosthesis. This pressure gradient and other pressure-based clinical metrics are important information to guide the physician clinical decisions.

OpSens has already developed a straight guidewire for the replacement of aortic valves. The company wants to develop a new guidewire with a curved shape that would allow to guide valve prosthesis through more complicated access, such as the transseptal access for mitral valve replacement. Ideally, the straight guidewire would be modified by a tool at the end of the fabrication steps to give it the desired curved shape, thus minimizing modifications to assembly lines. This tool could also be provided directly to the hospitals, allowing the physician to shape the guidewire with a curve specific to the patient anatomy.

The main objective of the project is to design a tool that allows shaping a curve into a 0.035" OD guidewire by inducing a controlled plastic deformation to the guidewire, without damaging the PTFE coating. Secondary objectives are: 1) to model the shaping parameters with the guidewire mechanical properties, allowing to shape different guidewire products into different curves, and 2) to provide a tooling concept that can be used in a sterile environment by the end-user (the physician).

11—Development of Anthropomorphic and Tissue-Mimicking Dynamic Arterial Phantoms

rosaire.mongrain [at] mcgill.ca (Prof. Rosaire Mongrain)

For surgical training, virtual surgical planning and numerical model validation, reproducible synthetic arterials mockups (phantoms) are needed. These models need to replicate the mechanical properties of native tissue (hyperelastic, anisotropic, heterogeneous). The large deformation, the layered structure and pathological degradation of the vessel need to be mimicked. In this regard, we initiated the development of anthropomorphic tissue-mimicking mockups (TMM) that exhibit the major mechanical, anatomical and pathological characteristics of vessels. The TMM is made of a cryogel, polyvinyl alcohol cryogel (PVA-C), which has excellent biocompatibility and is suitable for imaging modalities. By varying the parameters during cryogel fabrication, it possible to tailor the mechanical strength of PVA-C to that of human arteries. The project aims particularly at developing a dedicated CAM to activate the phantom and reproduce the physiological displacements of the myocardium wall during heart beat contractions.

12—Development of a Natural Energy Powered Ventilator

The project consists of designing a low-cost yet efficient mechanical ventilator for use in localities where modern conditions of steady reliable electric grid is not available. The ventilator must be compact and must not require electricity. The device should utilize any energy source readily available such as human power, water current, wind, etc. The main challenge is to design the product with high medical standards while maintaining a flexible range of operation to minimize adverse effects of mechanical ventilation. The technology aims at combining Zeolite materials to enhance O2 concentration and exploit the ventilator rotor concept to generate the needed conception. The Capstone project aims at developing further concepts, optimizing and testing the design for the target operating regime (0-40 cmH2O, up to 1000 ml, respiratory rate 4-45 bpm, flow rates 0-100 lpm). The main objective is to design parts of the new ventilator, assemble and test the ventilator efficiency.

13—Design of a Drug-Eluting Coating for Vascular Technology using Carbon Nanotubes

Implanted medical devices (stents, heart valves, heart pump[s) are usually coated for releasing medical compounds to control thrombogenesis (blood clots) and inflammation. Current coatings technologies rely on polymer carrier (porous or in solution). These are associated with limitations (toxicity, carrying capacity) which restrict its use to certain conditions.

We developed a new paradigm for drug elution based on carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The concept is to generate a controlled density and intertwined structure of CNTs to achieve entrapment of the chemical compound (in analogy to a carpet structure). Preliminary results have shown the potential of the concept for controlled retention and release of a drug compound.

The objective is to design a testing rig to assess the drug elution from the nano-coating. This needs to reproduce the artery flow flow conditions and allow for fluid sampling for the concentration analysis.

14—Addition of Abdominal Muscles into a Robotic Spine

mark.driscoll [at] mcgill.ca (Prof. Mark Driscoll)

In the Musculoskeletal Biomechanics Research Lab (MD 163) there is a robotic spine which is driven by pneumatic muscle contractions. In brief, an air compressor fills the muscle bladders imparting controlled contraction of select muscles related to spine. In turn, this moves and controls the position of the robotic spine upon which we can conduct experiments. However, the robotic spine is missing a “six pack” (muscles not …) while its abdominal region is present. The role of the Capstone team will be to figure out how to include the presence of abdominal muscles (rectus and transverse abdominus as well as internal and external obliques) into the robotic spine. Ideally, they should have an active element to them in order to control contractions. They may also be adjustably passive. The Capstone team are encouraged to dream up any solution they come up with! Specifically, the team are expected to study the problem at hand, propose their own solution, build it, and then test it. Many solutions are feasible and the team of the Musculoskeletal Biomechanics Research Lab look forward to working with the selected group.

15—Safety Assessment of Robotic Spine Set-Up

In research, safety should always be a forefront consideration. In the Musculoskeletal Biomechanics Research Lab (MD 163) there is a robotic spine which is driven by pneumatic muscle contractions. In brief, an air compressor fills the muscle bladders imparting controlled contraction of select muscles related to spine. In turn, this moves and controls the position of the robotic spine upon which we can conduct experiments. The Capstone project will consist of assessing the current experimental set up in order to make safety recommendations should the system ever fail. That is the project consists of interpreting, proposing, developing, and testing a failsafe system in place. The Capstone team are encouraged to think outside the box. For example, the solution could be an accessible enclosure which only allows experiments to be conducted when secured. Many alternatives exist. The team will be responsible for determining the specifications and will be given independence towards what solution they converge on to best meet the clients “want”.

16—Oscillating Device for Postural Correction of Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Disorders and Obstructive Sleep Apnea

natalie.reznikov [at] mcgill.ca (Prof. Natalie Reznikov)

This oscillating device is a physiotherapy appliance for clinical conditions having abnormal muscular tone in the face and neck region and a habitual (acquired) abnormal position of the lower jaw (mandible) and neck. The first prototype has been designed and assembled by a Capstone team in 2020-2021 . This is the the second iteration of the project where we expect to improve the performance and physical characteristics of the device.

This biomedical device lowers the muscular tone of the craniofacial complex by applying mechanical vibrations in the range 100-300 Hz. Such vibrations induce relief in habitual muscular tone and thus alleviate posteriorly misplaced (retrognathic) occlusion of the mandible, and clenching of teeth. When the mandible regains its physiologic position where teeth are normally out of contact at rest, the backwards displacement of the tongue and the pharynx is also expected to diminish – thus improving breathing. It is expected that applying vibration in short bouts will alleviate dental clenching, temporomandibular joint pain and dysfunction, obstructive sleep apnea, certain varieties of neck pain, and will improve head posture and facial appearance in the subject.

Expected improvements of the design:

• alternative source of vibrations within approximately the same range of frequency and amplitude;
• weight reduction;
• noise reduction;
• anatomically accurate design of contact parts;
• implementation of safety measures;
• aesthetically gratifying layout.

The final design should be suitable for clinical trials on healthy and affected volunteers.

Current appearance of the device:

17—Epipen Redesign

moshe.ben-shoshan [at] mcgill.ca (Dr. Moshe Ben-Shoshan) and mark.driscoll [at] mcgill.ca (Prof. Mark Driscoll)

Current auto deployment epinephrine devices are bulky and expensive. These devices must be carried by those with severe allergies in order to halt an anaphylaxis reaction, should one occur. These devises comprise a fixed dose of epinephrine, a pre-loaded mechanism to deploy a needle of fixed length, and a means to deliver the epinephrine through the needle when deployed. Many other design solutions present feasible alternatives to the conventional designs used in market today. The role of the present design project would be to miniaturize the above design while maintaining the same reliable outcome. Furthermore, a means of auto emergency notifications should also be integrated into the design.

18—Accurate Dosing for Oral Immunotherapy

moshe.ben-shoshan [at] mcgill.ca (Dr. Moshe Ben-Shoshan)  and  mark.driscoll [at] mcgill.ca (Prof. Mark Driscoll)

Food allergies are very prevalent in Canada with over 3 million know cases while anaphylaxis is increasing annually. This poses a particular challenge both in management and treatment. Over the last decade a trend in deterrent treatments has been adopted where allergens, in controlled amounts, are given to the patient with the goal of desensitization. This is known as oral immunotherapy (OIT). The challenge with this process is the ability to provide controlled amounts of the allergen to the patient. More specifically, for example, only [0.03-0.1] mg of egg or milk protein can elicit a reaction. This provides a target desensitization of at least multiple times these amounts to offer protection, with a safety factor, when considering accidents or cross contaminations. Thus, it is the objective of the capstone group to devise a means to enable accurate dossing of common allergens with the aspiration of facilitating and encouraging more widespread practice of OIT.

19—Design and Manufacture of a Prototype 3D Bioprinting Device

showan.nazhat [at] mcgill.ca (Prof. Showan Nazhat)

The aim of this MEDTEC capstone design project is to build a prototype biofabrication/3D bioprinting instrument based on a McGill-led technology, gel aspiration-ejection (GAE). GAE has been demonstrated to be highly effective in generating tissue-like bioinks based on fibrillar collagen and other proteins. In the GAE approach, precursor isotropic hydrogels, prefabricated from a range of collagen concentrations, are aspirated into a capillary through the application of negative pressure, thereby simultaneously inducing both compaction and mesoscale anisotropy on the hydrogel. This is facilitated by aspirating the fibrillar collagen component of the hydrogel into the capillary thereby expelling the excess casting fluid used in the collagen self-assembly process. By subsequent reversal of the pressure, dense collagen gels can be controllably ejected. Precise bioink properties can be predicted through a mathematical compaction factor whereby collagen bioinks with modular density and anisotropy, seeded cell density and temporal functionality can be modelled and biofabricated.

The capstone project team will ideally be composed of four highly motivated engineering students, one student each from Mechanical Engineering, Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Bioengineering to collaborate on designing and building the prototype instrument.

20—Design and Prototyping of a Dynamic Range of Motion Assessment Tool for the Shoulder

carl.laverdiere [at] mail.mcgill.ca (Carl Laverdière) , Orthopaedic Surgery resident (main contact person) paul.martineau [at] mcgill.ca (Dr. Paul Martineau) , Orthopaedic Surgeon

It is clinically challenging to measure the range of motion of patient’s limbs consistently between observers. At the moment, the two best tools to assess range of motion while following a patient is a goniometer (pretty archaic, look it up) or eyeballing (obviously inaccurate).

Thus, the objective of this project is to design an apparatus capable of quantifying and tracking the range of motion of the arm from the shoulder joint quickly and accurately. The characteristics needed from the clients are quantitative data in 3 dimensions (x,y,z), a graphical representation of this data as well as a mean to compare with previous tests performed by the same patient. The design team is welcome to brainstorm on potential solution, however they need to keep in mind the portability, ease of use in the clinical setting as well as cost.

The aim is for this device to be used in the orthopaedics clinic to quantitively assess the patients pre-operatively, post-operatively and throughout their rehabilitation process to help the patients get better.

21—Design of Intervertebral Disc Bioreactor with Precise Complex Loadings

jianyu.li [at] mcgill.ca (Dr. Jianyu Li) , Lab of Biomaterials Engineering, Faculty of Engineering

Damage of Intervertebral discs (IVDs) have been proven to cause lower back pain. One of the major causes of IVD damages is the complex mechanical loadings experienced during daily activities. This complex loading includes axial compression, torsion, flexion, extension, and lateral bending. To understand the effect of complex mechanical loadings to IVD damage and develop effective treatments, ex vivo culturing of the entire disc organ using bioreactors are in high demand. Though the effect of static and dynamic axial compression has been studied extensively, little is known about the biomechanical response of IVD under the condition of dynamic complex loadings. Due to this fact, it is necessary to develop an IVD bioreactor capable of applying these complex load cases. This project aims to develop a new organ culture loading system with high loading accuracy and resolution. The loading system is expected to consist closed-loop control with real-time load and displacement readouts. The culture system is expected to have the ability to accommodate for both human and bovine IVDs. It is necessary to be biocompatible and include culture media and gas exchange systems. The performance of this bioreactor will be further validated in parallel ex vivo studies of bovine IVD and will be later incorporated with cell-laden hydrogels to study the effects of dynamic biomechanical environments on cellular functions.

22—An In-Vitro Testing Platform for Evaluating the Sealing Performance of Adhesive Sealants

jianyu.li [at] mcgill.ca (Dr. Jianyu Li) , Department of Mechanical Engineering and Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering

Wound closure is a fundamental and practically important problem, underpinning many health issues such as hemorrhage, which account for 10% of death globally, thus calling for strong and robust adhesive sealants. The commercially available tissue sealants such as TISSEEL, COSEAL and DURASEAL are commonly used for halting the surgical bleeding and closing the wound. Naturally, human body produces biological sealants such as blood clot, which also plays an important role in hemostasis and wound healing. The cohesion and adhesion energies are important metrics for evaluating the sealing performances of the above-mentioned adhesive sealants. However, due to their ultra-soft and brittle nature, the conventional testing specimen for measuring adhesion energy, such as the peeling test, is not applicable. It is therefore desired to design a novel testing apparatus which can accurately measure the adhesion/cohesion energies of the sealants regardless of their softness and brittleness. The project requires four undergraduate students to design and prototype a testing platform which can be used to measure the adhesion energy of the adhesive sealants. Briefly, the testing platform includes bulging up a thin film of adhesive sealant by pumping in liquid and using cameras to capture the bulging profile, from which the adhesion energy of the adhesive can be estimated. The tasks include the design of the testing rig, 3D printing and assembly of the parts and camera calibration, and finally the validation test. The students will have the chance to work with mechanical engineers, bioengineers, chemists, biologists, and surgeons.

23—Utilizing Machine Learning Algorithms to Explore Aspects of Surgical Expertise on a VR/AR Surgical Spine Simulator

Musculoskeletal Biomechanics Research Lab - Professor Mark Driscoll and Sami Alkadri (PhD Student)

mark.driscoll [at] mcgill.ca (Prof. Mark Driscoll) , sami.alkadri [at] mail.mcgill.ca (Sami Alkadri) (PhD student)

Teaching hospitals are realizing the risk of conventional surgical training methods; thus, researchers are exploring the promising results exhibited by virtual reality (VR) pilot training systems for its adaptation to the medical field. The great complexity and high demand of spinal surgeries led to the increased interests in developing novel VR simulators for spinal procedures. Recently, machine learning algorithms are coupled to surgical simulators to give further insights into aspects of the surgical performance that differentiate levels of expertise. Often, deeper subsets of machine learning, such as artificial neural networks (ANNs), might be needed to correctly learn complex non-linear patterns within the given dataset. When combined to virtual reality surgical simulators, the algorithm not only has the potential to correctly predict the different surgical classes, but it can also provide a deeper insight into the impact of the different performance metrics on the classifications. The outlined project is part of the development of a VR/AR surgical training platform to train orthopedic and neurosurgeons in advanced spinal surgery techniques. The platform is developed by McGill University in affiliation with CAE Healthcare and DePuy Synthes (part of Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices).

Project objectives include developing and employing multiple machine learning algorithms and subsequently compare their performance to the already developed Neural Network Model. Furthermore, explore data augmentation techniques to amplify the small dataset deployed in the project.

Students with machine learning and computational background is preferred.

24—In-Vivo Low Profile Percutaneous Tissue Homogenizer

louis-martin.boucher [at] mcgill.ca (Prof. Louis-Martin Boucher)

The goal of the project is to be able to generate a self-tumoral vaccine, in-vivo, by homogenizing/mixing an ablated tumor in the liver with an immuno-stimulant (adjuvant). Normally to do this, one would need to excise the tumor, homogenize it with the adjuvant ex-vivo and then use this as a vaccine. However, this demands very special techniques of sterility and tissue processing, not easily available and prohibitively costly.

In interventional radiology, we routinely ablate tumors in the liver, leaving the dead tumor in place. The idea is to try to use the dead tumor left in the liver to stimulate the immune system. This requires some mechanism to mix the ablated tumor in-vivo with the adjuvant. This would be done via a percutaneous access.

The system we are looking for is a low-profile system (that could be engaged through a 15g needle) into the ablated tumor under US guidance. Needle length would have to be approximately 20 cm in length. Once the homogenizer needle is in place it would have to be able to inject a specific volume of immunostimulator (gelified liquid) while mixing/homogenizing this with the ablated tumor. The system would need to be controllable in such a way that a relatively specific volume of tissue is mixed/homogenized so that we do not damage the normal liver around the ablated tumor, whether time based or speed based. Ideally, the system would need to be autoclavable/sterilizable.

We have published the idea in a previous publication. See "Carias et al., Ex Vivo Study of Experimental Method Toward Future In Vivo Tissue Processing for Self-Anti-Tumoral Vaccinations, Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol. 2021 May;44(5):818-821.doi: 10.1007/s00270-020-02736-7. Epub 2021 Jan 27." For this we used a basic thrombectomy device that consists of a rotating wire, but at low speed and which was insufficient to optimally mix the tumor with the gellified liquid. We are therefore at a road block presently and the design of this system will allow us to move forward in developing a technique to use someone's own ablated tumor, in-vivo, to generate a anti-self vaccine, allowing us to create personalized medicine with universal tools, a possible game-changer in the fight against cancer.

Department and University Information

Design of medical technologies.

• Innovation at WSU
• Directories
• Give to WSU
• Academic Calendar
• A-Z Directory
• Calendar of Events
• Office Hours
• Policies and Procedures
• Schedule of Courses
• Shocker Store
• Student Webmail
• Technology HelpDesk
• Transfer to WSU
• University Libraries

BME Capstone Senior Design Projects

Biomedical Engineering Capstone Senior Design Projects

Biomedical Engineering Capstone Senior Design course focuses on the process of strategic clinical problem solving and innovation through evaluation of real world diagnostic processes, current therapeutic approaches and clinical outcomes. Students work in teams to identify and critically evaluate unmet medical or clinical needs through the use of a biodesign and innovation process, including clinical needs finding through on-site observations, stakeholder assessments, needs statement development and concept generation. 

Biomedical Engineering

Bme senior design projects 2022.

Safe Hands Innovation

Automatic Cardiopulmonary Device with Ventilation: Members: Anthony Myers, Zachary Rodriguez, Lane Saylor, Micah Self, Khoa Tu, Trae Valentine.

Erudite Adaptations

Expandable Cranial Band: (1st Place) Members: Skylar Russell, Noah Dennis, Kirsten Stuck, Caitlin Bingham, Hannah Newkirk.

3D Printed Cast With Healing Technology: Members, Lozan Alemayehu, Fatimah Allabbad, Mariam Jabr, Binderiya Janchivdorj, Nadya Jimenez.

Artificial Motion

Adjustable Cooling System for a Prosthetic Socket: Members, Carlos Gatti, Melissa Rocha, Ashley Stroh, Mike Henderson, Patrick Maksoud.

Armadillo Medical Devices

Deep Wound Sealant: Team Members, Sydney Maben, Megan Taflinger, Rebecca Haverkamp, Molly Carlson.

A Walk(er) to Remember: Team members, Marlene Kouakam, Adonay Tedla, Jennifer Ramos, Laik Bradley, Madison Carlgren.

Salamah: Faisal Alajlan, Andrew Goodwin, Davis Willenborg.

BME Capstone Projects -2021

Veritas Medical

Team: Cole Daharsh, Grant Downes, Subash Bhandari, Nathan Schmidt, Miguel Contreras, Tabatha Polk.

EvanderMedical

Austin Bollinger, Allen Seang, Alejandro Palacios, Diamond Brunt, Monroe Chrisco.

26 Engineering

Sandra Dang, Elizabeth Nguyen, Katie Cumpston, Brandon Eckerman, Leah Fisher, Abdul Aleid.

Ethan Aldrich, Tommy Keomany, Makenna Janke, Taylor Huslig, Kat Berner, LaShaya Lawire.

Operation 2020

Brendon, Jemima, Jana, Deborah, Anwar.

Kyra Holmes, Alissa Hovey, Anna Kindel, Kaelee Knoll, Luke Richardson. 

Delta Remedies

Ayi Delmeida, Kristin Seiwert, Stephanie Linares, Taleb Alhajji, Zayed Alsalem.

ZAH Diffusion

Asra Al Muslim, Zahrah Alawami, Zainab Alessa, Hamad Alkaabi, Haifa Alqahtani.

Umama Ali, Fatimah Almousa, Krisha Alford.

Markit Medical

Tyler Taylor, Andrew Gross, Marwa Jesri, Kayla Schmidt, Ramses Chairez.

Student Capstone Project

Team building and technical know-how..

Students in the M.Eng. in Engineering program will demonstrate their proficiency through a team-based design project. Project ideas are proposed by clients from industry, teaching hospitals, and clinicians seeking solutions to specific problems. Student teams assess the market and conduct competitive analysis, engineering design, software development, proto-typing, testing and documentation of results.  Weekly or biweekly update meetings with clients are essential to the success of the project.  Teams are expected to self-organize their effort by assigning tasks, developing a schedule, identifying bottlenecks, and gathering resources.

Working with the clients, the teams are expected to gain insights to help them implement their idea. During the project, the teams may request guidance from program faculty and may take field trips to the client’s location. Project presentations and demonstrations are delivered during a formal end-of-program event.

For companies looking to engage our M.Eng. students on a capstone project, please submit a project intake form . 

Here are some project examples:

2019 Capstone Projects

(Client: Professor, Health Care Systems Engineering) A portable ultrasound imaging-based breast biopsy system

Advances in diagnostic devices for biopsies is limited to better needles and separately to tissue capturing systems. There have been few developments in integrated systems combining imaging and the biopsy procedure on a single platform. In recent years, MRI-based integrated systems have seen some innovation, but there is still a need for a modern stream-lined system that can accurately identify and localize target regions for breast biopsy.

(Client: Medical device company) Microscopy instrumentation for nerve identification

Transdermal and intraoperative identification and differentiation of nerves from vasculature. The project also involved the review and critique of the current state-of-the-art of light technology for human nerve visualization.

(Client: Global medical device company) Machine learning based physiological signal monitoring during clinical imaging scans Physiological data from a patient is a vital tool for medical diagnostics since it holds invaluable information reflecting the patient’s health status. Monitoring physiological signals could assist in the decision-making, and selection of scan modality and protocol parameters in the clinical setting.

This project aimed to develop a smart tool that automatically optimizes imaging strategies using deep learning.

(Client:  Regional medical hospital) Intra-abdominal biodegradable amylase sensor

Postoperative pancreatic fistula (PODF) is the most common and dangerous complication of pancreatic surgery, affecting 13% to 41% of patients. Surgically placed drains to detect pancreatic fistula often cause intra-abdominal infection and pain in the abdomen.  Early detection and management of pancreatic fistula are very important.

The objective of this capstone project was to develop a biodegradable and implantable sensor.

(Client:  Biopharmaceutical company) Improved medication delivery device or process This project involved the review and analysis of the current medication delivery methods such as IV infusion, push, pumps, intramuscular, etc.  The team assessed the considerations, requirements, decision making, and processes involved with medication.  They also identified innovative concepts to address unmet needs and prototyped a bed-side medication delivery pump.

(Client: Global medical device company) Deep learning for brain anatomy segmentation

With the rapid development of the medical instrumentation field, MRI plays more important roles in the diagnosis of brain diseases. The study of the different structures of brain is essential in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases such as Alzheimer Disease (AD) and Parkinson’s Disease (PD). The two main brain segmentation methods currently used (manual segmentation and software segmentation) are time-consuming, inefficient and complicated.

The objective was to develop deep learning architecture and its optimization for medical image segmentation and classification.

(Client: Global medical device company) Multiscale contrast enhancement for MRI imaging Magnetic resonance images usually contain both large contrast variations and small vital low contrast details. Applying postprocessing could be helpful to satisfy the conflicting needs of reproducing the low contrast details while maintaining the general gray value range.  A multiscale method, especially an image pyramid, has proven to be a very versatile and efficient algorithm when applied to other kinds of images.  This project objective was to explored the application of the LPSVD (Laplacian pyramid combined with SVD) algorithm to enhance MR images.  This could lead to greater image amplification of the vital areas, while minimizing background “noise”.

(Client: Global medical device company) Motion artifact through head motion tracking during MRI

High-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) requires prolonged scan time to maximize spatial resolution, therefore, this imaging modality is highly sensitive to artifacts caused by motion during the scanning process.  Subject physiologic motions such as blood flow, respiratory and cardiac motion, and gross movements can create undesirable phase shifts that commonly result in image blur or the presence of “ghosts”.

The objective of the project was to develop a motion tracking toolkit capable of tracking head movement within a position matrix.

(Client: Biopharmaceutical company) Improved patient critical care The project involved identifying opportunities to improve the diagnostic and therapeutic procedures of critical care patients with Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) being treated with continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT).

(Client:  Biopharmaceutical company) Progressive Supranuclear Palsy screening battery

Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) is a rare, progressive, ultimately fatal neurological condition that strikes patients in the prime of life. The disease robs patients of their ability to carry out everyday tasks (walking, seeing, speaking, interacting, eating, and thinking). There is no currently approved treatment, and with non-specific symptoms at its early stages, PSP is hard to differentiate from Parkinson’s Disease (PD) .

This project explored early diagnosis techniques of PSP, and the objective was to develop a screening protocol for early identification of PSP and differentiation from PD.

(Client: Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering) Mouse texture cue cube

The project involved the development of an automated texture wheel that can be used to provide differentiated and regulated stimuli to mice while they are running mazes in a virtual reality setting.  The study as a whole is about recreating the electrical network of a human brain, so recording the electrical variances of mice when presented with changes in their dominant sense can help build an electrical mammalian map.  This research strives to understand the electrical signals of the brain for applications to treatment of patients with neurological diseases or injuries.

2018 Capstone Projects

(Client: Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering Dept.) Systems Genetic Platform of Neurodegenerative Disorders:

Parkinson’s disease is a complex and debilitating neurodegenerative disorder that afflicts over 10 million people worldwide. The Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative has compiled, maintained, and distributed an extensive collection of clinical, genetic, and advanced imaging data on Parkinson’s disease. By integrating these complex data, PPMI has offered unparalleled opportunities to investigate the early stages of Parkinson’s, monitor disease progression, and develop novel therapeutics through the identification of progression biomarkers.

Combining complex genetic and imaging data in PPMI, the team sought to explore the use of imaging features and single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) together as biomarkers for the predictive modeling of Parkinson’s disease. The students proposed, executed, and assessed machine learning approaches for the classification and prediction of Parkinson’s.

(Client: Global medical device company) Intracardiac Electrocardiogram (ICEG) Simulator:

In the current medical device market, there are diverse devices to simulate the physiological signals of the human body, such as surface ECG, SpO 2 , non-invasive blood pressure, temperature, etc. The ICEG is a type of ECG that measures the cardiac signals inside of the heart through multi-pole catheters that have been weaved into the chambers of the heart. The goal of this project was to design a prototype that could emulate the cardiac signal output taken from 32 channels/signals inside the heart, and create software to measure, analyze, and process these signals. This device would then be used for educational and training purposes and to troubleshoot current or new products.

(Client: Start-up medical device company) Wearable Light Therapy Device for the Treatment of Pain and Nerve Injuries:

The project focused on improving a portable light therapy device developed by the client for consumers and military service members/first responders. The client’s approach was to develop a belt embedded with an array of therapeutic LEDs, which can be worn under clothing and would provide pain relief to the treated area via phototherapy. The team was given the task of solving the heat issues, lack of an automatic shut off and flexibility of the device, while keeping the device lightweight and comfortable to wear.

Additionally, the students wanted to provide patients the added benefit of control over their therapy to create a personalized light therapy device that can be modulated to treat a patient’s unique symptoms. To accomplish this, they incorporated a Bluetooth controller to the micro-controller to allow for mobile monitoring and control over the LED array for personalized therapy.

(Client: Start-up medical device company) Biological Imaging with Synthetic Optical Holography:

The company created an add-on for confocal microscopes using synthetic optical holography (SOH). It is for quantitative phase imaging and allows the user to obtain high-resolution images. This technology results in no loss in speed during image acquisition. It is easy to use and can provide high-quality images without the need to stain.

The goal of this project was to have a working implementation of the SOH technology in the Zeiss LSM 880 confocal microscope located at the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology. Also, the team was tasked with testing the SOH technology to determine if there were any problems that needed solving. To do this, the team developed a bank of microscope slides and images that compared phase imaging via SOH with fluorescence imaging.

(Client: Global medical device company) 3D Printed Coronaries for a Flow Phantom:

Having standards of known and accurate measurement is useful across multiple scientific disciplines for measuring properties of unknowns and evaluating computational analyses. Phantom vessels that provide realistic representation of human vasculature have been available for decades. While useful for studies that require highly realistic specimens, realistic phantoms generally lack reproducibility and known dimensions, two necessary characteristics of a standard. For this project, the team designed and prototyped phantom blood vessels of simple geometry and phantom coronary artery segments from digital subtraction angiography (DSA) imaging data, with each produced accurately from a 3D computer model stored as a stereolithography (STL) file. These phantom vessels will then be imaged with DSA in a flow loop and used to evaluate measurements performed with an algorithm.

With 3D printing, the students included features present in realistic phantoms (e.g. aneurysms and stenosis), while being able to reproduce phantoms with relatively high accuracy from an STL file.

(Client: Regional medical hospital) Neonatal Jaundice Care for Developing Nations:

The goal of this project was to provide a cost effective, efficient way to treat neonatal bilirubinemia with the development of a fully automated transfusion device. Current methods of treatment for neonatal bilirubinemia are costly, time consuming, and require intensive physician care. In addition, many modern treatment options are unavailable in developing countries because of inhibitive costs, technology, or training. Thus, the team was tasked with designing a device to have the following functionalities and characteristics:

• Equal extraction and infusion rates
• Easy to set up
• Inexpensive and efficient
• Portable and biocompatible
• User-friendly interface
• Blood monitor to ensure patient safety
• Capped flow rate to avoid excessive pressure on the line
• Enhanced safety measures to ensure patient care

(Client: Professor, Bioengineering Dept.) Complete Genome Assembly of  Streptococcus sobrinus :

S. sobrinus  and  S. mutans  are the oral pathogens that are responsible for the condition known as caries.  S. mutans  is identified as being present in all cases of caries but S. sobrinus is without well identified. The focus of this project was to do the complete genome assembly of  S. sobrinus  strains – 7 and 15. This was done using short read Illumina technology and long read Nanopore technology. The team was also asked to see the genomic similarities between  S. sobrinus  and  S. mutans . The complete genome of  S. sobrinus  will further help in understanding how genes interact and allow study of metabolic pathways which can be manipulated and redesigned to meet global needs.

(Client: Regional Medical Hospital) Creation of Radiopaque Temporary Embolic:

The goal of this project was to create a radiopaque temporary embolic, or in other words, a device to block blood flow that is visible via x-ray or computed tomography (CT) scan.  Temporary embolics currently used by surgeons tend to blend in with surrounding tissues after insertion, and it is challenging for surgeons to determine their location. Currently, surgeons inject contrast media into the veins of their patients to highlight vasculature in real time under a machine called a fluoroscope. The problem is that this only allows a surgeon to assume the position of an embolic based on the absence of contrast media flow. A radiopaque temporary embolic would allow for the surgeon to quickly and accurately determine the exact location of the embolic throughout and following a procedure.

(Client: Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering Dept.) Miniaturized Artificial Whisker Scanner and Software:

The project involved the development of a system to simulate mice whisker scanning that also had the ability to read signals related to force in the real mice whisker. Development of such system would allow for better understanding of how the brain works, or more specifically, how the brain perceives the outside sensory world.  This study would also help identify specific neural circuits that are involved in sensory transduction and signal processing. Reverse-engineering of brain circuits can have strong impact on the development of novel biomimetic tactile biosensors, robotic prosthetic arms, haptic virtual reality, and even can influence the design of novel artificial intelligence systems.

2017 Capstone Projects

(Client: Regional medical hospital) Mechanized Bilirubin Scavenging System:

A mechanized bilirubin scavenging system for efficient treatment of neonatal jaundice was developed. The unique design uses a bilirubin removal system similar to hemodialysis, where an infant’s blood will be passed through an external scavenging circuit. The overall impact is huge, since exchange transfusion carries a risk of neonatal mortality, especially in sick infants. The adverse effects of an exchange transfusion include neonatal morbidities, such as apnea, anemia, thrombocytopenia, electrolyte and calcium imbalance, risk of necrotizing enterocolitis, hemorrhage, infection, complications related to the use of blood products, and catheter-related complications.

(Client:  Regional medical hospital) Clearing the Clot:

Arterial and venous thrombosis in performing endovascular procedures by interventional radiologists/vascular surgeons/cardiologists is a recurring problem in a clinical setting. The focus of this project was to analyze and distinguish venous and arterial thrombi in a noninvasive and analytical way. The team was also asked to see how do these component mature or change over time, as the thrombus progresses from acute to subacute to chronic. Clinical samples of thrombus/clots from different veins and arteries were collected during re-canalization procedures using different “suction” catheters and mechanical devises. Samples collected were non-invasively analyzed by ultrasound and other techniques.

(Client:  Start-up medical device company) For Your Eyes Only:

This project focused on real-time monitoring of post-surgical and post-traumatic eye injuries using a hand-held device. Lack of current techniques for the early monitoring of bleb leaks and other post-traumatic or post-surgical ocular injury has posed an unmet clinical need for the development of new techniques. Present evaluation techniques use either subjective or non-quantitative approaches. InnSight Technology developed the world’s first biosensor to evaluate the integrity of the anterior surface of the eye by measuring the concentration of ascorbic acid in the tear film at the point-of-care. The team was tasked with developing a tiny micro-fluidic chamber that draws tear fluid from eye to the sensor.

(Client:  Integrated providers of diagnostic imaging services) Project #1 – T1rho Relaxation: The goal of this project was to simulate the T1rho relaxation effects of an adiabatic RF pulse.  This required the understanding of a rotating frame and its mathematical form, MR RF pulse basics as well as adiabatic design principles. Furthermore, the student studied spin locking and T1rho relaxation using MatLab programming.

Project #2 – iGrasp: The goal of this project was to get Rapid and Continuous Magnetic Resonance Imaging using compressed sensing, and iGRASP. The student used iGRASP, combining golden-angle radial sampling, parallel imaging and compressed sensing, to reconstruct dynamic MRI image in short time (0.1s). They also focused on using golden-angle radial sampling to get incoherent sampling, which is able to break the limit of Naquist sampling rate that reconstructing by less samples.

2016 Capstone Projects

(Client:  Start-up medical device company): Wirelessly Integrated Ocular Biosensor to Monitor Ascorbic Acid Presence in Tear Film and Aqueous Humor:

Hundreds of eye trauma patients are presented in the emergency department every day. The injuries of the globe can lead to severe eye defects and sometimes vision loss. If the severity of these traumas can be detected early, there can be better recovery of the eye.  After these injuries are treated, postoperative monitoring of eye is very critical to check for any leaks from the anterior globe. If the leak is brisk, the patient has to be taken to the operation room. It is important to detect these leaks as soon as possible so that the vision of the patient is not affected. ­The client has developed a biosensor as a solution to this clinical need.

The principle behind the sensor is that the concentration of ascorbic acid in the aqueous humor is around 20 times the concentration of ascorbic acid in the tear film and when the barrier between them breaks due to any wound or tearing in the corneal epithelium, the concentration of ascorbic acid in the tear film spikes up. This concentration level can be detected by the sensor to get an idea about the severity of the trauma. The biosensor is designed so that when ascorbic acid binds to the enzyme on the sensor, there is a change in the interaction between the polymer and graphene platelets. This changes the electrical properties of the sensors and the change can be measured to get an idea about the injury.  The project objective was to enhance the ability of the biosensor to detect the levels of ascorbic acid.

(Client:  Regional medical hospital): Personalized Absorbable Gastrointestinal Stents for Intestinal Fistulae and Perforations:

Gastrointestinal (GI) tract perforations are relatively frequent surgical emergencies, are potentially life-threatening, and can occur from several different sources, including inflammatory conditions, iatrogenic or traumatic injuries, and obstructive etiologies. Increasing clinical findings corroborate the use of self-expandable metallic GI stents in the setting of gastric or esophageal perforations. Patients admitted to the hospital with intestinal fistulae or perforations typically face months of recovery, unlimited numbers of hospital visits and numerous surgeries that could theoretically benefit from an absorbable stent. Placement of synthetic, non-absorbable stents in the esophagus and colon  via  endoscopic approaches is limited to these anatomic locations as endoscopic access is required to remove the stents after healing occurs. Commercially produced stents are currently manufactured in a narrow size range of options, further limiting their applicability in other portions of the GI tract.

Initiated by a general surgeon in response to an unmet clinical need, this project objective was to develop novel translatable absorbable polymeric stent, 3D printed for accurate, anatomically personalized placement in the GI tract. In this highly multidisciplinary work, a 3D-printed stent prototype was developed from a novel material using a commercial AirWolf™ device. This functional and effective technology could offer tremendous impact for patients and healthcare providers and significantly reduce patient morbidity and mortality.

(Client:  Medical simulation and education center): Cadaveric Perfusion Pump: Cadaveric perfusion pumps provide unique opportunities to surgeons and doctors in training. They allow a trainee to practice a surgical procedure under as realistic conditions as is possible before heading into surgery with an actual patient. The pump perfuses a blood mimicking solution through the veins of a cadaver, creating a perfect model for a doctor to practice on.

The client, in collaboration with a regional hospital, has been working to create a perfusion pump that is able to modulate blood pressure and heart rate in order to provide an extra level of realism to the simulations run with the cardiac perfusion pump. The team’s goal was to improve upon the first generation of the client’s artificial perfusion system by making it safer, streamlined and able to accurately generate and measure rapid modulations in fluid pressure. This was done by improving the software to be more robust, improving the setup of the system to be safer and more segregated, finding a pump that is able to generate enough pressure as well as able to switch pressures quickly and integrating sensors into the code that are used to ensure the proper operation of the system as well as act as a safety check.

• Capstone Projects

The Capstone Project is intended to culminate the skills of the BME undergraduate degree. The students are required to take the course and complete the project their senior year. Below are examples of student projects from previous years. 

Class of 2023

Electromyography Guided Video Game Therapy for Stroke Survivors

Students:  Anisa Abdulhussein, Hannamarie Ecobiza, Nikhil Patel, Carter Ung

Advisor:  Dr. Jerome Schultz

A Hybrid in Silico Model of the Rabbit Bulbospongiosus Nerve

Students:  Lilly Roelofs, Anh Tran, Dana Albishah, Hoang Tran, David Lloyd, Zuha Yousuf, Farial Rahman, Laura Rubio

Advisor:  Dr. Mario Romero-Ortega

Highly Specific Vertical Flow-Based Point-of-Care For Rapid Diagnosis of Lupus

Students:  Valeria Espinosa, Lediya Haider, Bao Le, and Christian Pena

Advisor:  Dr. Chandra Mohan

Design and Fabrication of Novel Flexible and Elastomeric   Device for Bladder Neuromodulation  

Students:  Kenneth Nguyen, Laura Rubio, Jessica Avellaneda, Juan Gonzalez

Residual Gastric Stomach Volume via Dye Dilution

Students:  Sean Chakraborty, Tien Tran, Elizabeth Kolb, Elaine Raymond

Remote Tremor Monitoring System

Students:  Mikayla Deehring, Bryan McElvy, Elizabeth Perry, William Walker

Advisor:  Dr. Nuri Ince

BCI Assistance in Simple Hand Movements to Enable IMC/CMC-Based Rehabilitation for Post-Stroke Patients

Students:  Wesley Cherry, Shanzeh Imran, Rami ElHajj, Nivriti Sabhani

Advisor:  Dr. Yingchun Zhang

3D Printing Scaffold for Cardiovascular Tissue Regeneration

Students:  Anaga Ajoy, Kailee Keiser, Aria Shankar, Alexa Truong

Advisor:  Dr. Renita Horton

Electrotactile Stimulator for Modeling Localized Touch in the Hand

Students:  Alan Luu, Raed Mohammed, Anique Siddiqui, and Brendan Wong

CNN-Driven Hand Prosthetic for Neurorehabilitation

Students:  Neftali Garcia, Wajid Masood, Angela Soto

Class of 2022

Skin Blood Flow Based on a Thermal Sensor

Students:  Rumaisa Baig, Aliza Sajid, Kinda Aladdasi, Hira Rizvi, and Eugenia Ponte

3D Printing of Scaffolds for Cardiovascular Tissue

Students:  Ayesha Budhwani, Duc Ho, Dorothy Mwakina, Nicolas Nino

Graphene Electrodes for Body Energy Harvesting

Students:  Sarah Hakam, Hy Doan, Attiya Hussaini, Krishna Sarvani Deshabtotla

COVID-19 Antibodies Detection Using Spike Protein Microarray Chip

Students:  Fariz Nazir, Chinenye Chidomere, Bryan Choo, Jessica Chidomere

Advisor:  Dr. Tianfu Wu

Relating Pressure to fNIRS Optical Signal Quality

Students:  Mautin Ashimiu, Shannen Eshelman, Amanda Reyes, Catherine Tran

Advisor:  Dr. Luca Pollonini and Dr. Samuel Montero Hernandez

Optimization of a Loading Tool for a Novel Cardiac Assist Device (CAD)

Students:  Amie Theall, Barbora Bobakova, Zarmeen Khan, Abigail Janvier

The ExoAssist:  A Soft Exoskeleton Device for Foot Drop

Students:  Alexandru Neagu, Dailene Torres, Loren Thompson, Dylan Creasey

Advisor:  Dr. Jose Luis Contreras-Vidal

Physical Therapy Device for Shoulder Rehabilitation

Students:  Jordyn Folh, Raeedah Alsayoud, Mirren Robison, Xanthica Carmona

Residual Gastric Volume by George’s Dye Dilution Method

Students:  Sarah Aldin, Rita Maduro, Patrick Calderon, Hebah Kafina

EEG-based Control of a Robotic Hand

Students:  Martin Reyes, Regan Persyn, Quynh Nguyen, Bryan Gutierrez

Advisor:  Dr. Yingchun Zhang and Michael Houston

ASD Screening in Children using Machine Learning

Students:  Yalda Barram, Tatiana Barroso, Theresa Pham, and Amy Tang

Advisor:  Dr. Joseph Francis

Optimized PEGDA Hydrogel Miniature Gel Electrophoresis for Genomic Analysis

Students:  Alma Antonette Antonio, Jose Carrion, Lindsey McGill, Sharmeen Shahid

Advisor:  Dr. Metin Akay and Dr. Yasemin Akay

Class of 2021

Project 1: Vital Sign Wristband

Abstract: As most hospitals transition to a digital world in order to streamline medical procedure, our group wanted to streamline the check in process by making a wristband that measures vital signs. We wanted the wristband to measure heart rate, temperature, and blood oxygen, and for this data to be sent to an app. We first decided which sensors to use, and moved forward with the MCP9808 temperature sensor and the MAX30100 sensor for heart rate and blood oxygen. We then assured the MCP9808 worked to our standards by connecting it to a ESP32 microcontroller on a breadboard. The connection and reading of the sensor required Arduino code, which we constructed with online resources. After getting the readings that aligned with our expected values, we followed the same procedure with the MAX30100 sensor. We then ‘pushed’ the data to an app that we constructed using Blynk, an app that is used to read data from microcontrollers. After ‘pushing’ the data to our app, we were ready to start making the wristband by connecting the sensors to the ESP32s, and attaching the connections to a wristband using V elcro. With our final prototype, we were able to wirelessly read heart rate, temperature, and blood oxygen from the Blynk app. To more efficiently assist in hospital applications, a potential future direction for this project would be to add blood pressure as a parameter for the wristband. We would also like the wristband to ID the patient that is wearing it in order to track and assign the data throughout their stay.

Project 2: Development of a low cost method to evaluate mask efficiency

Abstract: Since the start of the pandemic, over 1.5 Billion single use face masks have been used across the globe. Many people have also made and using homemade masks due to convenience or necessity. At the start of the pandemic there was an acute shortage of masks and even now, with the lifting of mask mandates across the United States, we anticipate that masks will still be used by the public for the foreseeable future. Our objective was to develop a fast, low cost reusable method to evaluate the efficiency of face masks and the materials that are used to manufacture them. We believe that consumers could benefit from knowing that masks that they buy or make are useful and will protect them from COVID 19 and future diseases. To accomplish this, we built a self contained unit that works by measuring the efficiency of material by calculating the amount of light reflected by aerosolized salt solution that penetrates masks. The consumer can use their phone to take a picture of the light compartment through the device and upload the result to our website that will give them the efficiency immediately. In future versions we hope to make the process easier by using an inbuilt camera and a single switch to turn the device on and off.

Project 3: Sensor Array for COVID19 Diagnostics

Abstract: The emergence of the COVID 19 pandemic has highlighted the need for reliable and rapid diagnostic tools to aid in community wide contact tracing and monitoring efforts. Early Covid 19 tests relied on either molecular or serological assays, which had long turnaround times and required specialized equipment and personnel. Our goal was to create a diagnostic tool that could provide rapid and accurate patient feedback without the need of special equipment. To this end we employed the use of a metal oxide array, which was composed of four sensors, in order to detect endogenous Volatile Organic Compounds in the breath. These sensors were fabricated and supplied by the Nanodevices and Materials Lab. We developed a comprehensive testing setup involving a Mass Flow Controller, Gas Chamber, Multiplexor, and a Picoammeter with the creation of a Graphical User Interface (GUI) to make the data collection autonomous and efficient. We also devised a pattern recognition algorithm using Principal Component Analysis and K Means Clustering to identify our four target gases based on the sensor array’s response.

Project 4: Microcontroller Based Functional Electrical Stimulator

Abstract: Electrical stimulation is used in various therapeutic applications in medicine, ranging from neuromodulation to functional mapping of the brain. There are still many of these devices that are operated through manual tuning and pressing buttons. Having the ability to control these analog devices from a computer is critical for research and advanced therapy , but this cannot be done The aim of this Capstone Project is to develop a low cost Functional Electrical Stimulator (FES) that can be fully controlled with a microcontroller (Teensy 3.5) connected to a PC through a USB interface. In practice, the system can be used in various scenarios, but the intended application is for delivering non invasive Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES). The hardware was developed using 9 Volt batteries connected to DC DC boosters for power supply and other primary components that include analog switches and transistors. This system is controlled through Arduino IDE and a Graphical User Interface (GUI) developed within MATLAB that allows for ease of manipulation and further development in the future. We have successfully produced a symmetrical, biphasic square wave capable of operating at 60 microsecond pulse widths. We have also demonstrated the capability of producing a biphasic sinusoidal wave with flexible frequency. One future goal of this system is to fuse it with a brain computer interface (BCI) that can drive the FES to improve the rehabilitation of the patients suffering from stroke or spinal cord injury by translating their thoughts to muscle contractions and associated movement.

Project 5: Inclusive System for Image Capture and Rheological Image Analysis for Artificial Microvascular Network

Abstract: Measuring blood flow in capillaries of an Artificial MicroVascular Network (AMVN) device is typically done using a research grade inverted microscope. Research grade microscopes can provide high resolution images but are bulky, unportable, and expensive, which significantly limits the scope of AMVN technology. As an alternative, we have developed an inclusive, portable system that contains all of the necessary hardware to perform the experiment as well as a code to analyze the perfusion rates of the AMVN channels. The system utilizes a camera and magnification lens to simulate the optics of a microscope, but in a more affordable, compact, and user friendly unit. Video captured by the system can easily be transferred to a laptop for analysis. The perfusion rate data produced using our code has yielded reproducible and accurate results comparable to values in previous literature. This inclusive system can be used to perform analysis on a variety of experiments including testing the effect of new storage conditions, additive solutions, novel drugs, and rejuvenation strategies on the rheological properties of red blood cells in vitro. Future work could entail expanding the usefulness of the system to function with various different microfluidic devices.

Project 6: Voice Activated Alarm System for Patients with Limited Mobility

Abstract: Current hospital alert systems require a mechanical input, most commonly the push of a button Patients with mobility issues such as quadriplegics are unable to perform this input Most solutions to this problem require proximity and are prone to displacement, such as clipping the button to patients’ gowns to press with their chin If these devices are displaced, the patient is unable to correct it, and must resort to yelling to alert a nurse Our device will attempt to mitigate these shortcomings by allowing the patient to speak to activate the alert system, allowing for input at a greater distance with no limb movements required The device uses a mini computer with a microphone attachment for voice input and activation, and a microcontroller connected to a solenoid for mechanical activation of the alert system. This allows for the device to be easily and selectively integrated into the existing alert system at most hospitals We assembled and programmed the device to respond to a specific key phrase amid ambient noise and were able to voice activate the solenoid, as well as demonstrate that it could generate enough force to push a button Future work could replace the external power source with a battery, and compact into a flexible attachment This device will improve accessibility and quality of life for patients with restricted limb mobility

Project 7: Biological Organism Recording and Integrated System During Rocket Launch

Abstract: Space exploration has deleterious effects on the human body and can lead to significant long term adverse effects such as muscle atrophy and bone density loss Many astronauts undergo intense training to prepare for a launch such as High G training, where they are exposed to a high amount of G force Understanding the impact the hypergravity and microgravity environments have on tissue development and function is critical to keeping humans healthy for space travel, especially with the upcoming Artemis program and Mars missions Thus, there is need for a device that can monitor the effects that high action events, such as a rocket launch, has on an organism’s tissues in real time The Biological Organism Recording and Integrated System (BORIS is a device mounted inside the payload bay of Space City Rocketry’s high powered rocket Oberon, with the aim of observing and recording the impact of high accelerative forces on a cell culture to understand how the forces of flight make changes to the structure and function of cell walls and membranes Video footage of magnified cells and interior payload temperature are recorded for analysis of cell conditions and to determine the change in cell diameter during the flight a test flight in March observed rudimentary footage during a 24 second ascent of 7514 N applied on the cells, and internal temperature varied over 1 C Increased magnification and securing the switch on the device light are the next steps to ensure video is visible for the whole flight and that clusters of cells may be identified more easily.

Project 8: Remote Rehabilitation System

Abstract: Electromyography signals are electrical impulses generated by muscle activation. Such signals are obtained using an EMG device to analyze the muscles of interest and determine any muscular or motor dysfunction. Consequently, they can be used for rehabilitation purposes. Currently, there are only a few wireless EMG systems, and they are expensive. However, they can be highly beneficial in cases that would require patient isolation or other reasons. Inspired by this and the growing telerehabilitation, our team set a goal to build an affordable and wireless rehab system that entails building the EMG device and the mobile application necessary to transfer/receive data. The device consists of 3 MyoWare sensors that collect and transfer integrated and rectified EMG signals to the mobile app via the Bluetooth module. The app was built through a program, compatible with the device’s components, called MIT App Inventor 2, and works on Android phones only. The application receives and displays the EMG signals that can also be saved locally. Additionally, it can time the patient’s activity. Further improvements could be made to our system to provide a highly effective remote rehab system for the targeted patients.

Project 9: Blood Flowmeter for Skin

Abstract: For diabetic patients, blood circulation to extremities becomes slower and, as result, can lead to decreased healing rate and increased risk for infection. A lack of treatment can lead to the infection potentially spreading to surrounding tissue and even limb amputation. Monitoring blood flow rate is crucial in detecting the risk for such an infection. While there are other devices for measuring blood flow, such as the Laser Doppler flowmeter, the cost for these devices are often high and used mainly in a clinical setting. We proposed a design for a low cost and portable device to calculate the average energy required to keep a small region of skin at a set temperature for one minute and relate that measurement to blood flow. Our device consists of a small heating coil made from nichrome wire and has an NTC thermistor placed in the center of the coil. We used Arduino Uno as a hardware to software platform and coded for our device via MATLAB. Our software utilizes an on off temperature control system and a relay component to safely power the heating element to the set temperature. To test our device, we developed a low cost artificial vein model to mimic blood circulation and correlated varying flow rates to average energy required to keep the circulation five degrees higher than its current temperature. Our device demonstrates a potential low cost method for measuring blood circulation and for improving the lives of diabetic patients.

Project 10: A Wireless sEMG Based Robotic Rehabilitation System

Abstract: Stroke has been a huge concern throughout the years as it is known to be one of the leading causes of death in the United States For stroke patients, there are a couple of techniques such as targeted physical and technology assisted activities that would help them and serve as therapy to gain motor movement. Nevertheless, new advances in bioengineering have introduced a robotic hand named ‘Hand of Hope” (HoH) that uses real time surface electromyographic signals (sEMG) to control the robotic hand according to the patient’s muscle signals. sEMG is a procedure that measures muscle response or electrical activity based on an individual’s response to nerve stimulation and is recorded by placing electrodes on the surface of a patient’s muscle In this project, TMSi Refa Amplifier was used to amplify the signals received from the sEMG electrodes and send it to MATLAB Later, the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) communication will serve as a method of communication between the commands in MATLAB and the robotic hand motor control performance based on the classified sEMG signals The experiment included fine motor movements such as hand opening/closing and the movement of finger combination gestures. By creating a LDA classifier with 81 accuracy, we were able to have the robotic hand identify and assist in 5 different gestures We hope this stroke rehabilitation technique will help patients with reinforcement of their fine motor function through the strengthening of the nerve signal pathway

Project 11: Quantifying Peripheral Nerves using Deep Learning

Abstract: Larger neurons in the peripheral nervous system (PNS) have thick myelin sheaths which cause them to be easy to detect during transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies. Smaller neurons that tend to be unmyelinated lack the distinct bold outline. Current methods of quantifying axons in PN tissue include manual counting, which is labor intensive and inaccurate. This project is aiming to develop an open source software using Python to automatically identify and quantify cell types (large/small neurons) from TEM images of PN tissue. We built a basic mask region based convolutional neural network (Mask R CNN) using a pre trained object detection model to identify the presence, location, and type of cells. This program is able segment a large image, learn filter values, detect axons apart from other cells, then places a color mask over the cell depending on the thickness of the myelin sheaths. These masks are quantified. As can be seen in the image our program can detect larger, myelinated axons but has trouble with detecting smaller axons. Once we adjust our code to locate both types of axons, we will run our program with a larger dataset of TEM images then compare to manually counted images. This program can be made more beneficial for research teams by further developing it into a deep learning neural network. This will allow researchers to process larger datasets with more accurate results and less preprocessing. Another future direction is to integrate this program with an image analysis software, such as Image J, using Jython , a python java hybrid code.

Project 12: Smart Multiplex Flow Meter Sensor System

Abstract: Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is a highly prevalent condition in women. This condition consists of weakened pelvic muscles leading to diminished bladder control; often leading to uncontrollable leakage during physical movements. Despite the inconveniences of this disorder, treatment options are limited due to safety and efficacy concerns. To study this, we created an automated metabolic cage suited for female rabbits with induced SUI. The objective of this proposal was to create an adaptable system that includes a collection apparatus and a sensor system. These are then attached to the current cages at the University of Houston to measure volume and frequency of micturition events with easy access for data retrieval. This prototype incorporates a mesh filter, a funnel, a flow rate sensor, a peristaltic pump, and an Arduino with Bluetooth capabilities. The data is wirelessly transmitted to a local PC for easy processing and data analysis. Overall, the prototype has been successful in measuring correct volumes of fluid with approximately 93% accuracy and allows for the automatic transfer of data from the Arduino to the mounted SD card for further data analysis. For the future, we plan to test our prototype with SUI-induced rabbits to ensure that the prototype is compatible, accurate for urine testing, and that the prototype can be used to study SUI. This can revolutionize the research industry by improving accuracy of urinary data from rabbits to further the understanding of SUI and other urinary disorders.

Class of 2015

Project 1: Fabrication of Immunosensing Soft Contact Lens as a POC System in Eye Infection Detection

Abstract: Rapid diagnosis of infection within the eye is an area of study that has (to date) been very limited in exploration and innovation. Differentiation between bacterial, fungal, and viral infections within the eye is a difficult process due to the similarities in symptoms in patients with a variety of ocular infections. Proposed is an ELISA-based immunosensing contact lens capable of detecting inflammatory protein markers within human aqueous tears. Soft contact lens assembly will be conducted via two primary methods: synthesis of novel hydrogel-based lens with maximum binding capabilities and improved cross-linking and surface plasma modification of commercially available soft contact lens for binding and successful detection. The lenses will be printed with anti- VCAM-1 antibodies, intended for the detection of the protein VCAM-1, an inflammatory marker. Detection will be conducted using a solution of peroxidase-labeled secondary antibodies in conjunction with a silver reagent, initiating an enzyme-catalyzed silver deposition reaction indicative of the presence of the inflammatory marker. Initial progress in development has been focused on research and acquisition of materials. Due to the limited literature available in the development of such novel diagnostic tools, extensive research has been conducted into creating a device with optimum binding and detecting capabilities. All materials have been sourced and, once received, will immediately be used for hydrogel synthesis and commercial lens plasma modification. Extensive testing will be conducted on the lenses, utilizing an artificial “tear” solution containing VCAM-1 protein for feasibility of design. Following establishment of success of this design, additional modifications will be made to test lens’ capability for differentiating between different types of inflammatory responses and viability of this diagnostic device in clinical applications.

Project 2: Modular Physiological Monitoring System

Abstract: The intended application of the project is vital monitoring during commercial space flights, home healthcare, fitness, and research. The system will measure both physiological and environmental parameters simultaneously. EKG, skin temperature, barometric pressure (altitude), ambient temperature, accelerations, and UV index are the parameters that will be measured. The centerpiece of the system is the Arduino microcontroller. All sensors and the EKG shield are connected to the Arduino boards, which extract the readings of all sensors. The extracted data will be sent to a computer through Wi-Fi thanks to the wireless capability of the Arduino Yun microcontroller. Plotly will be used for data extraction and analysis. Parameter relational plots will be constructed using physiological response to environmental stressors. At the conclusion of last semester we constructed a model on an Arduino Uno board to demonstrate system capabilities. An ambient temperature sensor was implemented in the model with on-board LED lights (green and red) that provided notification (Red LED) when the ambient temperature exceeded 21.5 degrees Celsius. An LCD monitor was also included to demonstrate continuous sensor measurements and display. At the beginning of the second semester we had completed development of the hardware prototype (Milestone 1) and the formation of the Central Hardware Interface (CHI) (Milestone 2), and were starting to work on the data extraction, analysis, and display. This was done by using Plotly to communicate sensor data wirelessly to a server. A computer then extracts this data and displays it in real-time. At the conclusion of the second semester, we had a completed system that utilized two microcontrollers to wirelessly extract and display data (Milestone 3). Although using two microcontrollers was not our original objective, it was the best way for us to integrate the serial EKG into the system. Future work can focus on the miniaturization of the system and establishing communication between the two boards. Our total expenditure for this project was $168 in parts and $6400 in labor.

Project 3: Embryo Dissection Station

Abstract: The purpose of our project was to design, improve, and develop the methods and processes used for the live embryo dissection, including, improvement to the dissection station and examination process. The specific concentration of this project was the construction of a live embryo dissection station that has the same uniform temperature throughout the apparatus that is also economical with regard to fabrication (i.e., the process is cost- and time-effective).

Project 4: Google Glass as a Diagnostic for Melanoma

Abstract: Early melanoma diagnosis is vital for the prevention of complication onsets that may compromise an individual’s life span. In order to diagnose for the presence of melanoma, patients are required to visit a medical facility, which results in the negligence of early symptoms. Our team proposed to develop a melanoma diagnostic utility using Google Glass, which would help provide a point-of-care diagnosis without having to visit a medical facility. Developing a Google Glass diagnostic presents various challenges that mandate the integration of different techniques. The Glass is only capable of capturing 2 dimensional images with its camera, but in order to enhance the diagnostic accuracy, we are developing a code based on the modification of existing algorithms that can create 3-dimensional images from 2-dimensional images. Implementing additional diagnostic criteria for existing 2-dimensional analysis will allow for a 3-dimensional melanoma analysis, which would provide definitive diagnostic results. Image acquisition and analysis will be done via servers that support the processes, and then integrated into the Google Glass. At this time, the Google Glass provides big challenges due to its relative new introduction into the technology market. Therefore, our project includes establishing a method to connect the Google Glass to a development platform, create a graphical user interface to display the diagnostic results, and integrate the servers for a comprehensive diagnosis. During this semester, we were able to establish the software development platform, create a sample melanoma diagnostic display, create a preliminary low resolution 3-dimensional image construct, and run successful 2-dimensional analysis on sample melanoma images. The sponsors covered the Google Glass cost of $1,500, and the University of Houston provides the necessary software for the development process.

Project 5: Optimization of SMFT-based Actuation System Final Report

Abstract: In our Capstone Design Project, we are tasked to optimize an actuation system based on Solid Media Flexible Transmission (SMFT). The SMFT-based system is applicable for robot-assisted surgeries within the MRI, where a very strong permanent magnetic field, fast changing magnetic field gradients and RF pulses are used. SMFT tubes have the potential to efficiently transfer force without the use of magnetically susceptible materials, making it compatible with the MRI scanner. Previously, the tubes have been used at a force transfer efficiency of 50%. Our goal is to increase the force transfer efficiency to 70%. To achieve this goal, we designed a force transfer efficiency testing system involving load cell force sensors, a testing station, and SMFT tubes (Milestones 1, 2, and 3). We also aimed to complete the actuation system by assembling an MRI-compatible needle onto it (Milestone 4). We have successfully completed Milestones 1 and 2, which involves calibrating the load cell and designing a cost-efficient stationary load cell holder to hold the load cell for force efficiency tests. In completing Milestone 3, we have successfully made more stable connections using BNC-BNC cables and interlocking connectors and collected data for the force transfer efficiency of a 1m SMFT tube. Milestone 4 involves assembling a needle holder to be attached to the actuation system and testing it on a porcine kidney suspended in a ballistic gel. The project has reliability constraints for the load cell rod, economic constraints in the 3D printing of the load cell testing station, and manufacturability constraint in the current 3D printing cost and the project’s applicability to test other force transfer systems. During the testing, standards such as the maximum load capacity and the excitation voltage of the load cells have to be determined. The load cell itself follows the accuracy standard IEC 61298-2. In conclusion, the force transfer efficiency decreases with increasing lengths of tubes, but increases at an average of 12.1% across all tubes.

Class of 2014

Project 1: Wireless ECG and Respiratory Monitoring System 

Abstract: The purpose of this project is to design a Wireless ECG and Respiratory Monitoring System. The ECG signal would be collected by electrodes and then amplified and filtered by analog circuit. Next the microcontroller would convert the analog signal into digital signal and amplify it even more. The microcontroller is included in the Wireless transmitter system. Then the data will be sent through MSP430 wireless transmitter (TI wireless development tool) to be processed in a local PC. Our Respiratory monitoring system measures the airflow by using nasal cannula pressure system. This system consists of a nasal cannula (which is standard for oxygen administration) connected to a pressure transducer. Respiratory waveform signal will be generated by detecting the fluctuations in pressure caused by inspiration and expiration. The data will be sent through the same wireless transmitter to be processed in a local PC.

Project 2: Optical Projection Tomography System

Abstract: The scope of this project is to build for Baylor College of Medicine an Optical Projection Tomography system to use in function with an ongoing embryology study. The goal of this project is for the Optical Projection Tomography system to provide a method for high throughput murine embryo imaging. Our design is based on previously published work from the University of Toronto with tweaks and customizations for the specific application requested by Baylor College of Medicine. These tweaks include a differing CCD camera and lens, as well as a possible rotating stage for sequential imaging of multiple embryos at once.

Abstract: The project aims to design, test, and build a Universal Transducer Adapter (UTA) to use in conjunction with commercially available Ultrasound Systems and the Euclid™ Tier 1 Mini Access System designed by Houston Medical Robotics (HMR). The UTA is a much needed design improvement to the Euclid™ system because of the time and financial cost associated with redesigning the adapter for different commercially available ultrasound systems. Multiple design concepts will be presented and tested both in benchtop and animal models and the necessary design documentation will be completed throughout this process. Secondarily, the Euclid™ Tier 1 Mini Base will be ergonomically redesigned for customer ease of use.

Project 4: Lupus Biomarkers

Abstract: The goal of this project is to identify Lupus biomarkers that will be used in a sensor to track the progress of Lupus in a diagnosed patient. Lupus is a systemic autoimmune disease that often results in kidney failure. By tracking the proteins that are filtered through the kidney, it is possible to identify protein biomarkers that are involved in this kidney damage. In order to achieve this goal, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) will be run on urine samples of Lupus patients that will identify those protein biomarkers that have a statistically higher protein concentration compared to patients who are not diagnosed with Lupus. After these biomarkers are identified, a sensor can be created that will evaluate the concentration of these proteins in a urine sample. This sensor can be used in a at home diagnostic kit that can allow a patient to track the progress of their disease without going to the doctor. If the sensor produces alarming results, the patient can then visit the doctor to reevaluate their treatment plan.

• Message From the Chair
• Distinction/Honors
• Open Positions
• Graduate Students
• Faculty Expertise
• Research Labs
• Centers and Consortia
• For Undergraduates
• For Graduates
• Seminars Series
• Theses and Dissertations
• Industrial Relations
• Accreditation
• Curriculum Flow Chart
• Course Description
• Accelerated Master’s Program
• Prospective Students
• Degree Plans
• Graduate Handbook
• Scholarships
• Graduate Tuition Fellowship
• University Resources
• UH-Extend BME Online MS
• Online Programs at the Cullen College
• Newsletters

2020 Biomedical Engineering Capstone Design Projects

Meetme - supporting personalized care for older adults with dementia.

Older adults, especially those with dementia, experience frequent transfers of care, so it is difficult for them to receive personalized care founded on personal connections with caregivers. MeetMe is a website designed to empower older adults to securely share important personality information with transient caregivers to foster a mutual understanding and support better care. MeetMe’s research-backed design process has included several phases of quantitatively analyzing structured feedback gathered directly from older adults at Schlegel Villages to ensure that our prototype meets their needs. 

Team members: Tynan Sears, Mackenzie Wilson, Mikaela MacMahon

CONSTANTIAM

Constantiam is a feedback system that determines the efficiency and safety of exercise technique through the measurement and analysis of weight distribution. Consisting of force sensitive insoles, a data acquisition module, and mobile application, Constantiam provides a user with feedback on their lower body exercise characteristics such as the centre of pressure, symmetry index, and traits of poor form. Constantiam reduces the risk of exercise-related injury, alerts a user of fatigue, and determines ideal weight amounts for lifting.

Team members: Laura Ing, Olivia Lougheed, Karly Smith, and Melissa Rinch

Organ transplantation can significantly extend the life of a pediatric patient. However, the latest advances in support systems for donor hearts fail to accommodate pediatric sizes. HeartAgain aims to bridge this gap by providing state-of-the-art support to hearts ranging from neonate to adult. The system employs normothermic perfusion, a process of supplying an organ with warm oxygenated blood, to transport the heart in a beating state. Integrated biometric monitoring allows otherwise unpredictable transplants by providing real-time insight into heart viability.

Team members: Melissa Yu, Kelsea Tomaino, Cassandra Maxwell, Daphne Walford

Moneta is a cross-platform application that enables tracking and analysis of behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia in long-term care homes. It reduces the cognitive workload of personal support workers by streamlining the behaviour observation process. Using Moneta, trends and correlations in behavioural patterns can be quantitatively assessed through entered data. This helps healthcare professionals design interventions to avoid triggers of responsive symptoms, such as removing residents from noisy environments. The overall aim is to improve the wellbeing of individuals with dementia through non-invasive treatments.

Team members: Presish Bhattachan, Ying Quan (Amy) Qiu, Emily Kuang, Stanislava (Stacey)Ilioukhina

Children with developmental speech disorders require face-to-face sessions with speech-language pathologists. However, the long wait times for in-person consultation partnered with the lack of adherence to at-home prescribed speech exercises remain considerable pain points in the field of speech therapy. Phonologix is a mobile application that aims to help young patients with developmental functional speech disorders. Its goal is to increase compliance with clinician prescribed at-home speech exercises, monitor patient speech development, and deliver personalized feedback to facilitate the speech therapy process.

Team members: Isaac Chang, Felix Kurniawan, Ryan Yi Li, Francis Rhee

BURNAWARE: ASSISTIVE DEVICE FOR CUTANEOUS LOSS OF SENSATION FROM DEEP BURN INJURIES

Individuals with deep burn injuries can experience a cutaneous loss of sensation in their hands, leading to potential exposure to harmful stimuli in their environment. BurnAware is an assistive device comprised of a wearable glove and a body-mounted alert mechanism. The glove detects tactile and temperature sensations and necessitates real-time vibratory responses upon proximal contact to noxious stimuli.

Team members: Namrata Sharma, Zhilling Zou, Christina Jean, Pavneet Singh Kapoor.

PillPals is a mobile application targeted to improve medication adherence in a young adult population through promoting self-efficacy in health outcomes. For a patient to be considered completely adherent to a prescription, they must take each dose precisely as prescribed and on time. The less adherent a patient is, the more likely it is that their treatment fails or is ineffective. PillPals utilizes an alarm system packaged with educational and analytical features to promote self-efficacy, and a graded reward system to keep patients engaged.

Team members: Christiaan Oostenbrug; Lucas Van de Mosselaer; William Harvey; Nicolas Iuorio

Retinal cameras are commonly used to diagnose and monitor sight-threatening diseases. In remote and resource constrained areas, clinical grade retinal cameras are often inaccessible which can lead to preventable blindness. Although there are some commercially available portable retinal cameras, they are often expensive or capture low quality images which are not suitable for clinical use. Perceptus aims to design a low cost, portable, smartphone based retinal camera that improves upon the quality of images obtained by existing devices.

Team members: Allison Cole, Angela Lin, Alexander MacLean, Nicole Barritt, Laurel Pilon

Ugandan midwives and nurses working in low-resource maternity wards must currently clean their surgical instruments by a manual and laborious process. Proper compliance with this process is not achieved since limited staff must always prioritize tending to a high number of patients, leading to instrument rust damage and disuse. In partnership with FullSoul, a Canadian non-profit organization equipping these wards with standardized instrument kits, MediClean has developed FullCycle. We present a simplified and integratable solution to automate the cleaning and decontamination process.

Team members: Charly Phillips, Connor Huxman, Maria Valencia, Robyn Klassen, Sam Feng

HAPTYC LABS

Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip (DDH) is infant hip instability caused by the abnormal formation of the femoral head and acetabulum. Dislocations are very subtle for detection, and with a lack of physician training, Haptyc Labs is developing a simulator to replicate a real infant's hip to portray different DDH severities. The ultimate goal of this project is to provide physicians this physical simulator as a training module for DDH diagnosis.

Team members: Alyson Colpitts, Mariam Osman, Jan Lau, Areeb Hafiz, Noah Kunej

PHYSIOFIT (GENE)

Up to 70% of patients who undergo physiotherapy programs are non-compliant to at-home exercises. Our project aims to improve compliance to knee osteoarthritis (OA) physiotherapy through the use of IMU-based wearable units integrated with a mobile app. The solution will measure the user's exercise accuracy for certain knee OA exercises (knee flexion/extension, hip abduction/adduction, & squatting) and provide results over the course of the whole physiotherapy treatment.

Team members: Maninder Matharoo, Tilak Gupta, Emad Ahmed, Ilir Lazoja, Arjun Gupta

• Utility Menu

Guide to the ALM Capstone Project

Customstyles.

• Course Catalog
• Preparing for the Biotech Capstone

Capstone Idea Generation

Business plan.

Think about how your idea for a new company, drug, diagnostic, or medical device could be described in a one-page executive summary. This will serve as the introductory section of your soon-to-be developed business plan. It will include a description of the idea, possible source(s) of funding, market demand, competition, and growth potential. A good summary will describe why your idea has potential for profit and success, and how it will solve a problem related to human health.

From the summary, you'll need to develop a “pitch” to potential investors. Think about how to attract interest for start-up capital from a financial investor or scientist. In other words, you should not only think about the scientific relevance for your idea, but how to convince others that your innovation is worthy of financial support. Remember that the audience for the pitch are likely those who have limited scientific training; therefore, you'll need to ensure that you use persuasive language in layman's terms.

For an overview of biotechnology business plans, we recommend that you visit Nature.com link, Writing Your Business Plan

• Course Sequencing
• BIOT E-599 Past Capstones and Examples
• Intellectual Property Rights in Biotech

Capstone Project

Each M-TRAM student pursues a capstone project (TRIP: Translational Research Individual Project) requiring  a minimum of 10 hours per week from the second through the fourth quarters. It is an enriching opportunity for each student to pursue a deeper analysis and understanding of a topic of personal interest. TRIP gives students the opportunity to test a hypothesis, develop an experimental plan, interpret results, and understand the future research plan. The completion of the M-TRAM degree includes a final capstone presentation that demonstrates a full and complete understanding of the student's work in the program. 

Capstone Project Requirements

Areas of focus: Capstone projects should focus on therapeutics and/or diagnostics involving drug therapy and delivery, vaccines, immune measurements and therapy, or gene measurements and therapy, and can include a range of translational research activities from early-stage clinical translation (T0/T1) to preclinical optimization and validation (T2) to clinical validation and integration (T3) to implementation and dissemination in real-world settings (T4). The program is designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge necessary to navigate the complex and dynamic landscape of biomedical innovation and translation. The capstone project research may be conducted in a wide variety of settings, including academic research labs and local drug or biotech companies.range of translational research activities . Research must involve the analysis and interpretation of data. Students are encouraged but not required to conduct primary data collection.

Initiating a project: Students develop their capstone proposal in the first quarter while completing their course work. Project ideas can be initiated by students, suggested by M-TRAM faculty advisors, or arise from experiential learning (Industry and Clinical).

During their research and clinical rotation (MED399M), students are exposed to various areas of translational and clinical research, making it easier to identify project ideas. By the end of the first quarter (part of MED399M rotation requirements), students are required to write a two-page capstone project proposal draft outlining their project idea, including hypothesis and research aims, and will designate a Capstone Committee.

The proposal and research mentors must be approved by the M-TRAM Directors prior to the onset of the project.  

The project proposal: The Capstone proposal must describe the nature of the research, with a clear statement of the research question or hypothesis, aims, and clinical significance. The specific primary outcome measure that will be used to answer the study question should be clearly described. A brief description of the planned statistical analyses is required. The proposal should conclude with a description of the student’s role in the Capstone research. The minimum role is formulating and conducting the analysis and interpreting and writing up the results. For more details, see Capstone Project Proposal Guidelines below.  

Capstone Committee: At the end of the first quarter, students designate a Capstone Committee composed of at least four individuals: M-TRAM Director or Co-Director, M-TRAM Executive Director, capstone primary advisor faculty mentor, and a technology advisor (this could be another faculty mentor or staff mentor, such as a core director or a postdoctoral project mentor).  

Project timeline and progress: The student, M-TRAM directors and the Capstone Committee agree on a proposed timeline for completion. The Committee will review the proposal and offer guidance and monitoring throughout the project. During quarters two through four (Winter, Spring, Summer), students will meet regularly with their capstone primary advisor and technology advisor to discuss their progress. They will meet with the rest of the Capstone Committee at least once per quarter.  

Capstone completion: Upon completion of the project, students will formally present their final results at the student research showcase in the fourth quarter (summer). In addition to the talk, students will be required to prepare a final written report summarizing their project’s aims, hypothesis, methods, results, and conclusions.

Capstone Project Proposal Guidelines

• Title Page:  Master's in Translational Research and Applied Medicine (M-TRAM) TRIP Project Proposal 2023-2024 Project Title Applicant: name, title, email address Capstone Committee mentors: names, titles, department, address, email address
• Research Proposal: Maximum two pages, not including figures and references. Format: single-spaced, 1/2 margin, Arial or Helvetica Font Size 11 or larger. The proposal will include: a ) Background b) Hypothesis c) Aims d) Research Methods e) Statement of direct clinical relevance
• Budget justification (one page):  Please note: MTRAM will support each student's research with a research stipend of $3,500 (reagents, consumables, kits, services).
• Description of other funding support, if any:  Please note: if your capstone mentor agrees to support your research project with additional funding, please provide a statement from your mentor with the amount of support)
• Faculty letter of support:  Each application must include a letter of nomination from your Capstone Committee advisor addressed to the M-TRAM Directors Committee. This letter must state that: a) Student will regularly meet with the advisor to monitor progress of their project and to provide advice and feedback. b) Student will provide a progress report of the findings at the M-TRAM Student Research Showcase in the summer of 2023 (date to be confirmed), and c) Student will mention M-TRAM funding in all presentations, abstracts, and publications.

CAPSTONE PROJECTS 2023/24

• “ AI/machine learning enabled structure-based drug discovery. ”
• Capstone advisor: Russ Altman, MD, Ph.D ., Kenneth Fong Professor of Bioengineering, Genetics, Medicine, Biomedical Data Science and (by courtesy) Computer Science), past chairman of the Bioengineering Department
• “Pharmacological validation of clinically relevant cancer targets “
• Capstone advisor: Nathanael Gray, MD, Ph.D ., Krishnan Shah Family Professor of Chemical and Systems Biology, Co-Lead of Medicinal Chemistry (IMA: Innovative Medicines Accelerator)

ANANYA JAIN

• “Developing therapeutics for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).”
• Capstone advisor: Vinicio de Jesus Perez, MD , Associate Professor of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine

MAXIMILIAN NISSLEIN

• “Tumor infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapy for solid tumors (melanoma)”
• Capstone advisor: Allison Betof Warner, MD, PhD , Assistant Professor of Medicine (Oncology), Director of the Melanoma Program and Faculty Leader of the Melanoma|Cutaneous Oncology Clinical Research Group in the SCI-Cancer Clinical Trials Office

ADRIANA CHU

• “Glycoproteomics based early cancer detection.”
• Capstone advisor: Carolyn Bertozzi, PhD , Baker Family Director of Stanford Sarafan ChEM-H, Anne T. and Robert K. Bass Professor, School of Humanities and Sciences
• Industry collaboration with InterVenn Biosciences (company)

JESSICA LAYNE

• "Anti-Myc cancer therapeutics"
• Capstone advisor: Dean Felsher, MD, PhD , Professor of Medicine (Oncology) and of Pathology, TRAM Director, M-TRAM Faculty Director, Co-Director Cancer Nanotechnology Program, Department of Radiology, Stanford School of Medicine, Director of Admissions/Associate Director, Medical Scientist Training Program, Director of Advanced Residency Training Program, Stanford University School of Medicine, Co-Director of Spectrum KL2 Mentored Development Program, Stanford University, School of Medicine
• "AI enabled drug discovery for breast cancer"
• Capstone advisor: Christina Curtis, MD, PhD , Professor of Medicine, Genetics and Biomedical Data Science, Director of Artificial Intelligence and Cancer Genomics, Director - Breast Cancer Translational Research (Stanford Cancer Institute), Co-Director - Molecular Tumor Board, Stanford Cancer Institut

ZAIN DIBIAN

• "T-reg cell immunotherapy for graft vs. host disease"
• Capstone advisor: Everett Meyer, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Blood & Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy

SHONA ALLEN

• " Developing a therapeutic for SMA (spital muscular atrophy) neurological disorder: computational analysis of clinical trial data"
• Capstone advisor: Jacinda Sampson, MD, PhD, Clinical Professor of Neurology and Neurological Sciencies

PETER CAROLINE

• "Immunotherapy for IBD (inflammatory bowel disease)"
• Capstone advisor: Sidhartha Sinha, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine (Gastroenterology and Hepatology), Director of Digital Health and Innovation, Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology   

CHLOE GERUNGAN

• "Developing a therapeutic for infectious disease (malaria)"
• Capstone advisor: Prasanna Jagannathan, MD , Assistant Professor of Medicine (Infectious Diseases) and of Microbiology and Immunology

JOEY OLSHAUSEN

• "Drug repurposing for treatment of cardio valve disease"
• Capstone advisor: Ian Chen, MD , Assistant Professor of Medicine (Cardiovascular Disease) and of Radiology (Veterans Affairs), Director, Translational Cardiovascular Research Laboratory, Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Director, VA/PAVIR Summer Research Program

Capstone Projects 2022-23

Chris aboujudom.

• “ Development of Novel MYC-directed Anti-cancer Therapeutics ”
• Capstone advisor: Dean Felsher, MD Ph.D ., Professor of Medicine (Oncology) and of Pathology, M-TRAM Program Director,

McKAY GOHAZRUA BUTLER

• “Developing protocols for isolation and purification of MYC-derived cancer extracellular vesicles (EVs) for improved diagnosis and monitoring of cancer.“
• Capstone advisor: Dean Felsher, MD Ph.D ., Professor of Medicine (Oncology) and of Pathology, M-TRAM Program Director

NIRK E. QUISPE CALLA, MD

• “Development of a combined cancer vaccine and immunotherapy (anti-PD-L1) delivery using dendritic cell-based microbubbles against triple-negative breast cancer”
• Capstone advisor: Ramasamy Paulmurugan, PhD , Professor of Radiology, Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford
• “Investigate the roles and therapeutic value of human anti-phagocytotic genes in augmenting CAR-T cell therapy”
• Capstone advisor: Crystal Mackall, MD (Capstone Primary Advisor Faculty Mentor), Founding Director of the Stanford Center for Cancer Cell Therapy, Professor of Pediatrics and Medicine

JULIAN WOLF, MD

• "High-resolution proteomic profiling of aqueous humor liquid biopsies as a diagnostic and prognostic tool for choroidal melanoma"
• Capstone advisor: Vinit Mahajan, MD, PhD , Professor of Ophthalmology, Vice Chair for Research (Ophthalmology)
• Capstone advisor: Nima Aghaeepour, PhD , Associate Professor of Anesthesiology, Pediatrics and Biomedical Science

Applications portal is now closed  

For the 2024/2025 academic year, we will be accepting applications for 2025/26, in the fall of 2024..

Questions? Contact us! [email protected]

Important Dates

September 2023 to January 2024:

• Applications accepted for 2024/25

December 8, 2023:

• M-TRAM info session webinar for prospective students (register here )

January 31, 2024:

• Applications are due for 2024/25

April, 2024:

• Admission Decisions

Sept. 9, 2024:

• M-TRAM research symposium and New Students Orientation (in person) - stay tuned for registration info

Sept. 23, 2024:

• First day of classes at Stanford (M-TRAM program starts)

Interested in Becoming an M-TRAM Industry Partner?

We welcome inquiries from biotechnology, pharmaceutical and other health care organizations interested in learning about opportunities to partner with M-TRAM: 

[email protected]

• Master of Science in Biomedical Informatics

Capstone Project

Experiential learning with a capstone project, develop and lead an actionable biomedical informatics plan.

Professional experience is an essential part of the Master of Science in Biomedical Informatics (MScBMI) at the University of Chicago. As the culminating experience of the program, you will work with an organization to solve a biomedical informatics problem. You will work on real projects solving real problems for businesses in research, technology, healthcare, or education.

This challenging and rewarding project will give you experience in the field, help you build connections, and increase your career potential.

Build a network while solving real-world problems

Make a difference while you are still a student.

The Capstone process provides a path to build expertise in your focus area, connect with your cohort, and meet potential employers or references.

It is designed to offer students an opportunity to gain experience working on real-life biomedical informatics-related problems. You will network with key industry leaders and will have individualized instruction from your academic advisor. This experience will push you into discovery, pave the way for published research, help you explore potential employment opportunities, and challenge you with problem-based work – all having an immediate and positive impact on your career.

Capstone teams engage with problems that may have wide-ranging effects in a variety of settings including clinical, research, and industry. Students identify the knowledge and framework required to address the problem and use the methodologies learned in the Biomedical Informatics program coursework to develop strategies which may involve creating new information management resources, optimizing current data systems, conducting data analysis, and scoping new solutions.

Capstone Project details

• Capstone Overview: The capstone project is a degree requirement for students and is completed during the last three quarters of their program. Students work in small teams with a business partner to address key problems the company needs to solve. The program aids students in identifying viable projects and establishing a scientific advisory panel for oversight and mentorship. At our Capstone Showcase events, all projects are presented to faculty and sponsors for review and evaluation. (link to more details?)
• Capstone Course Sequence: The Capstone course sequence consists of three consecutive classes. You will work directly with a Capstone sponsor according to your preferences, professional experience, and skills. After completing your research, you will produce a final report with all essential components of an academic paper.
• Capstone Sponsor: Your Capstone sponsor is a representative from the organization sponsoring your project who will directly oversee your work. You will connect with your sponsor weekly or bi-weekly to discuss your project’s deliverables, goals, and scope. 
• Scientific Advisors: Scientific advisors are MScBMI program instructors with subject-matter expertise on your project. You will meet with them regularly to talk about your proposal, research methods, and presentation.
• Choosing a Capstone Partner: UChicago provide a portfolio of projects students may be matched to, based on their skills and interest. This provides them a vetted project, sponsor or researcher with real-world problem. Partnerships test program knowledge, but also skills like leadership, time management, project management, and teamwork. Some students get hired into the partner organization after graduation, while others find it easier to obtain a new role based on this experience and references from the project work. Students may also propose their own project. It may be related to work or research they are interested in but must be something outside of their normal daily job responsibilities.

Capstone Projects tailored to your area of specialization and interest

Some of our recent topics:.

Students evaluated the frequency and causes of duplicate computed tomography (CT) scanning in receiving pediatric and adult trauma centers and considered use of electronic methods for image exchange.

Impact: Utilized scholarly research database to conduct literature review and concluded an industry-wide standards-based framework to facilitate the seamless electronic exchange of images is necessary to reduce duplication.

Students developed analytic template leveraging grouper methodology to examine health expenditures of a large corporation’s population.

Impact: Identified major drivers of population costs utilizing data analytics and visualization tools.

A cancer center at a large university has developed a research data warehouse for translational research. Data is generated across multiple domains and stored in a centralized repository. Robust Extract-Transform-Load capabilities have been missing. Students evaluated and made recommendations for ETL workflow.

Impact: Identified ETL workflow, informatics pipeline, and data quality-control strategies. Reviewed data collection process and documented risks to data quality. Proposed learning system approach for continuous data collection.

The need exists to characterize disease occurring in population with moderate-to-severe psoriasis (PsO) that may not be applicable to mild PsO or the general population. Students evaluated and identified cohorts based on EMR information.

Impact: Utilized EMR data to identify and stratify cohort of patients with PsO by severity based on their medication. Conducted descriptive and regression-based tree analyses to characterize each cohort. Concluded characteristics of those within the moderate-to-severe PsO cohort included advanced age, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes consistent with literature describing patients with more severe forms of PsO.

Gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma has a poor prognosis, high molecular heterogeneity and few targeted therapeutic options. Guardant360 is a clinical 73-gene next generation sequencing (NGS) panel for plasma circulating tumor (ct)DNA. Students evaluated a global cohort of 1314 Guardant360 tests to determine correlations between allele frequency of ctDNA, median overall survival and immunotherapy-treated survival.

Impact: Concluded ctDNA analysis merits further evaluation as a prognostic and predictive biomarker and in evaluating molecular heterogeneity.

Students evaluated correlation between pre-operative lab data and post-discharge adverse outcomes in elective hip and knee joint replacement.

Impact: Identified significant laboratory tests, risk adjusted data, and used logistic regression to predict an adverse event. Concluded abnormal values of Albumin and Hemoglobin were significant predictors of prolonged length of stay in both hip and knee patients.

Students developed a tool to assist clinical genomics group in handling the increasing volume of patient genetic data for a large healthcare system.

Impact: Utilized programming scripts to extract, transform and load data from dbSNP, ClinVar and COSMIC into postgreSQL database. Genetic information is now available through a single resource which helps with repeatability, documentation, and incidental reporting.

Students developed web-based database management system for acute care surgical residents.

Impact: Improved data collection and analysis for tracking patient status and estimate operative complication risks. Improved resident workflow and quality measures, provided residents with individual complication rates.

Shape the Future of Health Informatics: Become a Capstone Advisor or Sponsor

Are you passionate about driving innovation in healthcare technology? We invite industry leaders and experts to join us as a Capstone sponsors for our prestigious Biomedical Informatics program at UChicago.

• A Foundation to Tackle Anything
• Room to Spare

An official website of the United States government

The .gov means it’s official. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

The site is secure. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

• Publications
• Account settings

Preview improvements coming to the PMC website in October 2024. Learn More or Try it out now .

• Advanced Search
• Journal List
• Wiley-Blackwell Online Open

An idea to explore: Interdisciplinary capstone courses in biomedical and life science education

Pauline m. ross.

1 School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Camperdown New South Wales, Australia

2 Faculty of Science, University of Sydney, Camperdown New South Wales, Australia

Lucy Mercer‐Mapstone

Liana e. pozza, philip poronnik.

3 FHM MediaLab, Education Innovation, School of Medical Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Tina Hinton

4 Sydney Pharmacy School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Damien J. Field

While biomedical and life science research have embraced interdisciplinarity as the means to solving pressing 21st century complex challenges, interdisciplinarity in undergraduate education has been more difficult to implement. As a consequence, disciplinary rather than interdisciplinary capstones have become ubiquitous. Disciplinary capstones are valuable for students because they enable them to integrate knowledge and skills within the discipline, but they are also limiting because the integration is within rather than across disciplines. In contrast to a capstone, which involves a single discipline, interdisciplinary capstones require two or more disciplines to combine and integrate across disciplinary boundaries. Interdisciplinarity, where two of more disciplines come together, is difficult to implement in the biomedical and life science curricula because student majors and finances are administered in ways, which reinforce institutional organization of schools and faculties and prevent collaboration. Here in this “idea to explore” we provide an interdisciplinary capstone model where students enroll in disciplinary courses, but then these disciplinary courses and students collaborate on interdisciplinary real‐world problems. This interdisciplinary capstone model was implemented across two diverse and large biomedical and life science schools within two faculties in a research intensive, metropolitan university. This approach allows for integration of the biomedical, social and ethical perspectives required when solving problems in the real world, such as COVID‐19. Interdisciplinary learning also better prepares students for higher degree research and future careers. Overcoming disciplinary curriculum silos and faculty barriers is critical if we are to meet expectations of acquiring interdisciplinarity as a key competency.

Comparison between disciplinary and multidisciplinary silos and interdisciplinary learning to solve real world problems.

1. INTRODUCTION

Interdisciplinary learning has increasingly been seen as necessary yet challenging to implement in undergraduate biomedical and life science education. 1 , 2 , 3 Interdisciplinarity emerged as researchers recognized that solving the complex challenges of our time, such as the spread of infectious diseases, food and water security and climate change, requires the integration of expertise and skills of several disciplines and sub disciplines and that breakthroughs often occur at these intersections. 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 This has been brought into sharp focus with the COVID‐19 pandemic.

Interdisciplinarity has been defined when two or more disciplines combine and interact across disciplinary boundaries to solve a problem, creating a solution that cannot be produced by one discipline alone. Boix Mansilla 9 described it as “the capacity to integrate knowledge and modes of thinking in two or more disciplines to produce a cognitive advancement, for example, explaining a phenomenon, solving a problem, creating a product, raising a new question in ways that would have been unlikely through single disciplinary means” (Boix Mansilla, p.4). Tripp and Shortlidge 3 defined it “… as the collaborative process of integrating knowledge/expertise from trained individuals of two or more disciplines leveraging various perspectives, approaches and research methods/methodologies to provide advancement beyond the scope of one discipline's ability”. 2 , 3 , 9

Interdisciplinarity has been more difficult to implement in undergraduate education than in research because student discipline concentrations and finances administered by schools and faculties reinforce organization structures and prevent collaboration. As a consequence, disciplinary rather than interdisciplinary capstones have become ubiquitous. Capstone experiences, often termed ‘culminating experiences’, have become popular in a wide range of undergraduate degrees because they provide opportunities for students to connect and integrate knowledge and skills of the biomedical and life science disciplines, attain graduate qualities, and transition into professional pathways and employment. 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 While disciplinary capstones are valuable, they are also limiting because the integration is within rather than across disciplines. In contrast, interdisciplinary capstone courses integrate content within and outside the biomedical and life science disciplines and provide opportunities for students to use their disciplinary knowledge to solve real problems that dominate life after university. 14 Creating true interdisciplinary capstone experiences requires faculty and students from two or more disciplines across faculties and schools to merge and collaborate.

In this article we describe a curriculum model for implementing interdisciplinary final year capstone experience in biomedical and life science undergraduate education where students from different disciplinary backgrounds come together to work in interdisciplinary teams to solve 21st century problems. To do this we first describe the history of the emergence of interdisciplinarity. Second, we critically analyze interdisciplinary capstones which have so far been implemented. Finally, we describe a capstone model of interdisciplinary learning and assessment and the challenges faced in design and implementation and thfor interest present some preliminary comments from students.

1.1. History of the emergence of interdisciplinarity

Interdisciplinary approaches to biology research and education emerged when the report ‘BIO2010: Transforming Undergraduate Education for Future Research Biologists’ 7 recommended embedding interdisciplinary learning into the biology undergraduate curriculum. This was subsequently supported by a series of publications and the National Research Council (NRC) in its 2009 publication of “ A New Biology for the Twenty‐First Century ”. 8 , 15 , 16 , 17 It was the Vision and Change in Undergraduate Biology Education statement, 17 however, which consolidated and advanced the importance of biological concepts being applied to real world problems. 18 AAAS 17 identified the interdisciplinary nature of science as a core competency for students. For example, the management of habitats such as coral reefs and diseases such as COVID‐19 requires the consideration of biomedical, biological, political, economic, sociological, and ethical dimensions. 19

Interdisciplinary learning, through complex problem solving, was seen as a way for undergraduate students to use their disciplinary knowledge in real world contexts, allowing them to become aware of disciplinary affordances and limitations and to be much better prepared for the workplace. 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 Interdisciplinary experiences develop complex problem solving, collaborative, and transferrable skills. 22 , 25 , 26 Moreover, DeZure 25 described a comprehensive set of benefits of interdisciplinary learning, emphasizing the dynamic changes which occur in knowledge construction when disciplinary boundaries are crossed and the shift in perspectives when integration of disciplines occurs to solve pressing social and scientific challenges.

1.2. Approaches to interdisciplinarity

Approaches to interdisciplinary education vary widely (Table  1 ). Table  1 provides a summary of recent curriculum designs of interdisciplinary capstones, including a description of the design, the degree of interdisciplinary integration and collaboration and the pedagogy used. The degree of integration in interdisciplinary capstones has ranged from traditional (students from the same discipline taking on roles) to overlapping and fully integrated (students working in mixed interdisciplinary groups). Most commonly interdisciplinary learning is organized around students collaborating in project groups to solve a real‐world problem (e.g., References [22, 24, 26, 27]) where students take on different disciplinary roles (e.g., References [ 22 , 23 , 28 ], Table  1 ).

Summary of recent studies on interdisciplinary capstones, including a description of the design, the degree of interdisciplinary integration and collaboration and the pedagogy used

Note : Degree of integration ranged from traditional (students from the same discipline taking on roles) to overlapping and fully integrated (students working in mixed interdisciplinary groups).

Interdisciplinary learning is less frequently organized around students with different disciplinary backgrounds working together in authentic interdisciplinary teams taught by interdisciplinary faculty (e.g., References [ 20 , 26 , 29 ], Table  1 ). Pedagogies are generally active learning approaches 2 , 22 , 23 , 26 , 29 , 30 such as problem solving, 27 , 28 project work, 24 , 27 case studies, 22 , 26 technology and demonstrations with guest lectures 26 , 29 and constructivism. 20

To guide interdisciplinary learning, frameworks such as the Interdisciplinary Science Framework (IDSF) have been created through conversations with researchers. 3 The IDSF provides a set of ingredients essential to interdisciplinary learning, including a basic understanding of disciplines (disciplinary grounding), how disciplines integrate (advancement through integration), the use of different disciplinary research methods, and collaboration across disciplines. Assessment frameworks from Boix Mansilla et al. 31 which outline criteria and standards that can be shared with students and faculties also answer questions on how to measure the performance of students in interdisciplinary learning.

Despite interdisciplinary learning now being at the leading edge of biomedical and life sciences undergraduate education, barriers remain in its implementation. 3 , 7 , 8 , 15 , 17 , 32 This is in part because universities reinforce disciplinary boundaries in both research and education, 3 but also because many biomedical and life science faculty are ill equipped to teach interdisciplinary skills. Departments mostly seek, hire, and promote faculty who are experts in their discipline with an academic identity and allegiances to disciplines being formed during undergraduate studies and cemented during PhD and postdoctoral training. 3 , 33 Undergraduate biomedical and life sciences curricula induct students into their discipline in the same way as their faculty teachers—through a narrowing of disciplinary focus and expertise over the course of degree. This means that students are often unfamiliar and ill‐equipped, and not sufficiently supported, to apply their disciplinary knowledge in interdisciplinary settings. If we are to meet the challenge of developing students' competency in interdisciplinarity then we need to go beyond students assuming hypothetical disciplinary roles and create models which bring together students from different disciplinary backgrounds to solve real‐world problems.

1.3. Interdisciplinary capstone model and challenges

We created and embedded a curriculum model of interdisciplinarity in each science concentration in a Faculty of Science. We defined “concentration” as a specific area or field of study within the broad field of life and medical science i.e. genetics and physiology. In our situation in Australia, the word “major” is used to encompass both broad and more narrower areas of study i.e. is inclusive of genetics, physiology, biology or medical science. We used the term concentration because it is a term more commonly used in curriculum across higher education. To create an interdisciplinary capstone course in the junior or final year of medical and life science degree, each concentration formed a partnership with at least one or more other concentration to form an interdisciplinary capstone. Thus, combined capstones effectively had students from at least two concentrations or two distinct disciplines (Figure  1 ). Figure  1 provides a conceptualisation of the degree of interdisciplinary integration from a traditional siloed model to an overlapping model where there is both disciplinary content and areas of interdisciplinarity or cross over among cohorts, to a fully integrated model. For example, an interdisciplinary capstone in biochemistry and molecular biology formed a two‐way partnership with mathematics concentrations while infectious diseases formed a three‐way partnership with biology and history and philosophy concentrations (i.e., overlapping model in Figure  1 ). Partnerships between and among courses were required to have at least 50% disciplinary and 50% interdisciplinary content and activities. Most adopted the overlapping model whereby two or three capstone courses combined for a team‐based interdisciplinary project for 50% and maintained 50% discipline‐specific content for cohorts separately (Figure  1 , A and B or A, B and C courses combined). Less frequently adopted was an integrated model where capstones effectively became one coherent interdisciplinary capstone where interdisciplinary content was dominant (Figure  1 ). Initially the overall model of interdisciplinarity for the curriculum was written and described by presidents in vision statements, created in policy by senior leaders and then designed and realized by staff in faculties and at the coal face (Figure  2 ). Figure  2 provides a conceptualisation between the degree of interdisciplinary integration as experienced by the student and the agents involved in the design and implementation including academics and senior leaders in the institution.

Degree of interdisciplinary integration

Degree of interdisciplinary integration and actors involved in the implementation including academics and senior leaders in the institution

Some course partnerships were formed between concentrations to accommodate certain restrictions such as cohort size disparity. The variation in cohort size between courses (ranging from less than five to over 300) was the result of students' preferences for particular concentrations. The disparity of student class sizes was resolved by either merging concentrations where there were small student cohorts or diversifying projects, where there were large student cohorts in concentrations. For example, small student numbers in two concentrations of, similar disciplines, such as food and nutrition, were often merged to act as one concentration to partner with a second distinct concentration such as statistics. Where there were large student cohorts, multiple partnerships were formed, working on a diversity of projects. Having comparable cohort sizes within partnerships was desirable, so that the formation of student groups with representatives of each of the disciplines could occur.

Further, as interdisciplinary courses were required for each concentration, students taking concentrations of both biology and genetics could be affected by the partnership approach. Students taking two concentrations, or two majors, were required to complete two interdisciplinary courses, so long as these courses were not in the same partnership. To ensure that these students were not affected, extensive cross‐checking of enrolments by concentration pathways had to be undertaken. For those students who found themselves requiring both interdisciplinary courses for concentrations which had partnered, other options (offered centrally by the university) were counted as an interdisciplinary experience for one of these concentrations.

This interdisciplinary capstone model was more authentic than other interdisciplinary curriculum models because students represented the discipline of their concentration, rather than taking on a role of a discipline. It also overcame administration and financial challenges. Given that student fees routinely follow the disciplinary or concentration pathways of student choice, constructing interdisciplinary capstones within concentrations meant that student enrolments and fees still went to the department or faculty within which the student was enrolled, which solved the problem of competition for students and funding.

Administering combined cohorts from different capstones which would normally have separate CANVAS Learning Management System (LMS) sites was solved by a single LMS which enrolled students from all partnered course cohorts. This single LMS was a place where students and staff were able to source all the information and materials related to the interdisciplinary aspects of the course. On this site, there was clear signposting of discipline‐specific and interdisciplinary content and assessment (Figure  3 ). This has the added benefit of enabling students to see all the discipline content across courses, should they be interested in or wish to understand different disciplinary perspectives on their projects.

CANVAS LMS interdisciplinary site for biology, genetics and history and philosophy of science—a three way partnership

While faculty were willing to cross disciplinary boundaries to do interdisciplinary research, some were reluctant to cross the same disciplinary boundaries to do interdisciplinary teaching. First, faculty expressed anxiety about their inexperience in teaching and supporting students to develop the skills required for interdisciplinary work. Other studies have found that faculty may be reluctant to teach interdisciplinarity believing learning disciplinary knowledge and skills are sufficient. 34 Solutions to this included a sustained program of support and academic professional development. Second, faculty also expressed anxiety about the ‘watering down’ of discipline concentration content. Typical complaints included “shouldn't final‐year capstones be focused solely on discipline‐specific research?”, aligning with the Kift et al. 12 narrowed ‘mountain‐top’ conceptualization of capstone subjects which has historically been popular. To address these concerns, a consensus was reached where the minimum of interdisciplinary learning was set at 50% reflecting the overlapping model of integration and the other 50% being disciplinary content. Many courses did opt to increase the interdisciplinary proportion and did so predominantly by designing a more fully integrated delivery of disciplinary and interdisciplinary aspects (Figure  1 ). This ensured, as intended, that the concentration content acted as a foundation upon which to build and apply skills in interdisciplinary contexts, teams, and problems.

Assessment was, as expected in an assessment‐driven curriculum, the place where the largest number of issues weras raised. Other studies have found that assessment of interdisciplinary learning commonly involves group outputs such as management plans and grant proposals, developed through multiple stages of drafting and feedback, 20 , 23 often accompanied by individual reflection statements. 20 , 27 , 28 Assessment associated with the interdisciplinary component of the capstones—a large interdisciplinary project – was aligned and shared between partnered courses (Table  2 ). We designed from the outset that the assessment in these interdisciplinary capstone courses be aligned so that the learning outcomes of interdisciplinary projects were validly evaluated. This also had the effect of team members being accountable to one another – as in any project‐based work environment.

Shared assessment scheme adopted across interdisciplinary courses

Note : Mostly this was 50%:50% disciplinary and interdisciplinary content for both individual and group work.

The usual concerns were consequently raised regarding how to grade a student's ‘true’ abilities given a high proportion of group work. The perception existed that group work problematically results in historically lower‐performing students receiving higher marks when working with historically higher‐performing students. Assessment was organized so that there was a minimum of 50% individually assessed tasks and 50% group work and most commonly a 50%:50% disciplinary to interdisciplinary break down, although this could be varied depending on the approach and although rare, there was flexibility to increase the interdisciplinary assessment component (see Table  2 ). Peer evaluations were used to assess group members, introducing an additional level of transparency and accountability around group marks occurred and sometimes was used to moderate the project, group report (Table  2 ).

Other courses within our institution which have a high proportion of group work have shown a trend towards students receiving a higher course mark than their personal average, potentially resulting in such courses being perceived as ‘an easy option’ by both staff and students. At this stage, however, those perceptions seem to be unfounded, based on a well‐designed curriculum to discourage such effects, and cannot with any certainty be causally linked to group work. It may instead be that the courses are designed using best practice evidence‐based approaches which allow space for a greater number of students to achieve at a higher standard, relative to other more traditional modes of teaching in science. Only time and more research will tell.

Some issues arose when some coordinators treated the 50% interdisciplinary and disciplinary concentrations streams of the courses as entirely separate when it came to assessment – rather than using one to support the other. Additional assessment burden could occur if coordinators broke up the disciplinary content and assessment into small components. For example, there were sometimes requests to break up the disciplinary exam into multiple, smaller quizzes. Most of these requests were unsuccessful, because there was a formal approval processes in place for assessment changes at both school and faculty levels and policies to prevent over assessing, through multiple low value tasks. Examples of such an integrated assessment scheme included coordinators using the disciplinary tasks to get students to conduct literature reviews on their own disciplinary area relevant to the interdisciplinary project, hence preparing them to contribute to their group's interdisciplinary research project. Most studies report positive student feedback on assessment in interdisciplinary learning. 22 , 26 Negative student feedback on interdisciplinary learning is more often related to students seeking more guidance from staff 24 and frustrations when communication and technology breakdown occurs. 26 , 28

It is possible, as has been found by other studies, to identify criteria to measure interdisciplinary competency. 3 , 31 These criteria include disciplinary understanding, integration, perspective taking and collaboration. The interdisciplinary competence of students in this study was assessed through their group project work and individual reflection (Table  2 ). Project work by students working in groups accounted for 50% of the assessment, including a reflective statement. Reflective statements feature strongly as assessment components in interdisciplinary capstone courses. 20 Literature on the assessment of student progress towards interdisciplinary competency is voluminous. 35 Rubrics to assess interdisciplinary learning are abundant in the literature, however, these are only useful if they are clearly understood by both students and faculty. Common themes in the literature include the capacity of students to integrate and make connections across disciplines, identify differences in disciplinary perspectives and work in groups where assessment includes both self and peer assessment. 25 To assess performance standards of interdisciplinarity we created, based on the literature, an interdisciplinary rubric (Table  3 ) which we attempted to implement. Interdisciplinary capacity can be described by performance standards using scalable verbs of what students do or how often a student demonstrates a skill (Table  3 ). It was much more straightforward to assess disciplinary content through assessment types such as exams, and written statements of project problems from a disciplinary perspective (Table  2 ) rather than interdisciplinary effectiveness which is a combination of integration, perspective taking and collaboration (Table  3 ).

Rubric which describes competency in interdisciplinarity using four criteria and standards of attainment of the criterion of integration in terms using scalable verbs which articulate what students do and how often a student demonstrates the described verb

Source : Based on Boix Mansila et al. 3

2. DISCUSSION

If students are to develop interdisciplinarity, then there needs to be curriculum designs which enable authentic integration of different disciplinary perspectives. The interdisciplinary capstone model we describe here enables students from different disciplinary backgrounds to integrate disciplinary understandings and skills to solve interdisciplinary problems. The unique feature of this model of interdisciplinary capstone courses in this idea to explore provide a description of “how” students from different disciplinary backgrounds and majors can be brought together in ways which are similar to what occurs in interdisciplinary research teams and in the workplace. Other approaches to interdisciplinary learning which have students from only one discipline take on roles of other disciplines, achieve limited authenticity, 3 , 20 (Table  1 ). This contrasts with more authentic examples of curriculum models in courses 36 and as immersive and intensive challenges. 37 Authentic integration of disciplines as described in this interdisciplinary capstone model brings together students and faculty from different disciplines or concentrations who have not previously interacted or collaborated on teaching or research. The key point of difference in this design and model of interdisciplinary capstone courses is that the students are representing different disciplines. This makes the design more authentic. It is then the interactions between students to solve problems, which creates integration and interdisciplinarity. In this way it aligns with the definition of Boix Mansilla (p.4) 9 who described interdisciplinarity as “the capacity to integrate knowledge and modes of thinking in two or more disciplines to produce a cognitive advancement e.g., explaining a phenomenon, solving a problem, creating a product, raising a new question in ways that would have been unlikely through single disciplinary means”.

This is not, however, the only curriculum model for interdisciplinary learning. For example, Princeton's Integrated Science program, has a shared governance structure among faculties and departments thus seeking to overcome disciplinary silos. The National Experiment in Undergraduate Science Education (NEXUS) project similarly sought to better prepare pre‐medical students through the provision of a broader and more interdisciplinary curriculum. 29 The project was a collaboration between four universities in the United States and focused on the development of modules integrating biological, chemical, physical, and mathematical sciences. To ensure the project came to fruition and maintained its focus, numerous levels of organization were established including a steering committee comprised of members of each participating university and an advisory board linked to broader stakeholders.

It is also important to acknowledge that Course Based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CUREs) where students work on original research problems have similarities and differences with this interdisciplinary model described here. CUREs, like interdisciplinary capstone courses aim to develop students critical thinking and problem‐solving skills. 38 , 39 In addition to these skills, and unlike CUREs, interdisciplinary capstone courses are focused on bringing together students and staff in concentrations who would not normally work together, including in some instances the disciplines of social sciences, mathematics and philosophy.

As others have found, interdisciplinary learning is easier to imagine than implement. 20 The success of these interdisciplinary capstones was strengthened because there was institutional support from senior leaders of the university and faculty and interdisciplinary effectiveness was identified as a core graduate quality (Figure  2 ). A central education committee with representatives from all departments and faculties oversaw the process of design, approval and delivery. To co‐ordinate the implementation of the interdisciplinary capstone courses, a central faculty‐based staff member was also appointed who had mixed skill sets in science, interdisciplinary research, and education. The role of this staff member was to assist faculty to form partnerships between distinctly different science disciplines to ensure a truly interdisciplinary experience and to support and oversee the coherent implementation of the interdisciplinary capstone model. These interdisciplinary courses were supported and sustainable even through the COVID‐19 pandemic.

Although evaluation is still at the early stages, student evaluations of the units provide evidence that students have developed interdisciplinarity. For example, non‐solicited student responses commented on the benefits to work with students from other disciplines:

“The chance to work with other people in different disciplines has really helped me understand the concept of interdisciplinary group work and what some of the challenges may be with this” and “being able to work closely with my group was rewarding and challenged me to learn with an interdisciplinary mindset”.

“I developed my ability to work effectively with others studying in a different field(s) from me”.

Finally, the interdisciplinary capstone model described here resolved challenges and connected students in concentrations across a broad set of medical and life sciences to build the capacity of both students and staff to develop interdisciplinarity as a key competency. This approach allows for integration of the biomedical, social and ethical perspectives required when solving problems in the real world, such as COVID‐19. Interdisciplinary learning also better prepares students for higher degree research and future careers. Overcoming disciplinary curriculum silos and faculty barriers is critical if we are to meet expectations of acquiring interdisciplinarity as a key competency.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We would like to thank the course coordinators and educational design team during the development of this curriculum model, including Dr Thomas Jephcott. We also thank Dr. Vicky Tzioumis for her suggestions on this manuscript. This study was covered by the University of Sydney Human Ethics Approval 2020/455 project title “Evaluating the Faculty of Science Interdisciplinary Project‐Based Capstone Units.”

Open access publishing facilitated by The University of Sydney, as part of the Wiley ‐ The University of Sydney agreement via the Council of Australian University Librarians.

Ross PM, Mercer‐Mapstone L, Pozza LE, Poronnik P, Hinton T, Field DJ. An idea to explore: Interdisciplinary capstone courses in biomedical and life science education . Biochem Mol Biol Educ . 2022; 50 ( 6 ):649–660. 10.1002/bmb.21673 [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ CrossRef ] [ Google Scholar ]

• April 2 Bahrain Grand Prix: A Thrilling Start to the 2024 Season
• April 2 1 in 9.2 Quintillion
• April 2 Paris: Some Tourist Tips and Tricks
• March 21 Pickleball Club at Mountain Ridge
• March 21 "Percy Jackson and the Olympians"; a TV review
• March 21 Hayao Miyazaki: The Man Who Refuses to Retire
• March 21 Society of Female Scholars
• March 4 Green Day's 'Saviors': A Delightful Return to Form
• March 4 Second Annual ACAA Culture Festival
• March 4 Students Revel in Diversity at Mountain Ridge Culture Festival

The Ridge Review

The Student News Site of Mountain Ridge High School | Glendale, Arizona

Biomedical Innovation Honors Capstone Project

Avery Cross May 10, 2019

This school year, in Mrs. Rodgers 4th year Biomedical Innovation Honors class, the students have been working on a project called Project Lead The Way (PLTW) Biomedical Innovation Capstone.

The students started brainstorming ideas for the project in mid-August.

“During the year they progress through the PLTW curriculum learning how to complete all aspects of the Capstone including procedure, methods, literature review, poster creation and presentation,” said Mrs. Rodgers.

This is a big project for Mrs. Rodgers’ students because it teaches the students important lessons about a college career, helps the students succeed in college, helps with time management, and is great for their portfolios.

“Many students will complete Capstone projects during their college career. Completing the project during high school provides skills for success in college and career and excellent additions to their CTE Portfolio.” said Rodgers

• Mountain Ridge High School 1 Xavier Prep 4 Mar 4 / Beach Volleyball
• Mountain Ridge High School 9 Chandler 0 Feb 29 / Boys Tennis
• Mountain Ridge High School 5 Chandler 4 Feb 29 / Girls Tennis
• Mountain Ridge High School 5 Highland 4 Feb 28 / Girls Tennis
• Mountain Ridge High School 8 Basha 1 Feb 27 / Boys Tennis
• Mountain Ridge High School 3 Basha 6 Feb 27 / Girls Tennis
• Mountain Ridge High School 4 Verrado 1 Feb 26 / Beach Volleyball
• Mountain Ridge High School 1 Xavier Prep 11 Feb 22 / Softball
• Mountain Ridge High School 12 Greenway 0 Feb 22 / Softball
• Mountain Ridge High School 8 Millennium High School 1 Feb 22 / Boys Tennis

This poll has ended.

What is your favorite part about Thanksgiving?

Sorry, there was an error loading this poll.

• 10 PM 89 °
• 11 PM 87 °
• 12 AM 84 °
• 1 AM 86 °
• 2 AM 85 °
• 3 AM 76 °
• 4 AM 84 °
• 5 AM 83 °
• 6 AM 72 °
• 7 AM 81 °
• 8 AM 82 °
• 9 AM 76 °
• 10 AM 88 °
• 11 AM 91 °
• 12 PM 96 °
• 1 PM 95 °
• 2 PM 96 °
• 3 PM 103 °
• 4 PM 98 °
• 5 PM 98 °
• 6 PM 99 °
• 7 PM 96 °
• 8 PM 94 °
• 9 PM 92 °
• 10 PM 91 °

• Campus Life

Bahrain Grand Prix: A Thrilling Start to the 2024 Season

1 in 9.2 Quintillion

Pickleball Club at Mountain Ridge

Society of Female Scholars

The Benefits of Being a Multisport Athlete

I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for Sunscreen!

The Rich History Behind the Witches of Salem

Find Some Joy with Mountain Ridge’s Pride of the West!

Ridge Staff Lose to GPD in Charity Basketball Game

Behind the Whistle

• National News
• Global News
• Editorial Cartoons
• Creative Writing
• Photography & Videos
• Mission Statement

Comments (0)

Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

• Facts and Figures
• Accreditation
• Maps and Directions
• Employment Opportunities
• BME Path Forward
• Current Undergraduate Students
• Engineering Honors
• Study Abroad
• Department Fast Track
• Current Graduate Students
• Graduate Student Handbook
• Graduate Degree Programs Summary
• Student Organizations
• Prospective Undergraduate Students
• Scholarships and Financial Aid
• Visit with Us
• Prospective Graduate Students
• Grad Admissions
• Graduate Funding Opportunities
• Graduate Advising
• Faculty Research Labs
• Department Leadership
• Affiliated Faculty
• Research Staff
• Partner With Us
• Capstone Overview
• Summer Enrichment Experience
• BME Design Studio

Recent Projects

Recent capstone design projects.

Aggies develop device to combat kidney failure in newborns

For their senior capstone project, six biomedical engineering students developed a device to prevent leakage and quicken the healing process during peritoneal dialysis in newborn babies with kidney failure.

Capstone team enhances safety of ureteroscopy procedure

A team of six students in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Texas A&M University developed a testing method that enables a quicker treatment for potential bladder infections after surgery.

Quickdraw Vial: A solution for risky injections in space

A senior capstone team developed a solution to reduce the risk of injections in space for their final project. The solution, Quickdraw Vial, utilizes capillary action to contain the medication in a uniform volume and push out air bubbles to avoid air embolisms.

Other Examples of Design Projects

• Students create cap for children diagnosed with sleep apnea (Texas Children's Hospital)
• Endotracheal tubes better designed to fit pediatric care (Texas Children's Hospital)
• Surgical tools better accounted for with "smart" table (Texas Children's Hospital)
• Customizable device for infant ear formations (Texas Children's Hospital)
• Surgical endoscope holder (Texas Children's Hospital)
• Valvulotome for peripheral artery disease (BD)
• Small footprint UV robot (Dr. Saurabh Biswas)
• Critical limb ischemia device (Texas Children's Hospital)
• Automated infant peritoneal dialysis system  (Texas Children's Hospital)
• Infant IV Extravasation Detection  (Texas Children's Hospital)
• Youth foot and ankle orthotic  (Texas Children's Hospital)
• Ureteroscope using hyperspectral imaging technology (Becton Dickinson)
• UV light system to kill pathogens (Abbott)

Biomedical Graduate Education

Capstone Projects

2022-2023 graduates, nelson moore.

Data Scientist at Essential Software Inc

Capstone Project: Modeling and code implementation to support data search and filter through the NCI Cancer Data Aggregator Industry Mentor: Frederick National Lab for Cancer Research: FNLCR

Joelle Fitzgerald

Business Analyst at Ascension Health Care

Capstone Project: Analysis of patient safety event reports data. Industry Mentor: MedStar Health. National Center for Human Factors in Healthcare

Kader (Abdelkader) Bouregag

Healthcare Xplorer | Medical Informatics at Genentech (internship)

Capstone Project: Transforming the Immuno-Oncology data to the OMOP CDM Industry Mentor: MSKCC/ MedStar/ Georgetown University/ Hackensack

Junaid Imam

Data Scientist at Medstar Institute

Capstone Project: Create an [trans-] eQTL visualization tool

Industry Mentor: Pfizer Inc / Harvard

Abbie Gillen

Staff Data Analyst at Nice Healthcare

Capstone Project: Nice Healthcare: Predicting Nice healthcare utilization

Industry Mentor: Nice Healthcare

Capstone Project: Next Generation Data Commons

Industry Mentor: ICF International

2021-2022 Graduates

Ahson saiyed.

NLP Engineer/Data Scientist at TrinetX

Capstone Project : Research Data Platform Pipelines Industry Mentor: Invitae

Walid Nashashibi

Data Scientist at FEMA

Capstone Project: Xenopus RNA-Seq Analysis to Understand Tissue Regeneration Mechanisms Industry Mentor: FDA

Tony Albini

Data Analyst at ClearView Healthcare Partners

Capstone project: Data Mining to understand the patient landscape of Chronic Kidney Disease Population Industry Mentor: AstraZeneca

Anvitha Gooty Agraharam

Business Account Manager at GeneData

Capstone Project: Computational estimation of Pleiotropy in Genome-Phenome Associations for target discovery Industry Mentor: AstraZeneca

Natalie Cortopassi

Researcher at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation

Capstone project: Analysis of Clinical Trial Attrition in Neuropsychiatric Clinical Trials using Machine Learning Industry Mentor: AstraZeneca

Christle Iroezi

Business System Analyst at Centene Corporation

Capstone project: Visualize Digital HealthCare ROI Industry Mentor: MedStar Health

R & D Analyst II at GEICO

Capstone project: Heat Waves and Health Outcomes Industry Mentor: ICF

Research Specialist at Georgetown University

Capstone project: Mental Health Data Commons Industry Mentor: ICF

2020-2021 Graduates

Technology Transformation Analyst, Grant Thornton LLP

Capstone Project: Research Data Platform Pipelines Industry Mentor: Invitae

Research Technician at Georgetown University

Capstone Project: Using a configurable, open-source framework to create a fully functional data commons with the REMBRANDT dataset Industry Mentor: Frederick National Lab for Cancer Research – FNLCR

Consultant at Deloitte

Capstone Project: Building a patient centric data warehouse Industry Mentor: Invitae

Marcio Rosas

Project Manager of Technology and Informatics at Georgetown University

Capstone Project: Knowledge-Based Predictive Modeling of Clinical Trials Enrollment Rates Industry Mentor : AstraZeneca

Yuezheng (Kerry) He

Data Product Associate at YipitData

Capstone Project: ClinicalTrials2Vec – Accelerating trial-level computing using a vectorized model of clinical trial summaries and results Industry Mentor: AstraZeneca

Data Programmer at Chemonics International

Capstone Project: Multi-scale modeling to enable data-driven biomarker and target discovery Industry Mentor: AstraZeneca

2019-2020 Graduates

Pratyush tandale.

Informatics Specialist I at Mayo Clinic

Capstone Project: Improving clinical mapping process for lab data using LOINC Industry Mentor: Flatiron Roche

Shabeeb Kannattikuni

Senior Statistical Programmer at PRA Health Sciences (ICON Pl)

Capstone Project: NGS Data Analysis for the QA of viral vaccines Industry Mentor: Argentys Informatics

Fuyuan Wang (Bruce)

Software Engineer at Essential Software Inc , Frederick National Labs

Capstone Project: Cancer Data Model Visualization framework Industry Mentor: Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research

Ayah Elshikh

Capstone Project: NGS Data Analysis for the QA of viral vaccines

Industry Mentor: Argentys Informatics

Yue (Lilian) Li

Biostatistician and Statistical Programmer , Baim Institute for Clinical Research

Capstone Project: Analysis of COVID-19 Serological test data to improve the COVID-19 Detection capabalities Industry Mentor: Argentys Informatics

Algorithm Performance Engineer at Optovue

Capstone Project: Socioeconomic factors to readmissions after major cancer surgery Industry Mentor: Medstar Health

Jiazhong Zhang

Management Trainee at China Bohai Bank

Jianyi Zhang

Project Lead the Way (PLTW)

Orlando Science PLTW-Engineering Curriculum

Introduction to Engineering Design Students dig deep into the engineering design process, applying math, science, and engineering standards to hands-on projects. They work both individually and in teams to design solutions to a variety of problems using 3D modeling software and an engineering notebook to document their work.

Principles of Engineering Through problems that engage and challenge, students explore a broad range of engineering topics, including mechanisms, the strength of structures and materials, and automation. Students develop skills in problem solving, research, and design while learning strategies for design process documentation, collaboration, and presentation.

Aerospace Engineering This course propels students’ learning in the fundamentals of atmospheric and space flight. As they explore the physics of flight, students bring the concepts to life by designing an airfoil, propulsion system, and rockets. They learn basic orbital mechanics using industry-standard software.

Computer Integrated Manufacturing is one of the specialization courses in the PLTW Engineering program. The course deepens the skills and knowledge of an engineering student within the context of efficiently creating the products all around us. Students build upon their Computer Aided Design (CAD) experience through the use of Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) software. CAM transforms a digital design into a program that a Computer Numerical Controlled (CNC) mill uses to transform a block of raw material into a product designed by a student. Students learn and apply concepts related to integrating robotic systems such as Automated Guided Vehicles (AGV) and robotic arms into manufacturing systems. Throughout the course students learn about manufacturing processes and systems. This course culminates with a capstone project where students design, build, program, and present a manufacturing system model capable of creating a product.

Orlando Science Biomedical Science Curriculum

The rigorous and relevant four-course PLTW Biomedical Science sequence allows students to investigate the roles of biomedical professionals as they study the concepts of human medicine, physiology, genetics, microbiology, and public health. Students engage in activities like investigating the death of a fictional person to learn content in the context of real-world cases. They examine the structures and interactions of human body systems and explore the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, all while working collaboratively to understand and design solutions to the most pressing health challenges of today and the future. Each course in the Biomedical Science sequence builds on the skills and knowledge students gain in the preceding courses. Schools offer the three PLTW Biomedical Science foundation courses within a period of three academic years from the start of implementation and may also offer the capstone course.

Principles of Biomedical Science In the introductory course of the PLTW Biomedical Science program, students explore concepts of biology and medicine to determine factors that lead to the death of a fictional person. While investigating the case, students examine autopsy reports, investigate medical history, and explore medical treatments that might have prolonged the person’s life.

Students examine the interactions of human body systems as they explore identity, power, movement, protection, and homeostasis. Exploring science in action, students build organs and tissues on a skeletal Maniken®, use data acquisition software to monitor body functions such as muscle movement, reflex and voluntary action, and respiration, and take on the roles of biomedical professionals to solve real-world medical cases.

Medical Interventions Students follow the life of a fictitious family as they investigate how to prevent, diagnose, and treat disease. Students explore how to detect and fight infection, screen and evaluate the code in human DNA, evaluate cancer treatment options, and prevail when the organs of the body begin to fail. Through real-world cases, students are exposed to a range of interventions related to immunology, surgery, genetics, pharmacology, medical devices, and diagnostics.

Biomedical Innovation In the final course of the PLTW Biomedical Science sequence, students build on the knowledge and skills gained from previous courses to design innovative solutions for the most pressing health challenges of the 21st century. Students address topics ranging from public health and biomedical engineering to clinical medicine and physiology. They have the opportunity to work on an independent design project with a mentor or advisor from a university, medical facility, or research institution.

ENGINEERING AND BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES PATHWAYS

GRADUATION COUNT DOWN

Top 10 biomedical innovations of 2021

Here are the breakthroughs and advances that, thanks to the careful consideration of our panel of independent judges , have won a spot in our annual Top 10 Innovations competition.

5. Q Bio Gemini and Mark I

The  Gemini platform and Mark I scanner  by  Q Bio  were introduced in April 2021 as a way to monitor patient health more comprehensively than has previously been possible in healthcare. Although it is not yet widely available, the company is rolling it out with a limited number of patients and doctors as part of a pilot program.

The Mark I prototype scans the entire body with the patient sitting, standing, or lying down, using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which creates high quality images without radiation—unlike X-rays, computer tomography (CT), or positron emission tomography (PET)…. The imaging information is uploaded to the Gemini platform, along with medical records, genetics data, and traditionally acquired tests of blood, urine, saliva, and vital signs.

9. Cardea Bio CRISPR-SNP-Chip

Cardea Bio ’s CRISPR-SNP-Chip is the first device capable of detecting single base differences in DNA without generating millions of copies of the DNA first. “We can do DNA tests without the need of a DNA lab,” explains Cardea CEO Michael Heltzen.

This is an excerpt. Read the original post here.

GLP Podcasts & Podcast Videos More...

GLP podcast: Dangers of ‘diet weed’; Making insulin in cow’s milk; The conservative case for genetic enhancement

Glp podcast: ge crops have lived up to the hype; growing ‘mini’ organs from stem cells; how do we solve right-wing vaccine hesitancy, videos more....

Video: Why does love make us feel so good? Examining its effect on our brains

Bees & pollinators more....

Dissecting claims about Monsanto suing farmers for accidentally planting patented seeds

Analysis: Do neonicotinoid and glyphosate pesticides threaten bees? A reassessment

How effective and safe are current-generation pesticides?

Infographics more....

Are pesticide residues on food something to worry about?

Gmo faqs more....

Why is there controversy over GMO foods but not GMO drugs?

How are GMOs labeled around the world?

How does genetic engineering differ from conventional breeding?

Alex Jones: Right-wing conspiracy theorist stokes fear of GMOs, pesticides to sell ‘health supplements’

IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer): Glyphosate cancer determination challenged by world consensus

Most popular.

Newsletter Subscription

• Weekly Newsletter (Wed)
• Daily Digest (Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri)
• Weekly Top Six (Sun)
• Featured Articles Only
• Human Articles Only
• Agriculture Articles Only
• All Types of Content

Get news on human & agricultural genetics and biotechnology delivered to your inbox.

Innovative 111+ Biotechnology Project Ideas – [2024 Updated]

• Post author By admin
• February 3, 2024

In the exciting world of biotechnology, where discoveries are always changing what we know, hands-on projects are like doors to new ideas and adventures.

Biotechnology is like a mix of biology, technology, and engineering. It goes beyond the usual limits and is important in changing how we do things in farming, healthcare, the environment, and industry.

Starting biotechnology projects helps you be creative and understand how life works more thoroughly. Whether a student, researcher, or just interested, working on biotechnology projects is like an exciting adventure where you get to try things out, learn, and be part of the ongoing scientific progress.

In this blog, we will delve into a myriad of Biotechnology Project Ideas that transcend traditional boundaries, inspiring you to embark on a journey of discovery. From enhancing agricultural productivity to revolutionizing healthcare, mitigating environmental challenges, and innovating industrial processes.

 These ideas encapsulate the essence of biotechnological potential. So, let’s explore the realms of biotechnology and ignite the spark of innovation that can shape a brighter future.

Table of Contents

What is Biotechnology?

Biotechnology is like a mix of biology, technology, and engineering. It’s all about using living things, cells, and biological systems to create new and improved stuff that can be useful in different industries.

Biotechnology is useful in medicine, farming, taking care of the environment, and in industries. Scientists use methods like changing genes, studying tiny biological parts, and growing cells in labs to make medicines, boost crop growth, and clean up pollution.

Biotechnology is crucial in advancing scientific understanding and finding practical applications for improving our lives and the world around us.

Importance of Biotechnology in Today’s Life

The importance of biotechnology projects lies in their potential to revolutionize various fields and address pressing global challenges. Here are key aspects highlighting the significance of biotechnology projects.

Medical Advancements

Development of new therapies and drugs, including personalized medicine tailored to individual genetic profiles.

Advances in gene therapy for treating genetic disorders and chronic diseases.

Innovative diagnostic tools and techniques, improving early detection and treatment.

Agricultural Innovation

Creation of genetically modified crops for increased yield, improved nutritional content, and resistance to pests and diseases.

Precision agriculture uses biotechnology to optimize resource use, reduce environmental impact, and enhance food security.

Sustainable farming practices with the development of biopesticides and biofertilizers.

Environmental Conservation

Bioremediation projects clean up polluted environments by using microorganisms to degrade or remove contaminants.

Waste-to-energy technologies contribute to the generation of clean and sustainable energy.

Development of eco-friendly solutions such as biodegradable plastics and materials.

Industrial Applications

Improved efficiency in industrial processes through enzyme engineering and bioprocessing.

Development of biosensors for real-time monitoring and quality control in manufacturing.

Bio-based materials and bio-manufacturing, reducing reliance on non-renewable resources.

Economic Impact

Job creation and economic growth through the expansion of biotechnology-related industries.

Increased competitiveness and innovation in global markets.

The potential for new revenue streams and business opportunities.

Addressing Global Challenges

Solutions for feeding a growing population through crop productivity and food technology advancements.

Sustainable energy sources and technologies to mitigate the impact of climate change.

Innovative healthcare solutions to combat emerging diseases and improve overall public health.

Research and Education

Advancing scientific knowledge and understanding of biological systems.

Providing opportunities for interdisciplinary research and collaboration.

Educating and training the next generation of scientists and professionals in cutting-edge technologies.

Ethics and Social Responsibility

Ethical considerations in biotechnology projects ensure responsible and transparent practices.

Socially responsible biotechnological applications that consider the impact on communities and ecosystems.

NOTE : Also Read “ 60+ Brilliant EBP Nursing Project Ideas: From Idea to Impact “

Innovative Biotechnology Project Ideas in Agricultural 

• Precision Farming using IoT and Biotechnology
• Plant-Microbe Interactions for Enhanced Crop Growth
• Biofortification of Crops for Improved Nutritional Value
• Sustainable Pest Management through Genetic Engineering
• Development of Drought-Resistant Crops
• Biocontrol of Plant Pathogens using Antimicrobial Peptides
• Genetic Modification for Extended Shelf Life of Fruits and Vegetables
• Soil Microbial Community Analysis for Crop Health
• Development of Heat-Tolerant Crop Varieties
• Harnessing Endophytic Microbes for Crop Protection

Medical Biotechnology Projects

• CRISPR-Cas9 Gene Editing for Genetic Disorders
• Development of a Biosensor for Cancer Biomarkers
• Personalized Medicine through Genomic Profiling
• Engineering Microbes for Drug Delivery
• 3D Bioprinting of Human Organs
• Stem Cell Therapy for Neurodegenerative Diseases
• Vaccine Development Using Recombinant DNA Technology
• Development of Rapid Diagnostic Kits for Infectious Diseases
• CRISPR-Cas9 in Antiviral Therapies
• Biocompatible Implants for Tissue Regeneration

Environmental Biotechnology Projects

• Microbial Fuel Cells for Renewable Energy Generation
• Biodegradation of Plastics Using Enzymes
• Monitoring Water Quality with Algal Biosensors
• Mycoremediation of Heavy Metal Contaminated Soil
• Methane Biofiltration in Wastewater Treatment
• Phytoremediation for Soil Cleanup
• Biofiltration of Airborne Pollutants using Bacteria
• Aquaponics Systems for Sustainable Food Production
• Harnessing Algae for Carbon Capture
• Development of Biogenic Nanoparticles for Water Purification

Industrial Biotechnology Projects

• Enzyme Engineering for Industrial Processes
• Metabolic Engineering for Bio-based Chemicals
• Bioprocess Optimization for Antibiotic Production
• Development of Enzymatic Biofuel Cells
• Bacterial Cellulose Production for Sustainable Textiles
• Biosurfactant Production for Environmental Applications
• Bioproduction of Flavors and Fragrances
• Bio-based Plastics from Agricultural Waste
• Biocatalysis for Pharmaceutical Synthesis
• Integration of Biotechnology in Food Processing

Food and Nutrition Biotechnology Projects

• Fermentation Technology for Probiotic Foods
• Genetic Modification for Enhanced Nutrient Content in Crops
• Development of Functional Foods using Biotechnology
• Cultured Meat Production Using Cell Culture Techniques
• Enzyme-Assisted Brewing and Distillation
• Biotechnological Approaches to Reduce Food Allergens
• Rapid Detection of Foodborne Pathogens
• Biofortification of Staple Crops with Micronutrients
• Algal Biotechnology for Nutraceuticals
• Development of Low-Gluten or Gluten-Free Wheat Varieties

Bioinformatics and Computational Biotechnology Projects

• Computational Drug Discovery using Molecular Docking
• Analysis of Biological Networks for Disease Prediction
• Machine Learning Algorithms for Genomic Data Analysis
• Comparative Genomics of Extremophiles
• Virtual Screening for Enzyme Inhibitors
• Modeling Protein-Protein Interactions
• Development of a Biomedical Image Analysis Tool
• Predictive Modeling of Protein Folding
• Evolutionary Algorithms in Synthetic Biology
• Systems Biology Approaches for Disease Pathways

Nanobiotechnology Projects

• Nanoparticle-Based Drug Delivery Systems
• Nanosensors for Detection of Environmental Pollutants
• Gold Nanoparticles in Cancer Diagnosis and Therapy
• Nanobiomaterials for Tissue Engineering
• Quantum Dots in Biological Imaging
• Magnetic Nanoparticles for Hyperthermia Treatment
• Carbon Nanotubes for Drug Delivery Applications
• Nanotechnology in Crop Protection
• Nanoencapsulation of Bioactive Compounds in Food
• Liposomal Nanocarriers for Vaccine Delivery

Synthetic Biology Projects

• BioBrick Construction for Synthetic Biological Systems
• Design and Construction of Minimal Genomes
• Development of Programmable RNA Devices
• Synthetic Biology Approaches to Biofuel Production
• Genetic Circuits for Bioremediation Applications
• Optogenetic Control of Cellular Processes
• Directed Evolution of Enzymes for Specific Functions
• Synthetic Microbial Consortia for Industrial Applications
• CRISPR-Cas9-Based Synthetic Gene Circuits
• Biocontainment Strategies for Engineered Organisms

Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Projects

• Differentiation of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
• Biomaterials for Stem Cell Delivery in Regenerative Medicine
• Stem Cell-Based Therapies for Cardiovascular Diseases
• Biofabrication of Scaffold-Free Tissues
• Organoids as Models for Drug Testing
• Stem Cells in Wound Healing and Tissue Repair
• Engineering Artificial Organs for Transplantation
• 3D Bioprinting of Vascularized Tissues
• Stem Cells in Spinal Cord Injury Repair
• In vitro Models of Human Development Using Stem Cells

Biotechnology Ethics and Policy Projects

• Ethical Implications of CRISPR-Cas9 Technology
• Regulatory Frameworks for Genetically Modified Organisms
• Biosecurity in Biotechnology Research
• Access to Biotechnology in Developing Countries
• Public Perception of Genetically Modified Foods
• Intellectual Property Issues in Biotechnology
• Ethical Considerations in Human Gene Editing
• Environmental Impact Assessment of Biotechnological Processes
• Informed Consent in Biomedical Research
• Policies and Regulations for Biobanking

Marine Biotechnology Projects

• Bioprospecting for Novel Marine Microorganisms
• Algal Biotechnology for Biofuel Production
• Marine Enzymes in Industrial Applications
• Coral Microbiome Research for Conservation
• Marine Bioplastics from Algae
• Marine Natural Products for Drug Discovery
• Bioremediation of Oil Spills using Marine Microbes
• Marine Biotechnology for Aquaculture
• Metagenomics of Deep-Sea Environments
• Marine Bacterial Biofilms for Industrial Applications

Education and Outreach Projects

• Biotechnology Workshops for High School Students
• Creation of Educational Biotechnology Kits
• Virtual Laboratories for Biotechnology Learning
• Biotechnology Outreach Programs in Communities
• Development of Educational Games for Biotechnology
• Biotechnology Science Fairs and Competitions
• Online Biotechnology Courses for the Public
• Science Communication in Biotechnology
• Establishment of Biotechnology Learning Centers
• STEM Education Integration with Biotechnology

Biotechnology offers exciting project ideas for students and hobbyists of all levels. From simple at-home experiments with yeast and bacteria to more advanced projects in genetic engineering , there are biotech projects to interest and suit anyone. 

While proper safety measures, ethical thinking, and supervision should always be used, especially for young students, biotech projects allow for valuable hands-on learning about this fascinating and fast-growing area. Whether you want to design a new bacteria strain, mimic natural selection, or extract your DNA, biotechnology welcomes your curiosity and innovation. 

This article has outlined some key biotech project concepts and possibilities, showing how biotech provides impactful educational experiences. With so many options to actively explore science, consider starting your biotech journey today.

Why should I consider a biotechnology project?

Biotechnology projects offer opportunities to contribute to scientific advancements, address real-world problems, and positively impact society. They provide a platform for innovation and creativity.

How do I choose the right biotechnology project?

Consider factors such as relevance to current challenges, feasibility, potential impact, available resources, and personal interests. The blog provides criteria to help guide the selection process.

Are there specific areas within biotechnology that are more promising for projects?

The blog outlines different areas for biotechnology projects, including healthcare, agriculture, environmental conservation, and industrial applications. Each section provides project ideas in those respective domains.

• australia (2)
• duolingo (13)
• Education (264)
• General (66)
• How To (16)
• IELTS (127)
• Latest Updates (162)
• Malta Visa (6)
• Permanent residency (1)
• Programming (31)
• Scholarship (1)
• Sponsored (4)
• Study Abroad (187)
• Technology (12)
• work permit (8)

Recent Posts

FHNtoday.com

Biomedical Innovation Class Begins Their Year Long Research Projects

(image from Matthew Riffee’s twitter account)

By Michaela Erfling Published: October 5, 2017

This year, a new class was brought to FHSD: Biomedical Innovations. This class is the capstone course for Project Lead the Way Biomedical classes and is offered to seniors.

“I started taking PLTW classes, because I thought they sounded really cool and I knew I wanted to go into the medical field,” senior Reilly Harris said. “So, I thought they would give me good insight on that.”

BI gives students the opportunity to explore real world problems of the medical community in a greater depth than the first three courses do. This class, taught at FHN by Matthew Riffee, contains eight different problems that the students solve throughout the year, one of those being a year long independent research project.

“My favorite part of teaching the BI class is the amount of autonomy usage, which means choice, for the students,” Riffee said. “It’s a nice culmination to three years of biomedical classes.”

The research project is a large aspect of the classes curriculum. Through this project the students tackle real world problem pertaining to biomedical science. Students are given the option of what they want to study and are in charge of forming a procedure that correlates with the study they desire to carry out.

“I want my students to experience what it’s going to be like in the career world and what it means to be able to pull the project all together, time management wise and see the benefit and reward from it,” Riffee said.

Students taking the course have already chosen their research project topics. Students did not have to specifically pick something relating directly to the medical field. Senior Erin Stock selected the topic of: what is the effect of confidence on test taking skills? Through this project, Stock hopes to learn the outcome and gain insight as to if level of confidence affects test scores. Students are also required to have at least one mentor to help guide and answer any questions that might arise. For Stock, her mentors are conveniently located at FHN.

“[My mentors are] Mr. Fowler and Mr. Willott, they will be really helpful because they know what they are doing in their fields and can help prevent bias in the experiment,” said Stock.

There are many other topics that could have been chosen. For example, students Reilly Harris and Breanna Jefferies are analyzing how students get detentions. They will be reviewing data on how students receive detentions and whether or not they repeat the same offense and get another detention for it, essentially determining if detentions are effective or not.

• Biomedical Innovations
• Breanna Jefferies
• Matthew Riffee
• Michaela Erfling
• Reilly Harris
• Sean Fowler
• steve willot

Your donation will support the student journalists of Francis Howell North High School. Your contribution will allow us to purchase equipment and cover our annual website hosting costs.

The Oscars Tradition of Sexism and Racism had Lead Me to a Boycott [Column]

New Security Project Costs $1.7 Million for Five Schools in the Francis Howell School District

Girls Varsity Soccer Takes the Win Against SCH Pirates [Photo Gallery]

FHN Girls Soccer Holds Tryouts the Week of Feb. 28 [Photo Gallery]

Junior Jackson Calhoun Returned to Playing Basketball After A Freak Accident Nearly Left Him Unable to Walk

• Awards and Honors
• Editorial Policy
• Submit An Idea

Comments (0)

Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

• Get Started
• High School
• Activity-, Project-, Problem-Based (APB) Learning
• Middle School
• Elementary School
• PLTW Summit
• Introduction to Engineering Design
• Principles of Biomedical Science
• Professional Development for Teachers
• Biomedical Innovation
• Career Learning
• Principles of Engineering
• Automation and Robotics
• Engineering Design and Development
• High School Engineering Programs
• Design and Modeling
• Teacher Training
• North Carolina
• South Carolina
• Engineering
• Core Training
• High School Computer Science Programs
• Human Body Systems
• Medical Interventions
• Civil Engineering and Architecture
• Mississippi
• High School Biomedical Science Programs
• On the road
• PLTW Partners
• Digital Electronics
• Aerospace Engineering
• Computer Science
• Pennsylvania
• Elementary STEM Programs
• Computer Science Principles
• Middle School STEM Programs
• STEM Grants
• Structure and Function: Exploring Design
• Computer Integrated Manufacturing
• Medical Detectives
• App Creators
• Computer Science for Innovators and Makers
• Massachusetts
• West Virginia
• Classroom Management
• Engineering Design Process
• Introduction to Computer Science
• Lockheed Martin
• PLTW Gateway Curriculum
• Computer Science A
• Funding & Grant Opport
• Introduction to Computer Science 1 and 2
• apprenticeship
• Biomedical Science
• Cybersecurity
• Experience PLTW
• Green Architecture
• Grids and Games
• PLTW State Conference
• Programming Patterns
• Robotics and Automation
• Animated Storytelling
• Career and Technical Student Organizations (CSTOs)
• Connecticut
• Energy and the Environment
• Energy: Collisions
• Implementation
• Infection: Detection
• North Dakota
• PLTW Core Training
• PLTW Launch Curriculum
• STEM Skills
• STEM activities
• South Dakota
• American Rescue Plan
• Animal Adaptations
• Arconic Foundation
• Environmental Sustainability
• Flight and Space
• Light and Sound
• Manufacturing Careers
• Mechanical Engineering
• National Awards
• New Hampshire
• Next Generation Science Standards
• PLTW Biomedical
• PPG Foundation
• PreK-12 STEM
• Program Recognition
• REC Foundation
• Recruitment
• Robotics and Animation
• SolidProfessor
• Stability and Motion: Forces and Interactions
• Stability and Motion: Science of Flight
• Student Experience
• Summer STEM
• computer science essentials
• America Succeeds
• Announcements
• Architecture
• Autodesk Inventor
• Chromebooks
• Classroom Technology
• Collaboration
• Design Matrix
• Durable Skills
• Energy: Conversion
• Environmental Studies
• Forms and Function
• Future Business Leaders of America
• Girls in STEM
• Inquiry-Based
• Manufacturing Day
• National Teacher of the Year
• PLTW Grants
• Pair Programming
• Pre-service Teacher Training
• PreK-12 Pathways
• Problem-based Learning
• Project-based Learning
• Republic Airways
• Rhode Island
• Robotics and Automation: Challenge
• STEM Elementary
• STEM Premier
• STEM Scholarships
• Software Engineering
• Steel Industry
• Structure and Function: Human Body
• The Changing Earth
• Transferable Skills
• Transformational Training
• Transportable Skills
• Trauma-Informed
• Washington, D.C.
• Women in STEM
• master teachers

Subscribe to our blog to get insights sent directly to your inbox.

Making an Impact Through Biomedical Innovation

Posted on: Feb 20, 2017 12:00:00 AM

Tammy Martin is an instructor at Mt. Vernon Township High School in Mt. Vernon, Illinois, and teaches in both the Health Science Department and the PLTW Biomedical Science Department. This is Tammy’s ninth year teaching and sixth year teaching PLTW Biomedical Science. Tammy became a Master Teacher in Human Body Systems (HBS) three years ago.

Mt. Vernon Township High School offered the PLTW Biomedical Science capstone class Biomedical Innovation (BI) for the first time during the 2015-16 school year. It was a huge accomplishment to implement the first class of the program’s sequence – Principles of Biomedical Science (PBS) – five years ago. But to eventually offer all four years of the PLTW Biomedical Science curriculum to our students feels like an even more incredible success. At our school, I am the sole instructor for this program, and I absolutely love it! It has brought a challenging class to our students and one that they walk away from truly enriched with knowledge and skills!

I wanted to talk about one fourth-year student’s final project. His sister had recently suffered a fractured vertebra in a car accident the summer before, and it changed not only her life but also the life of his family. He spent countless hours at the hospital during her recovery. During this time, he decided that becoming an emergency room physician was his goal.

During the second semester of BI, the student was trying to come up with a final project. I encouraged him to use the experience and knowledge that he had gained watching his sister go through all of the stages of healing. He used his knowledge from that and from the previous three years in PLTW Biomedical Science and came up with a device that would help not only his sister but also other paraplegics.

Throughout her recovery, it was eye-opening to see the "normal" day-to-day activities that we accomplish without even thinking about what it would be like to not be able to do them. One thing that he focused on was the inability to wheel yourself to your car, at night, while using a light source to see. When you are in a wheelchair, you need both of your hands to move, and that leaves nothing to hold your light. Most of us have cellular devices that have flashlights that we can easily maneuver. But without available hands, that makes it a bit difficult.

The device he developed and prototyped was an LED light bar that would easily attach to the person’s lower leg. He attached a toggle switch, and it was ready to go. His sister modeled the device and even tested the product! I was so impressed and proud of my student for not only using his knowledge of biomedical design, but also taking his project to the next level by identifying a real-life situation and applying his skills to develop a very usable device.

PLTW’s blog is intended to serve as a forum for ideas and perspectives from across our network. The opinions expressed are those of each guest author.

Subscribe via Email

Related posts.

AtriCure is top co-op employer for UC biomedical engineering students

Morgan carey shares her co-op experience at atricure.

"Our co-ops are just another extension of the team," said Jon McHale, project manager and director of the co-op program at AtriCure, Inc. 

As one of the largest co-op employers in the region and a leading provider of innovative technologies for the treatment of Atrial Fibrillation, or Afib, and other related conditions, AtriCure is also one of the largest co-op employers for students at the University of Cincinnati. In fact, they are the number one co-op employer for biomedical engineering students at the College of Engineering and Applied Science . Co-op is integrated into all CEAS undergraduate programs, enabling students to alternate semesters in the classroom with semesters of full-time, paid, co-op work. 

Morgan Carey has completed two rotations at AtriCure so far. Photo/Provided

Morgan Carey, third-year biomedical engineering student at UC, has completed two co-op rotations with AtriCure and is preparing for her third. After an introduction to the company through a family friend, she spoke with representatives at the UC career fair, interviewed, and was offered a co-op position. 

"When I got the offer, I was eager to accept because I had heard such good things about the company," Carey said. "It was a no brainer for me to take it." 

Carey was on the process engineering team during her first co-op rotation. Here, she was exposed to a little bit of everything related to the company's manufacturing processes. She developed upgrades to make manufacturing lines more efficient, learned from operators and gained experience in prototyping and documentation. 

"Something unique at AtriCure is we rotate our co-op students through our different departments," McHale said. "It's a good way for them to figure out what they like, where their skillsets are strongest, and make them more hirable when they graduate." 

AtriCure is the top co-op employer for UC biomedical engineering students. McHale (second from left, back row) was a co-op at AtriCure when he was a UC student. Photo/Provided

AtriCure's co-op program, specifically the partnership they have with UC, is essential to their talent pipeline. Students are encouraged to stay for multiple, if not all, of their rotations. A two-time CEAS graduate himself, McHale spent three semesters of co-op at AtriCure and was hired after graduation. 

The company places great value on their co-op students. From the day they arrive until the day they leave, they contribute meaningful work to active projects. 

"They're doing exactly what the team needs and what a lot of other engineers are doing too," McHale said. "We encourage them to stay with us for multiple co-ops so that they can hit the ground running when they get here and expand on their skills from previous rotations." 

After such a positive, enriching experience during her first rotation, Carey decided to return for a second, this time in product development. AtriCure uses cryosurgical devices to create nerve blocks in patients to aid with post operative pain. Now these are only being used in the chest space. On the product development team, Carey explored different applications for these devices, participating in hands-on lab work and interacting with surgeons who used them. 

"My rotations at AtriCure so far have been two completely different experiences within the same company," Carey said. 

Morgan Carey, left, pictured with another co-op student, won MVP and defensive player of the week in the AtriCure Hoops League. Photo/Provided

Along with the significant engineering experience co-op students get while at Atricure, the company values a welcoming and inclusive workplace culture. Clearly a highlight in the office for co-ops and veteran engineers, both Carey and McHale shared about co-op snack day. 

Each week, a co-op (or a pair of co-ops, as the program is steadily growing) is given a small budget to make or bring a snack for those in the office to take a break from the work week and spend time together. 

"It's such a great opportunity for us to network," Carey said. "It's something they do that makes me really want to be there, it's a lot of fun." 

"It's a nice break in the middle of the week to get 30 minutes to spend with different groups and meet new people in the workplace that you probably don't interact with on a daily basis," McHale said. 

The company organizes other events for full-time employees and co-ops to get involved in outside of work like an evening basketball league and holiday events. 

The culture is one of the reasons Carey has done two rotations there and is eager for her third. She said that being in an environment like that motivates her to work hard and succeed each day she's there. The way co-op students are treated within the company has a lasting impact. During a recent staff meeting, employees were asked to raise their hands if they were ever a co-op at AtriCure, and McHale estimated a third of attendees indicated that they were. 

AtriCure does such a good job of developing you as a professional and as a person. The relationships I've had with my mentors have been mutually beneficial and I truly couldn't ask for a better experience.

Morgan Carey, UC co-op stiudent

Inclusion is a company-wide initiative at AtriCure. At UC, the company is heavily involved with the K-12 summer camps organized by the CEAS Office of Inclusive Excellence and Community Engagement . Students visit the facility for tours and demonstrations of what engineering is really like with the hope to inspire their interest in the field. At UC career fairs, students often come up to McHale to share with him memories of their facility visits years prior. 

The long partnership between UC and AtriCure has made an invaluable impact on countless students. 

"Atricure does such a good job of developing you as a professional and as a person," Carey said. "The relationships I've had with my mentors have been mutually beneficial, I truly couldn't ask for a better experience." 

Featured image at top: AtriCure is the top co-op employer for biomedical engineering students at the University of Cincinnati. Photo/Colleen Kelley/UC Marketing + Brand 

• College of Engineering and Applied Science
• Student Experience
• Biomedical Engineering
• Experience-based Learning
• College of Cooperative Education and Professional Studies

Related Stories

April 3, 2024

As one of the largest co-op employers in the region and a leading provider of innovative technologies for the treatment of Atrial Fibrillation and other related conditions, AtriCure, Inc. is also one of the largest co-op employers for students at the University of Cincinnati. In fact, they are the number one co-op employer for biomedical engineering students at the College of Engineering and Applied Science. Co-op is integrated into all CEAS undergraduate programs, enabling students to alternate semesters in the classroom with semesters of full-time, paid, co-op work.

Global Technical Workforce course: Nine years, 11 study tours

May 11, 2023

This spring's Global Technical Workforce course in the University of Cincinnati's College of Engineering and Applied Science offered students in technical fields a chance to work virtually with a class of French students and travel to France or Ghana to build career "soft skills" that complement their technical skills.

Alaska Airlines hires its first UC engineering co-op student

October 26, 2023

For University of Cincinnati aerospace engineering student Madison Byrd, her final co-op rotation was noteworthy for more than one reason. Byrd's co-op with Alaska Airlines marked both her final rotation as an undergraduate student and the first UC student to work for the West Coast airline.